Dietetics M.S. with Dietetic Internship

• Program Overview
• Admission
• Degree Requirements

Program Overview

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Coordinator: David Hydock, Ph.D.

Email: [e-mail]

Location: Gunter 2590

Telephone: [phone]

Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/nutrition-dietetics/

The Master of Science in Dietetics with Dietetic Internship program is an online/distance format, designed to prepare students for successful completion of the Registered Dietitian Examination as well as entry-level practice. This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

There are two distinct pathways/timelines: 1) The accelerated pathway is two years. This path will start distance internship rotations the first summer, which will allow you to complete your coursework and rotations in 2 years. This pathway does not require a capstone project, only a departmental comprehensive examination. 2) The traditional pathway is three years in duration with all distance internship rotation beginning after your 2 years of MS coursework. This pathway provides the flexibility for individuals to work while completing coursework and offers the option to complete a capstone project OR a departmental comprehensive examination.

The curriculum of 41 credits (31 MS coursework + 10 DI) supports the development of skills related to being a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and provides hands-on learning opportunities in supervised practice settings. Through their coursework, students will develop critical thinking and leadership skills that will support their future work and development as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. This program assumes an undergraduate background in Nutrition and Dietetics and completion of the Didactic Courses in Dietetics.

Areas emphasized include: nutrient metabolism, nutrition assessment, nutrition counseling methods, nutrition communication, public health nutrition and research methods. Career opportunities include registered dietitian nutritionist positions in hospitals, clinics, public health departments, government agencies, research settings industry and schools.

The required comprehensive examination for the Master of Science in Dietetics with Dietetic Internship will be satisfied by successful completion of a departmental comprehensive examination OR a capstone project that provides students the opportunity to complete and in-depth study of an area of evidence-based research/practice, write a comprehensive paper and present the project results.

Admission

Location: Online

Start Term: Fall

General Master's Degree Admission Requirements

Dietetics M.S. with Dietetic Internship

Admission Deadline

Fall Term:

• UNC Early Admission (Available to UNC students and alumni)
  • Applications must be sent to [e-mail] by 5 p.m. Mountain time on Dec. 15.
• General admission
  • Applications due to DICAS by Feb. 1
  • Notification Date: March 1
  • Applicant Decision Day: March 15

MSDI Early Admission (UNC students and alumni)
Early admission is available to UNC DPD students and graduates. Opting for early admission allows applicants to bypass the DICAS system and receive their acceptance notification earlier than our general admission candidates. Please email [e-mail] for instructions on how to apply for early admission.

Admission Requirement

MSDI Early Admission (UNC students and alumni)

Early admission is available to UNC DPD students and graduates. Opting for early admission allows applicants to bypass the DICAS system and receive their acceptance notification earlier than our general admission candidates. Please email [e-mail] for instructions on how to apply for early admission. 

Admission Requirements for General Admission MSDI (DICAS)

Step 1: Apply to DICAS: The Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Service

• The online application must be completed for our program by 11:59 p.m. Central time on Feb. 1.
• The fee to use DICAS is $50 for the first application submitted and $25 for each additional application. 
• Declaration of Intent or Verification Statement from an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics is required. 
• Personal statement in 1,000 words or fewer. Forgo answering the questions provided by DICAS and instead answer the following questions specific to UNC’s program:
  • Why are you interested in the UNC MSDI program?
  • What led you to pursue a career in dietetics?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses or areas needing improvement?
  • What are your professional goals and how do you envision yourself as a leader within the profession?
• Three letters of recommendation. Students submitting more than one application will need to use the same individuals as references for each application. One reference must be from a current or former employer, one from a dietetics professor and the third is your choice (professional or academic).
• You may be asked to participate in a telephone interview.  If you are not requested to participate, this does not mean that your application is not being considered.
• During the application screening process, your application documents are reviewed and a numerical score calculated by members of the review committee is used to rank applications.  An objective spreadsheet is used to calculate the points each applicant has earned during the review process.
• Please note: For the M.S. in Dietetics with Dietetic Internship, you are not required to submit the Preceptor Form, Facility Form and Rotation Summary Form. These will be due during the first year of the program once accepted.
• If you have technical concerns with your application, please contact DICAS.
• Please note that this step is not required for the UNC early admission process.

Step 2: Pay Program Application Fee

The Dietetics M.S. with Dietetic Internship program has an application fee that is separate from DICAS. This must be paid by the general admission deadline listed above. This application fee is non-refundable. Application fee link.

Note About the GRE

This program does not require GRE scores.

Required Additional Documentation

The Graduate School will require additional documentation in order to be recognized as a graduate student. Instructions will be provided after your DICAS application has been reviewed.

Questions? Please send questions to [e-mail]. 

International Applicants

International applicants (non-U.S. citizen/non-U.S. Permanent Resident) please refer to the International Admissions Requirements page for further information about submitting transcripts, English proficiency scores, passport copy and financial documentation.

For More Information 
For more information about the admission process to the graduate program, please email the Office of Admissions at [e-mail] or call 970-351-2881. For information about the dietetic internship, please contact [e-mail].

Degree Requirements — 41 Credits

Required Major Credits — 19 credits

FND 530	Nutrition Assessment and Intervention Methods	3
FND 570	Nutrition Counseling Methods	3
FND 551	Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism - Macronutrients	3
FND 553	Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism - Micronutrients	3
FND 652	Public Health Nutrition	3
FND 615	Communication of Current Topics in Nutrition and Dietetics	3
FND 600	Dietetic Internship Seminar	1

Select one of the following research methods courses — 3 credits

SES 602	Introduction to Research in Sport and Exercise Science	3
SRM 600	Introduction to Graduate Research	3

Elective Credits — Choose 9 credits from the list below

Alternate electives, including FND 622 - Directed Study, may be selected with advisor approval prior to registration for the course.

FND 625	Advanced Maternal and Child Nutrition	3
FND 655	Sports Nutrition	3
FND 630	Sustainability, Food Systems, and Nutrition	3
FND 622	Directed Study	1- 3

Supervised Practice Practicum — 10 credits

FND 592

Dietetics Supervised Practice

1-10

FND 592: Hours required for each semester will be determined by the Dietetic Internship Director and Staff Specialist. Must register and complete a total of 10 hours.

Program Notes

The Master of Science in Dietetics with Dietetic Internship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606 (800-877-1600). With successful completion of the Dietetics M.S. with Dietetic Internship, the graduate is eligible to take the registration exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

Potential applicants are required to submit an application to Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) and register with the D & D Digital Matching site in addition to submitting an application to the Graduate School at the University of Northern Colorado. Admission to the Graduate School does not guarantee admission into the Dietetics graduate program.

The program is offered according to a cohort model in which all students take the courses in the same sequence. The required comprehensive examination will be satisfied by successful completion of a professional paper about your capstone project during the capstone course.

Back to Top