Nutrition

Program Director: Jessica Burfield, MS, RD, LDN

Immaculata has a long tradition of preparing professional leaders in the field of nutrition. The Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences continues to meet this challenge by offering a diverse blend of coursework to meet the unique needs of every graduate student. Two options are available for obtaining a master’s degree in Nutrition depending upon the individual’s background and career goals.

1. The Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition with the ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship (MSDI)  is for those who want to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN) while simultaneously earning a graduate degree.
2. The Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition is designed for individuals who already hold the Registered Dietitian credential and would like to further their education by earning a master’s degree, or for those who have an interest in nutrition but do not plan to become a Registered Dietitian. This program also provides the opportunity for collaboration with stand-alone dietetic internship programs that do not offer the required master’s degree option. Additionally, students seeking to become a Registered Dietitian may enroll in this program to receive preferred admittance into the MSDI program.

The graduate nutrition programs will enable the student to:

• Obtain in –depth knowledge of nutrient metabolism, medical nutrition therapy, changing nutrition needs throughout the life cycle, and specialized topics in applied nutrition.
• Communicate nutrition information to various audiences, utilizing knowledge of interpersonal communication, program development and implementation, and counseling skills.
• Plan, implement, evaluate and present original research.
• Utilize nutrition literature and resources, integrate nutrition knowledge from a variety of sources, and apply this knowledge to complex, real-world human situations.
• Develop enhanced knowledge and skills that prepare the student to obtain an entry-level position or advance to higher-level career positions and leadership opportunities in nutrition and dietetics.

Programs of Study

Applicants to the graduate nutrition program are required to have a bachelor’s degree with completion of prerequisite coursework. Prerequisites vary depending on the option selected (see individual option below for specific requirements). Students applying to the Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition with Dietetic Internship must complete Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics academic prerequisites. As deemed necessary, students will be required to take undergraduate courses to meet these admission requirements prior to acceptance into the graduate program.

• Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition with Dietetic Internship (39 credits)
• Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition (non-Dietetic Internship Track) (30 credits)

Master of Science Degree in Clinical Nutrition, Combined With Dietetic Internship (MSDI)*

This track of the program is designed for those who want to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN). The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requires a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised experiential practice and a graduate degree to meet the entry- level registration eligibility education requirements for dietitians. Individuals who successfully complete the MSDI program meet these requirements and are eligible to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registrations’ Registration Examination for Registered Dietitians.

With an emphasis in cultural competence and diversity in dietetics practice, the MSDI will provide you with an in-depth understanding of nutrient metabolism, medical nutrition therapy, and changing nutritional needs throughout the life cycle, along with specialized topics in applied nutrition. The Dietetic Internship provides supervised experience in dietetics practice at leading health care facilities in the surrounding area. The internship requires an intensive commitment of working full-time for approximately 10 months.

*Admission to the MSDI requires completion of an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) program, or equivalent program with verification statement. An ACEND approved DPD program is available at Immaculata University.

Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition with Dietetic Internship (39 credits)

Required Courses

During your first year in the MSDI, you will take 24 graduate credits. All courses are offered online; most are asynchronous. In your second year of the program, you will complete your remaining graduate courses along with the dietetic internship on a full-time basis (see details below).

Dietetic Internship

The Dietetic Internship will give you supervised experience in dietetics practice. The internship integrates our graduate nutrition faculty’s academic expertise with the medical and dietetic expertise of leading health care facilities in the surrounding area. The internship requires an intensive commitment of working full-time for approximately 10 months.

As part of the MSDI program, the dietetic internship will provide 12 graduate credits with four graduate courses: Preparation for Internship (NED 659) and Internship Experience in Nutrition I, II and III (NED 662-664). Through these courses, students will complete a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised experiential learning to meet the requirements set by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

Following the successful completion of the supervised experiential learning portion of the internship and all required courses with a minimum grade of a “B”, students will be awarded the master's degree and will receive a verification statement granting eligibility to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians. A candidate will become a RD/RDN upon passing the exam.

The following are required for application to Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition with Dietetic Internship Program:

• Application to, and acceptance or pending acceptance to the College of Graduate Studies
• Completion or anticipated completion prior to the start of the program of an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and a verification statement or Declaration of Intent from the DPD
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall and 3.2 in DPD coursework (4-point GPA scale) *
• Experience (paid or volunteer) in a foodservice and /or clinical setting
• Completion of the Dietetic internship Application via DICAS. Applicants must submit a personal statement, 3 letters of recommendation, all transcripts, and a resume. All applications will be reviewed by the Dietetic Internship Committee. Suitable applicants will be selected for a personal interview
• Acceptance will be based on academic performance, work experience, recommendations, and interview. Current Immaculata graduate students must have earned a minimum grade of “B” in required courses and a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall at the time of application to the dietetic internship
• Early Admission to the MSDI is available for qualified students enrolled in Immaculata’s undergraduate DPD or bridge to DPD programs and Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition (non-dietetic internship track).

* The minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and DPD GPA of 3.2 may be waived for a student who has completed at least 12 credits with a minimum graduate GPA of 3.25

Preparation for verification/internship for non-nutrition baccalaureate students:

The option allows the student to achieve eligibility for a Dietetic internship when the student has completed a baccalaureate degree in a non-nutrition major. The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) has established educational requirements for eligibility to apply for a Dietetic Internship. The minimum requirements include a baccalaureate degree in any subject and completion of the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) required courses. Since Immaculata University has an ACEND accredited undergraduate DPD, prospective applicants to the Immaculata MSDI can complete the required courses at the undergraduate level without having to earn an additional degree. The course requirement varies for each student based on prior coursework, which will be determined by the DPD director.

International students seeking admittance to the MSDI must contact the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences for a list of agencies acceptable to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Immaculata University for their course-by-course transcript evaluation.

Master of Science Degree in Clinical Nutrition (Non-Dietetic Internship Track)

The Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition is designed for individuals who already hold the Registered Dietitian credential and would like to further their education by earning a master’s degree, or for those who have an interest in nutrition but do not plan to become a Registered Dietitian. This program also provides the opportunity for collaboration with stand-alone dietetic internship programs that do not offer the required master’s degree option. Additionally, students seeking to become a Registered Dietitian may enroll in this program to receive preferred admittance into the MSDI program.

Like the MSDI, the Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition has an emphasis on cultural competence and diversity in dietetics practice and will provide you with an in-depth understanding of nutrient metabolism, medical nutrition therapy, and changing nutritional needs throughout the life cycle, along with specialized topics in applied nutrition. This program also provides you with the opportunity to take additional courses in Special Nutrition Topics and/or electives focused on your personal goals and professional development interests. Coursework can be completed in as few as three (3) terms or more depending on preference. All courses are offered online; most are asynchronous.

Admission to the Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition requires completion of an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) program, or equivalent program with verification statement OR current status as a Registered Dietitian Nutrition with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition  (30 credits)

Required Courses

The following are required for application to Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition Program:

• Application to and acceptance to the College of Graduate Studies. Applicants must submit a personal statement; 3 letters of recommendation; all transcripts; a resume/CV; and a DPD verification statement or Declaration of Intent from the DPD OR evidence of current status as a Registered Dietitian Nutrition with the Commission on Dietetic Registration
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall on a 4-point GPA scale
• Based on the application, applicants may be asked to complete an interview prior to admission.
• Students who apply to the program as an avenue for early acceptance to the MSDI must meet the requirements of the MSDI program, noted above.

Course Descriptions

View NED course descriptions.