Master of Public Health in Nutrition Program with Concurrent Dietetic Internship (DI/MPH-N)
About:
Thank you for your interest in pursuing your DI with UMass Amherst. However, we will not be accepting applications for the AY 2022-23. We are preparing the program for required changes from ACEND during this time and hope to begin taking applications for the AY 23-24. If you have any questions, contact phonline@umass.edu
The Department of Nutrition at UMass Amherst offers the Concurrent Dietetic Internship/Online Masters in Public Health (MPH) in Nutrition Program. This full-time, 27-month, post-baccalaureate program is a combination of online master’s curricula and supervised practicum activities (DI). At various prescheduled periods, interns rotate among clinical, community, and food service sites in Massachusetts, while at the same time completing online graduate-level coursework in public health and nutrition. The supervised practice experience provides dietetic interns with the practical skills necessary to become Registered Dietitians or Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
This program offers individualized attention, as interns most often work one-on-one with their preceptors during their DI rotations and receive personal academic advising for their online coursework. Interns spend a minimum of 1200 hours in field sites, gaining experience in a variety of nutritional care, food service management, and community nutrition activities. In addition, interns meet two-three times per month for seminar and other dietetic-related networking sessions. Many healthcare facilities and other organizations throughout the state of Massachusetts cooperate with the University of Massachusetts Amherst to provide the experiences necessary to meet all the required competencies.
Learn more about this program:
To receive more information and connect with the program manager, please complete the request form .
The Concurrent DI/Online MPH in Nutrition is designed for those who have completed the Didactic Program in Dietetics as per the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Admission requirements
Admission to the Dietetic Internship/MPH-N program is competitive among applicants, and decided by the Internship Selection committee.
In addition to the Graduate School's general admission requirements, applicants must:
Enroll in the program
Students must have earned a bachelor's degree from any U.S. regionally accredited college or university (or a foreign degree, if verified as equivalent), and
Have completed an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics approved or accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics.
A recent (within the last three years) full-semester course in diet therapy, nutrition in disease, or medical nutrition therapy is also required. You must have earned at least a "B" in the diet therapy course and in Anatomy & Physiology. If you have questions about these requirements, contact the Program Director.
A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale) for college work is expected. GPA of nutrition and science courses, difficulty of particular courses taken, and student's course load throughout college is also considered. Work experience, letters of recommendation, and letter of application are all-important components of the evaluation process.
The Bachelor’s degree must be from an American college or university, or an international equivalent degree.
Applicants with health-related work or volunteer experiences that include client or patient contact will receive priority. Please explain your health-related work experience fully.
Application deadline
Mid - February for mid - May admission.
IMPORTANT: All applicants for the Concurrent DI/MPH-N must apply to both the Dietetic Internship and to the University of Massachusetts Amherst Graduate School’s Online MPH in Nutrition program. The Online MPH in Nutrition application will include a personal statement, letters of reference, transcripts, and GRE scores. Please go to the website and read about Track 2 for more details.
Admission is competitive - only 5 applicants will be accepted. Apply early! Here's how…
Go to the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) website to send your internship application.
Go to D&D Digital to prioritize your application for matching.
Submit your application to the Online MPH in Nutrition program by proceeding to the UMass Amherst Graduate School Application website. There are other MPH programs at UMass, so be sure that you choose the Online MPH in Nutrition. If you have additional questions about applying to the Online MPH in Nutrition, please e-mail us at mphn@nutrition.umass.edu
a. Read the Graduate School application form instructions carefully.
b. To submit a secure online application go to SPIRE and in the right column under Apply/References click “Apply for Graduate Study."
c. A personal statement plus a minimum of two typed letters of recommendation are required from individuals best suited to assess the applicant's abilities. Please ask current employers, former supervisors, and colleagues.
d. Request original official transcripts in duplicate from each college or university you have attended.
e. Provide GRE General Test results.
Plan of Study:
Curriculum / Credits
For 2014-15, the DI rotations are all located in Massachusetts, with most located in the western region of the state. We do not offer distance DI rotations. Thus, participants in the Concurrent DI/MPH-N will need to reside within driving distance to Massachusetts rotation sites throughout the 27-month program.
The MPH in Nutrition portion of the DI/MPH-N is 100% online, flexible, and interactive. The program allows interns to earn a 44-credit master’s degree, which by 2024 will be a requirement for anyone sitting for the RD/RDN Registration Exam.
The DI/MPH-N in Nutrition degree totals 56 credits, including:
Dietetic Internship rotations (12 Credits)
A core of graduate-level public health courses (15 credits)
Courses emphasizing nutrition (15 credits of coursework, 2 credits of graduate seminar, 3 credits of nutrition electives, 3 credits of public health nutrition/community practicum)
Culminating experience (6 credits)
Program Highlights
Graduate MPH in Nutrition coursework is 100% online; flexibility in when and where you study; allows individuals to earn an MPH while completing the DI.
Interactive online coursework is engaging and provides students with the opportunity to interact with health professionals such as dietitians, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dental hygienists, health education specialists, and other health professionals all over the U.S. and the world.
Small group of interns provides individual attention for site rotations.
Wide variety of affiliated rotation sites. Intern preferences used to select sites.
27 month program beginning in May
Requires full-time hours, studying and some work also on weekends.
Culturally and intellectually vibrant, also rural, picturesque location
Top-notch, dedicated, and caring preceptors and faculty
DI Seminars approximately 2-3 times per month on Fridays; seminars for the Online MPH in Nutrition use an online webinar system for live presentations that are recorded if you, at times, cannot attend.
Financial Aid:
Availability of financial aid varies depending on matriculation and course status. Please check with your program manager or advisor to determine your eligibility. Generally, if you are matriculated in a degree program and are enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits each semester, you may qualify for financial aid.
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