May 29, 2025  
2016-2017 University Catalog 
    
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2016-2017 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Clinical Nutrition/Dietetic Internship, MS

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Combined Master’s Degree/Dietetic Internship

The combined MS/Dietetic Internship program is a 21-month program that integrates didactic and practicum experience. All students complete a thesis research project. 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 completed 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/nutrition.

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

Acceptance procedures and timelines for the Combined MS/Dietetic Internship are specified by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics and can be found at www.eatright.org/ACEND. Students are required to follow these directions for acceptance to the program. After students have verbally accepted the appointment, the Rush Dietetic Internship Director will email them 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.

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 both the MS/Dietetic Internship and the MS for Registered Dietitian programs 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

A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater is required of all graduates. The Combined MS/Dietetic Internship program students shall complete the internship requirements within 24 months and the MS degree within five years from matriculation. Registered Dietitians enrolled in the MS Degree for Registered Dietitians shall complete degree requirements within five years from matriculation.

Clinical Nutrition: Research Activities

All students will complete a master’s thesis. 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

The practitioner-teacher model is evident in the fully integrated operational and academic facilities/staff, providing unique opportunities for the merging of theory and practice within one institution. Two departments jointly administer the combined MS/Dietetic Internship program. The Department of Food and Nutrition Services at Rush University Medical Center provides the internship or supervised practice experience. The didactic component of the Master of Science degree is provided by the Department of Clinical Nutrition at Rush University. In addition to the academic program, the Department of Food and Nutrition Services provides nutrition services to the hospital andto the outpatient area, operates three foodservice units within  the Medical Center and provides leadership in nutrition support in critical care.

Students in both programs 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 Combined Master of Science (MS)/Dietetic Internship program is offered on a full-time basis only. The program extends over seven quarters including a summer session. The supervised practice experiences must be completed within 31.5 months. The didactic and research components of the master’s degree should be completed in seven quarters; 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 nine quarter 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.

The MS Degree for Registered Dietitans Program is offered on a part-time or full-time basis.  A full-time student can complete the program in seven quarters; all students must complete the program within five years of matriculation.  Students may be allowed to tansfer up to nine quarter hours of applicable graduate credit from another accredited university.  Graduate courses must be completed with a B grade or better and approved by the student’s supervisory committee to be awarded transfer credit.

If a student is not finished with either program 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 505 , NTR 506  and a grade of P (pass) (equivalent to a grade of B or better) in NTR 511  NTR 512 , NTR 513 , NTR 514 , NTR 515 , NTR 516 , NTR 517  and NTR 518 . 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 Committee on Academic Progress and Promotions. 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.

Students in the MS Degree for Registered Dietitians 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 Committee on Academic Progress and Promotions.  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.

Clinical Nutrition: Curriculum Master of Science Degree/Dietetic Internship Program Curriculum

Year 1

Fall Quarter

Winter Quarter

Spring Quarter

Year 2

Summer Quarter

Fall Quarter

Winter Quarter

Spring Quarter

Hours Required for MS Degree: 83

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