MS/DI overview

Mission Statement

The mission of the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics/Dietetic Internship is to provide a comprehensive curriculum to prepare entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists through engagement in methods, implementation and interpretation of nutrition science, and to apply and advance the field of nutrition through clinical, management or community areas of practice.

Overview

The University of Delaware combined MS/DI is approved to accept up to 9 interns annually.

Students accepted into the MS/DI track will complete 27 graduate credits towards their Master’s degree during the first year of the program.  The first year includes fall semester, winter session, spring semester and summer session.

Two tracks are available for students in the MS/DI program:

1. In-person: Students must be able to travel to the University of Delaware campus in Newark, Delaware to complete the coursework during the first year of the program. In the second year, students will complete their supervised practice rotations in the State of Delaware. At the time of application, applicants indicate their preferred county for rotation placements using the Application Checklist. Students in the in-person track do not plan their own schedules; all rotation schedules are planned by internship faculty. 
2. Distance: Students complete all coursework during the first year of the program in a synchronous online format.  Prior to March 31 in the first year of study, students must identify appropriate rotation sites outside the State of Delaware for the supervised practice experiences in year 2 of the program. The student or preceptors will need to send the completed preceptor agreement forms and copies of the preceptors’ resumes to the Program Director at bschwenk@udel.edu. Additional guidance on selecting appropriate sites is available on the Facilities page and from the Program Director.

Before beginning their supervised practice experiences during the second year, all MS/DI students will attend the mandatory one-week orientation program in mid-July on the campus of the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware. The purpose of this experience is to help students make the transition between graduate education and the professional practice environment.

In addition to the supervised practice experience, MS/DI students take an online graduate course in fall semester and winter session of the second year. Various faculty and practitioners serve as guest speakers on current topics relevant to the practice of nutrition and dietetics.