Combined M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetic Internship Program (MS/DI)

The combined M.S. in Nutrition/Dietetic Internship Program (DI) is completed in 38 credits. Accepted students complete 20 hours of online M.S. in Nutrition coursework and 18 credits of Dietetic Internship Program specific coursework that includes a minimum of 1200 hours of supervised practice. Students who successfully complete the program receive a Masters in Nutrition and a Verification Statement of Program Completion. They are then eligible to take the National Examination to become a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RD/RDN). The program offers a concentration in Entrepreneurial Nutrition Practice.

Mission and Goals

The mission of the College of Saint Elizabeth Dietetic Internship Program is to provide dietetic interns with didactic and supervised practice experiences meeting the requirements of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). With unique learning opportunities and strong faculty support, the program promotes the professional development of each dietetic intern within his or her concentration in Entrepreneurial Nutrition Practice.

Rooted in the College's institutional mission, the College of Saint Elizabeth Dietetic Internship extends the college’s long history of academic excellence and quality education with a concentration on leadership in dietetics, service to the community and ethical practice.

• Prepare program graduates for ethical, evidence-based entry level positions in dietetics meeting the Core Competencies for the RD as established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) with an emphasis on acquisition of knowledge and practice skills specific to the Entrepreneurial Nutrition Practice Concentration.
• Provide an environment in which graduates complete the program having developed leadership skills and a commitment to service through the exposure to community rotations, self-assessment of competence, initiation of draft continuing education plan and completion of capstone portfolio.

Supervised Practice

Supervised practice is divided into five areas: Clinical Dietetics, Departmental Management, Community Nutrition, Professional Development and the Entrepreneurial Nutrition Practice Concentration. The schedule is planned on a rotational basis. Students will participate in a supervised practice orientation prior to starting supervised practice hours.

Over 470 hours are devoted to clinical dietetics which includes intensive training in a variety of medical surgical specialties, diabetes, renal, nutrition support and long-term care. Departmental Management is completed in either a healthcare setting or at an alternative site based on the prior experiences of the student. This rotation is accomplished in just under 200 hours.

During the Community Nutrition rotation, students experience a variety of settings including child nutrition programs, community outreach and women's health. An 80-hour culminating practice experience, evidence analysis case study presentation, professional and lay communication experiences and participation in the New Jersey Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Annual Meeting and/or other professional activities comprise the Professional Development rotation.

The Entrepreneurial Nutrition Practice concentration includes 160 hours in Nutrition Education and Counseling at the College's Center for Nutrition or at another college or university and in Corporate Wellness. The Retail/Supermarket unit consists of 64 hours and rounds out the 224 hours in the concentration. A complete list of our practice hours and rotations can be found at the website on the Dietetic Internship page www.steu.edu/di.

Full and Part-Time Option

The full-time option spans two academic years and requires participation in supervised practice in summer sessions. Full-time students are expected to enroll in at least nine credits in the fall and spring semesters of the first year, which provides full time graduate status. Full-time students must successfully complete 18 credits of the MS in Nutrition Core and Electives outlined above prior to beginning supervised practice.

During the first year, students take coursework online and do not need to relocate. During the second academic year, full time students complete 32 hours (4 days) of supervised practice and participate in seminar one day a week and would be expected to live in the program's geographic area (NJ, NY or PA within commuting distance – approximately 2 hours from the college).

The part-time option spans 2 ½ to 3 academic years. During supervised practice part time interns must complete 24 hours (3 days) of supervised practice a week and participate in seminar one day a week. The coursework schedule will vary for the part-time intern. Part-time interns will participate in the DI specific coursework and begin supervised practice during the second year of the program. Part time students will enroll in at least six online credits for each of the first two academic semesters in the program. Part time interns can accelerate completion of the program by enrolling in more than six credits of MS in Nutrition Core and Elective courses a semester. Supervised practice will span 1 ½ years; the program could be completed in 2 ½ academic years instead of 3 if the student would like to accelerate the coursework.

Practice Sites

Supervised practice will be scheduled on a rotation basis at teaching and/or community hospitals, long-term care centers, and other health care facilities, schools, clinics and outpatient programs, primarily located in northern and central New Jersey. Additional site placements in parts of NY and PA may be possible based on a student's place of residence. The placement must be within a reasonable commute to the college. The MS/DI is not accredited to provide supervised practice in a distance format.

Community nutrition, educational agencies and corporations provide additional practice opportunities. Experiences will be supervised by College of Saint Elizabeth faculty, Registered Dietitians and other qualified food and nutrition or health professionals employed by the sites. While specific site placements cannot be guaranteed, faculty makes every effort to place students within a reasonable commute for the intern.

All sites participate on a voluntary basis. The faculty/staff of the college are responsible for all contractual and insurance arrangements and placements, with the exception of Community Nutrition Education. Students are responsible to identify a community practice site. Students are also responsible for communicating with sites for workplace details (time/ place to report, ID badge needs, etc), as well as for their own travel and parking arrangements.

General Admission Procedures

The Combined MS/DI program has three steps to the application process. Applicants must participate in the (1) Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Service (DICAS) and (2) D&D Digital processes, including meeting all DICAS and D&D Digital deadlines. Applicants are responsible for fees paid directly to DICAS and D&D as well as for the CSE MS/DI application fee. The third step (3) in the process is to complete the program's Applicant Interview Availability form and submit the Application Fee to the college available at www.steu.edu/di.

Applicants are not required to complete additional college application components. The Combined MS/DI application process is separate from other graduate program admissions. Applicants are responsible for meeting all application deadlines. A selection committee that includes Foods and Nutrition Program faculty, supervised practice preceptors and alums completes the ranking process for this application option.

Students accepting pre-select or matched appointments to the program will be expected to complete a modified graduate application and provide original transcripts and an original DPD verification statement to the Director of Graduate Nutrition before beginning the program.

Bachelor's Degree and DPD Verification

All students matched to the MS/DI must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent and a Verification Statement from a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), meeting requirements of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.

At the time of application, students who have not completed the educational requirements provide an Intent to Complete on DICAS through the DPD Director at their institutions. Applicants must successfully complete a bachelor's degree and DPD Verification prior to the program's start date. Applicants matched to the program must provide an official transcript with degree noted and DPD Verification Statement prior to the program's start date.

Medical and Background Clearance

Final acceptance into the Program requires the applicant to meet all admission criteria, health and medical requirements including proof of immunization including but not limited to MMR, varicella, Hep B., Proof proof of medical insurance and student healthcare background clearance are also required.

In addition, those matched to the program must complete acceptable background checks and medical clearances at the expense of the applicant. This is required as a condition of admission to the MS/DI program. Certain medical clearances must be obtained during a specified time period before the start of the supervised practice. Interns will be advised regarding the proper forms and time line to complete these requirements.