Clinical Nutrition, M.S.

General Program Information

Michelle L. Lee, Ph.D., R.D., Graduate Coordinator
208 Hutcheson Hall
Box 70260
(423) 439-7524
e-mail: leeml2@etsu.edu

Bea Owens, PT, Ph.D., CHT Department Chair (Interim)
VA Campus, Building 2
(423) 439-8791

The Department of Rehabilitative Sciences offers a four-semester program that is a combination of didactic clinical nutrition coursework, and dietetic internship which leads to a masters’ of science degree in Clinical Nutrition. The dietetic internship program, which includes 1000 hours of supervised practice, requires an additional application through the online dietetic internship centralized application process (DICAS).  The 36-40 credit curriculum provides a study of medical nutrition therapy, management, nutrition in community, and nutrition research. Students who choose to complete a thesis and an internship will be required to take 40 credits.  

The dietetic internship program 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 60606-6995, (800) 877-1600, ext 5400.  The web address is https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend.  Students successfully completing the M.S. degree requirements and the internship rotations will be eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration Examination. Upon completion of the program and successful completion of the registration exam, students may become registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) and seek positions as clinical, community, research, consultant, educator, and management dietitians. 

Program Admission Requirements

1. Completion of the undergraduate didactic program in dietetics (DPD). Students applying to the dietetic internship program must also have received a verification statement or the intent to graduate from the DPD program director. Students from related disciplines will be required to complete the undergraduate prerequisites mandated by ACEND, with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale.
       or
   Credentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) for the Advanced Standing degree. (Must provide copy of RD card.)
2. A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the applicant’s undergraduate major and/or minor discipline.
3. Satisfactory references from three persons familiar with the applicant’s academic and work experience.

Admission to the School of Graduate Studies

Guidelines for applying are found in the Graduate Catalog and on the ETSU website. Dietetic Internship applications are accepted once per year in mid-February. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics set this deadline in accordance with the national computer matching process. Applicants will be notified of admission status in April for the Dietetic Internship Program. Students who are not applying for the internship program may be admitted and begin graduate coursework at the beginning of any semester.