Master of Applied Nutrition
Become a Registered Dietitian in One Year
Want to make a difference in healthcare? Apply to the Master of Applied Nutrition (MAN) program and be ready for a career in nutrition and dietetics after three semesters of coursework and hands-on experience in the field.
The Master of Applied Nutrition combines advanced professional coursework and competency-based experiential learning. The program's foundation in critical appraisal and reflection will train you to be a lifelong learner with adaptable practice-based research skills. By graduation, you'll be able to apply your theoretical and technical knowledge of dietetics to work in a variety of settings.
MAN is a full-time only program for students who have completed an accredited dietetic undergraduate degree.
Earn your master's degree in just one year
The Master of Applied Nutrition program takes place over three semesters, from September to August. You'll complete your combined master's degree and practical training in just one year.
Get 30+ weeks of hands-on experience
As a MAN student, three to four days of your week will be in a placement with our community healthcare partners. Your hands-on experience in practica will add to your resume and boost your confidence.
Graduate ready to become a registered dietitian
When you graduate, you will be prepared to write the registration examination to become a member of the College of Dietitians of Ontario, or the dietetic regulatory body in another province.
Life as a Master of Applied Nutrition Student
During your typical week as MAN student, you'll work 30-40 practicum hours from Tuesday to Friday.
Your hands-on training will expose you to the real-world application of three major areas of dietetics:
- Nutrition Care
- Food Provision
- Population Health Promotion
How many weeks you spend on each area of practice depends if you are in the Classic MAN Stream or the Grand River Hospital Stream of the program.
As a MAN student, you'll be in the classroom on Mondays, taking seven classes over three semesters. Coursework is completed during your spare time throughout the week and during non-practicum Flex Weeks.
You'll study the latest research in dietetics and participate in weekly seminars to discuss and reflect on theory and practice with your classmates.
Courses:
- Advances in Clinical Nutrition
- Practicum in Applied Human Nutrition I
- Nutrition in the Community
- Practicum in Applied Human Nutrition II
- Foodservice Management in Healthcare
- Practicum in Applied Human Nutrition III
- Fundamentals of Dietetic Practice-Based Research
Throughout your year as a MAN student, you'll work on a research portfolio, giving you an opportunity to enhance relevant research skills necessary for today's work settings. Research experiences will stem from applied assignments in courses as well as from activities completed in your practicum placements.
As part of the Fundamentals of Dietetic Practice-Based Research course, you'll learn how to document your applied research experiences, with a focus on critical appraisal, quantitative methods, qualitative methods and quality improvement.
The portfolio not only helps you reflect on your research experiences, but it's a resource you can bring forward for use in your future career as a dietitian.
Classic MAN Stream
Most successful applicants to the MAN program will be admitted to the Classic MAN Stream. Students in this stream participate in three different practicum placements, each focusing on a major area of dietetics. Each placement is 40 days long, taking place over the course of 10 to 13 weeks, depending on how many days per week students attend their placement.
Students are placed with a healthcare partner in the local community or the wider GTA, such as:
- Guelph Community Health Centre
- Cambridge Memorial Hospital
- Maple Villa Long Term Care Centre
- Dufferin Area Family Health Team
- Diabetes Canada
Grand River Hospital Stream
Each year, four students are selected to complete the majority of their training through Grand River Hospital, providing a more clinical focus than the Classic MAN Stream.
High-achieving applicants with a strong desire to work in a hospital are a good fit for the Grand River Hospital Stream.
Students in this stream will complete 23 weeks focused in clinical care areas and will spend more overall time in practicum training than students in the Classic MAN Stream.
Note: Applicants to either stream of the MAN program must have access to a car for travelling to practicum placements.
Hear from the Master of Applied Nutrition Community
Whether she's working with university students or hospital patients, Jessica uses the skills she developed in the MAN program to provide nutritional counselling to diverse groups of people. Since 2017, she has been working as a registered dietitian and wellness manager at Queen's University, where she helps students with unique nutritional requirements, which range from students with food sensitivities to those who follow vegetarian or vegan diets. She works closely with campus chefs and hospitality staff to provide healthy meals for students that cater to their individual dietary needs. "I am the go-to person for allergy management. I work with students to help them navigate what they can and can't eat to keep them safe."
Sheree knew that she wanted to become a registered dietitian at an early age and knew MAN was the right program for her because of its focus on experiential learning. During Sheree's placement at the Tim Hortons head office, she learned about how fast food companies work with nutritionists to meet government food guidelines. She also completed a placement in a family health clinic, where she worked with patients with diabetes, hypertension, and weight issues. "It was great working with dietitians to see how they interact with different clients, what their counselling style is like and how they convey information. It's a challenging but hugely rewarding program."
Careers After Graduation
The hands-on nature of the Master of Applied Nutrition program means you'll be well-prepared for your career as a registered dietitian when you graduate. MAN students graduate with the required competencies to take the national Canadian Dietetic Registration Exam (CDRE) to become registered dietitians.
Registered dietitians work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, community health centres, clinics, long-term care facilities, private practice, government, the food industry, and more.
During your practicum placements, you'll be learning and networking at the same time. Each year, about half of our students secure employment through their placements before graduation.
Applying to MAN
- Completion of an undergraduate degree1 from a dietetic program accredited by the Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP) or the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) within the last three years2, with a minimum cumulative average of 75% in the last four semesters of study
- Completion of a statistics course with a grade of 75% or higher
- Completion of a social science research methods course with a grade of 75% or higher
- Completion of three one-semester 400-level courses in human nutrition
- Access to a car for travel to practicum placements
1Requirements may be in progress at the time of application, but must be completed by April 30 of the program entrance year.
2Applicants who completed their accredited undergraduate program more than three years ago may still be admitted with a Level 1 result from the Knowledge and Competency Assessment Tool (KCAT).
Prospective graduate students must apply to the University of Guelph online, through the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC).
After submitting an online application for the Master of Applied Nutrition program, you will be invited to submit required documents through the University of Guelph's online system, WebAdvisor.
Visit the Student Financial Services website for full details on domestic and international tuition per semester.
MAN applicants are encouraged to apply for external scholarships in the fall of the year before entering the program. External award opportunities include, but are not limited to:
- Dietitians of Canada
- Canadian Home Economics Foundation
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program
- Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master's program
Applicants can also browse scholarships available to graduate students in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition.
MAN Webinar
Interested in applying to the Master of Applied Nutrition?
Watch our webinar to learn more about the program and how to apply! We go over the application process, discuss what to expect in the program, and answer your questions!
Get in Touch
Questions about the Master of Applied Nutrition program? Contact:
Shauna Porter
Graduate Program Assistant
Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition
Email: man.grad@uoguelph.ca