Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Certificate
Note: The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Certificate will be renamed to Pre-Dietetics (Certificate) starting in Fall 2025. The program will remain the same. Applicants for Fall 2025 and beyond will be applying to the program under the new name.
The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition. Once the DPD is completed, students receive an ACEND Verification Statement which enables them to apply to an accredited Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Dietetic Internship, the completion of which is the final prerequisite to taking the national registration exam to obtain the status of Registered Dietitian.
Students can also complete the DPD by earning a second bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science-Dietetics. Typically, students who earn the AND certificate, as opposed to the second bachelor’s degree, are simultaneously enrolled in the Master’s in Nutrition and Food Science program (since courses from the master’s program can be substituted for some courses in the AND certificate program). For students who are not also enrolled in the master’s program, the second bachelor’s degree is usually a better option. Students in the AND certificate program pay graduate tuition to take the DPD courses; students in the second bachelor’s program pay undergraduate tuition to take these same courses, but are also required to complete a minimum of 32 credits at Montclair State University. Students should determine whether to choose the second bachelor’s in nutrition or the post-graduate AND certificate based on the number of DPD courses they have left to complete (courses from a student’s previous undergraduate program can sometimes be substituted for courses in the DPD) and the cost of graduate vs. undergraduate tuition.
Please refer to our programs of study page for a comprehensive list of all of the graduate programs offered within the university.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Certificate Program is designed for the individual who has already earned a Bachelor of Arts or Sciences degree in another field, but who wishes to change careers and become a Registered Dietitian. There are no prerequisites for this program, regardless of a student’s previous field of study. Earning the AND Certificate involves completion of an undergraduate curriculum known as the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).
Applicants with a GPA below 2.7 will not be considered for admission.
The Office of Graduate Admissions requires the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible to apply for a graduate program. Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the application page for international students to review the U.S. degree equivalency information.
In order to make applying for graduate school as seamless as possible for you, we have
created an application checklist. This checklist can be a reference point for you during the
application process to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the steps
needed to apply, as well as all of corresponding supplemental materials for your specific
program of interest.
- Application Deadline: Rolling Admission
- Submit Online Application: Please create your online account and submit your application by following the general application instructions and pay (or waive) the non-refundable $60 application fee. Once this step has been completed, the online portal will allow you to upload your supplemental materials.
The following is a list of the supplemental materials that will accompany your application for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Certificate program:
- Transcript: One from each college attended.
- Statement of Purpose – Please write an integrated essay providing a response to each of the following questions:
- What are your goals for graduate study and your future career?
- In what ways do your academic background and your professional experiences provide evidence of your potential for success in the program you selected and in your eventual career? Please give specific examples of relevant coursework and/or experience.
- Is there any further information we should consider in assessing your candidacy?
- Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the US degree equivalency information.
Complete 83-84 semester hours with a minimum GPA of 2.50. (To meet DPD requirements each course must show a grade of ‘C’ or better). For more information, please visit the program listing in the University Catalog.
If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please email or call us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Email: graduate@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973-655-5147
Fax: 973-655-7869
If you have specific inquiries regarding your program of interest, please contact the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Certificate Program Coordinator.
Program Coordinator: Dr. Lauren Dinour
Office: University Hall 4190
Email: dinourl@montclair.edu
Phone: 973-655-5395