Department of Clinical Nutrition

Clinical Nutrition: Academic Programs

Master of Science

The MS Degree program is for those who hold the baccalaureate degree and wish to expand their understanding of human nutrition through critical evaluation, integration and application of nutrition research. The student has the option of selecting a thesis or non-thesis track. Those in the thesis track are required to take 6 credits of thesis research and will complete their own research project. Those in the non-thesis track will take 1-3 credits of independent study and have a research experience.

Clinical Nutrition: Admission Requirements

Applicants for the MS Degree

All applicants for the MS degree in Clinical Nutrition must have earned the baccalaureate degree. Obtaining the MS degree in Clinical Nutrition without an accredited supervised practice will not make the student eligible to sit for the registration exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

Prerequisite courses from an accredited US university that are required for admission to the MS degree include:

At least one course in biochemistry*
At least one course in physiology
At least one course in nutrition
At least one course in statistics

*Students should note that two semesters of general chemistry and one semester of organic chemistry are typically the prerequisites for biochemistry. The prerequisite for physiology is an introductory biology course.

Students applying to the MS Degree complete an online application to Rush University at http://ruapplying.learn.rush.edu. Application requirements, required application fees and the application process are specified on the Department of Clinical Nutrition website at www.rushu.rush.edu/nutrition. Contact Kathryn S. Keim, PhD, RD, Chair at Kathy_Keim@rush.edu or call (312) 942-2812 for questions.

Acceptance procedures for the MS Degree include a review of application materials by the Rush University College of Health Sciences Admissions Office for completeness of application and a review by the Clinical Nutrition Admissions Committee for program acceptance. Students may be admitted in any of the three semesters. Students accepted into the MS Degree program will receive a letter of acceptance from the Rush University College of Health Sciences Admissions Office. A program acceptance confirmation fee of $250 is required at this time. This fee is nonrefundable and will be applied to tuition for the first term. There are two tracks in the MS in Clinical Nutrition degree; thesis and non-thesis. The student will decide during the first term which track they will pursue.

Required Testing for all Applicants

Applicants for the MS Degree in Clinical Nutrition will need to submit results of the following:

Graduate Record Examination
International applicants - graduates who obtained their education outside the United States and its territories must have their academic degree(s) validated as equivalent to the baccalaureate or master’s degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. These applicants also must submit results of TOEFL examination (see College of Health Sciences TOEFL requirements).

Clinical Nutrition: Graduation Requirements

Once admitted into the MS Degree in Clinical Nutrition program, students embark on a journey which entails the acculumation of 36 semester hours for graduation. In order to graduate and have the degree conferred students must:

Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater.
Successfully complete all didactic coursework.
Successfully complete all requirements of the thesis/non-thesis research experience.
Pass the Rush University Interprofessional course.
Complete a minimum of 16 contact hours of approved professional or community service.

Students must complete all program requirements within 5 years from matriculation. Any student who expects to go beyond the timeframe, must request an exception to the policy in writing to the Clinical Nutrition Academic Progress and Promotions committee.

Clinical Nutrition: Research Activities

Students have the option of selecting the thesis or non-thesis track of the degree but all students will complete some form of research experience. Faculty members of the Department of Clinical Nutrition are involved in basic and applied clinical nutrition and management research. Faculty and students present at professional meetings and publish in peer reviewed journals. A list of faculty and student research presentations and publications can be found at the Clinical Nutrition website at www.rushu.rush.edu/nutrition.

Clinical Nutrition: Service Activities

Students are required to complete 16 hours of community or professional service during the program. Students meet this requirement in a variety of ways including assisting at health fairs; volunteering at the local food pantry; and assisting at local, state and national professional association meetings.

Clinical Nutrition: Academic Policies

The MS Degree is offered on a part-time or full-time basis. A full-time student can complete the program in fiveterms; all students must complete the program within five years of matriculation. Rush University requires continuous enrollment through to completion of degree (see Rush University policies for further information). Students may be allowed to transfer up to 12 semester hours of applicable graduate credit from another accredited university. Graduate courses must be completed with a “B” or better and approved by the student’s supervisory committee to be awarded transfer credit.

If a student is not finished with the MS degree in five years, a request for extension must be made to the Clinical Nutrition Academic Progress and Promotions Committee. If an extension is granted, conditions of the extension may include additional coursework to assure relevancy and currency of knowledge/competence at the master’s level.

Academic Progression

Students in the MS Degree program are required to earn grades of “C” or better in all courses. Failure to earn required grades may result in dismissal from the MS program and will result in a performance review by the Clinical Nutrition Academic Progress and Promotions committee. The faculty reserves the right to request the withdrawal of any student whose conduct or performance demonstrates lack of fitness for continuance in the graduate program.

Automatic probation for any student results when a student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) falls below 3.0 or when a student receives a grade of “D” or “F” in any course. The Clinical Nutrition Academic Progress and Promotions committee notifies any student placed on probation, states the reason(s) for probation and indicates the conditions that must be satisfied for removal of probation. A student who earns a grade of “D” or “F” in a course, other than those listed above, must repeat the course and earn at least a “C.” A student who earns a grade of “D” or “F” in more than one required course will be dismissed. Full-time students on probation must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater by the end of the next two consecutive terms. Part-time students on probation must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater after completing the next three courses (approximately 6 semester hours). Improvement in the GPA must be shown each quarter of probation.

College of Health Sciences/Rush University Academic Policies

Academic policies specific to the College of Health Sciences and Rush University are located in those sections of the catalog.

Clinical Nutrition/Dietetic Internship, MS

Combined Master’s Degree/Dietetic Internship

The combined MS/Dietetic Internship program is a 20-month program that integrates didactic and supervised experience. Students have the option of selecting a thesis or non-thesis track. Upon completion of the program, the student earns a MS degree with a major in Clinical Nutrition, completes an accredited dietetic internship and is eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians.

The dietetic internship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, the credentialing agency of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Contact information:

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
TEL: 1-800-877-1600 x4727
www.eatright.org/ACEND

Clinical Nutrition: Admission Requirements

Applicants for the Combined Master of Science (MS)/Dietetic Internship

All applicants for the Combined MS/Dietetic Internship must have earned a baccalaureate degree and have a verification statement the represents completion of requirements of an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) listed by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics at www.eatright.org/ACEND.

Application requirements, fees and the application process are specified on the Department of Clinical Nutrition website at www.rushu.rush.edu/cndi.

Contact Diane Sowa, MBA, RD Dietetic Internship Director at Diane_C_Sowa@rush.edu or 312-942-5212 for questions.

Students verbally accept the appointment and the Rush Dietetic Internship Director will email the student an acceptance letter form that students are required to complete and return.

Once students are accepted into the Dietetic Internship, they are then required to complete the application for Rush University at http://ruapplying.learn.rush.edu. A program acceptance confirmation fee of $250 is required at this time. This fee is nonrefundable and will be applied to tuition for the first quarter. There are two tracks in the Combined MS/Dietetic Internship degree. There is a thesis and non-thesis track. The students will decide during the first semester which track they will pursue. Schedules will vary based on the track selected.

Drug Testing

Rush University Medical Center requires that all prospective employees (including dietetic interns) undergo drug testing as a contingency for employment or enrollment.

Criminal Background Check

All dietetic interns will undergo a criminal background check, the purpose of which is to comply with legislation regarding employment in the health care field to assure patient safety.

Required Testing for all Applicants

Applicants for the MS/Dietetic Internship degree will need to submit results of the following:

Graduate Record Examination
International applicants - graduates who obtained their education outside the United States and its territories must have their academic degree(s) validated as equivalent to the baccalaureate or master’s degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. These applicants also must submit results of TOEFL examination (see College of Health Sciences TOEFL requirements).

Clinical Nutrition: Graduation Requirements

Once admitted to the MS/DI degree in Clinical Nutrition program, students embark on a journey which entails the accumulation of 67 semester hours for graduation. This includes a minimum of 1200 hours of Supervised Experience. In order to graduate and have the degree conferred students must:

Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater.
Successfully complete all didactic coursework.
Successfully complete all 1200 hours of Supervised Experience.
Successfully complete all requirements of the thesis/non-thesis research experience.
Pass the Rush University Interprofessional course.
Complete a minimum of 16 contact hours of approved professional or community service.

Dietetic Internship: In order to be eligible to take the registration exam administered by the Commision on Dietetic Registration, students must fulfill all requirements of the Dietetic Internship to receive a verification statement. Students must complete all Dietetic Internship program requirements within 30 months from the time they began the Dietetic Internship.

MS degree: Students must complete all program requirements within 5 years from matriculation. Any student who expects to go beyond the timeframe, must request an exception to the policy in writing to the Clinical Nutrition Academic Progress and Promotions committee.

Clinical Nutrition: Research Activities

Students have the option of selecting the thesis or non-thesis track. Faculty members of the Department of Clinical Nutrition are involved in basic and applied clinical nutrition and management research. Faculty and students present at professional meetings and publish in peer reviewed journals. A list of faculty and student research presentations and publications can be found at the Clinical Nutrition website at www.rushu.rush.edu/nutrition.

Clinical Nutrition: Service Activities

Clinical Nutrition: Academic Policies

The Combined Master of Science (MS)/Dietetic Internship program is offered on a full-time basis only. The program extends over five semesters including the summer term. The supervised practice experiences must be completed within 30 months. The didactic and research components of the master’s degree should be completed in five semesters; all students must complete coursework within five years of matriculation. Rush University requires continuous enrollment through to completion of degree (see Rush University policies for further information). Students may be allowed to transfer up to 12 semester hours hours of applicable graduate credit from another accredited university for the MS degree portion. Graduate courses must be completed with a B or better and approved by the student’s supervisory committee to be awarded transfer credit.

If a student is not finished in five years, a request for extension must be made to the Clinical Nutrition Academic Progress and Promotions Committee. If an extension is granted, conditions of the extension may include additional coursework to assure relevancy and currency of knowledge/competence at the master’s level.

Academic Progression

Students in the Combined MS/Dietetic Internship program are required to earn grades of B or better in NTR 655 and a grade of P (pass) (equivalent to a grade of B or better) in NTR 650 NTR 651, NTR 652, NTR 653, NTR 654. Grades of C or better are required in all other courses. Failure to earn minimum required grades may result in dismissal from the Combined MS/Dietetic Internship program and will result in a performance review by the Clinical Nutrition Academic Progress and Promotions committee. The faculty reserves the right to request the withdrawal of any student whose conduct or performance demonstrates lack of fitness for continuance in the graduate program.

College of Health Sciences/Rush University Academic Policies

Academic policies specific to the College of Health Sciences and Rush University are located in those sections of the catalog.