General Program Information
Graduate School Contact:
Mary Duncan; duncanm@etsu.edu; 423-439-4702
Michelle L. Lee, Ph.D., R.D., Graduate Coordinator
100 Hutcheson Hall
Box 70690
(423) 439-7524
e-mail: leeml2@etsu.edu
Don Samples, Ed.D.
384 Lamb Hall
Box 70282
(423) 439-7454
e-mail: samplesd@etsu.edu
The Department of Allied Health Sciences offers a two-year program in clinical nutrition leading to a master of science degree. The 36-40 credit curriculum provides a study of medical nutrition therapy, management, nutrition in community, and nutrition research. The dietetic internship program (DI), which includes 1200 hours of supervised practice, also incorporates graduate level coursework as a mandatory component of the program. Students who choose to complete a thesis and an internship will be required to take 46 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, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312/899-5400. Students successfully completing the M.S. degree requirements and the internship program will be eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians. Upon completion of the program and successful completion of the registration exam, students may become registered dietitians (RD) and seek positions as clinical, community, research, consultant, educator, and management dietitians.
Program Admission Requirements
- Admission to the School of Graduate Studies.
- 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.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the applicant’s undergraduate major and/or minor discipline.
- Satisfactory references from three persons familiar with the applicant’s academic and work experience.
- Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Exam. (GRE)
Applications are accepted for the M.S. in Clinical Nutrition in January and February. Guidelines for applying are found in the Graduate Catalog and on the ETSU web site. 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.
Internship Experience (Non-Thesis Option): 13 Credit Hours
The dietetic internship requires 13 credits in supervised practice/practicum settings. Students complete these under the guidance of registered dietitians at a variety of clinical, community, and food service management sites. The internship practicum rotations follow completion of the didactic coursework for the M.S. in clinical nutrition. Students in the internship will be responsible for costs related to clinical rotations including but not limited to: 1. liability insurance; 2. transportation; 3. professional membership fees; and 4. required medical screenings. For more information about the program, please contact the program director at (423) 439-7524.
Non-thesis option/dietetic internship experience includes the following 13 credits to be taken after completing the graduate coursework above:
Note:
Elective courses will be determined by the Graduate Advisory Committee that is responsible for overseeing the student’s overall academic program, including the program of study. Courses applicable to this program exist at ETSU in the colleges of Public Health, Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences, Nursing, Arts and Sciences, and Business and Technology.
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