All applicants are considered for Graduate Assistantships. No additional application is required.  

All admitted students are guaranteed at least $10,000 in merit scholarship (2024/2025 application cycle)

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Program Overview

The DPD/MS+DI program is uniquely designed for individuals with an undergraduate degree outside of dietetics, who aspire to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). 

This ACEND accredited program combines Didactic Programs in Dietetics (DPD) courses and a graduate degree emphasizing an understanding of research to inform evidence-based nutrition practice with a full-time DI. 

The DPD/MS portion spans five full time semesters.  In under three years, you will be eligible to take the national RDN credentialing exam after completing: 

  • Foundational coursework required for the DPD verification statement
  • MS Nutrition degree, which includes a practicum in an area of your interest, with courses to deepen your understanding of nutrition science and metabolism, build counseling skills, teach nutrition assessment skills in our state-of-the-art clinical simulation center, and train you to evaluate, understand, and implement the results of current research
  • Accredited Dietetic Internship

Note that the DPD/Master of Science Program in Nutrition+Dietetic Internship is currently designated by US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a STEM-eligible degree program. International students in F-1 student status may be able to apply for a 24-month extension of their 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment authorization.  More information about STEM OPT eligibility is available from the BU International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO).

Research and Practicum

The MS degree program will prepare you to critically evaluate and implement the results of current research, solve problems and communicate effectively. You’ll study with faculty involved in research, education, administration, professional practice, communication and consulting. The MS degree requires a minimum of 32 graduate credits, completed with a minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 for graduate level courses (700-level or above).

As part of your program, you will complete a research project and a practicum experience in an area of interest to you. The practicum is a 3-credit course. You will spend a minimum of 150 hours during the semester working with an RDN or other health care professional in an area of your interest. This coveted experience allows you to customize your program and provides an ideal opportunity to begin exploring the numerous career possibilities in dietetics and nutrition.  Students have completed the practicum in a wide range of settings, including clinical, research, sports and performance nutrition, community, public health, academic, food service, industry, communications, and private practice. Learn more about our practicum course.

Verification and Accreditation

After satisfactory completion of the five-semester DPD/MS program, you will receive a DPD Verification Statement and be awarded an MS degree. The Director, Dietetic Internship and the Director, Programs in Nutrition will initiate the process of assessing and reviewing your prior learning in these courses before beginning the Dietetic Internship.

The Didactic Program in Dietetics/Master of Science is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL, 60606-6995, 312-899-0400, extension 5400 (http://www.eatrightpro.org/acend).

NOTE: As of January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requires an advanced degree (minimum of a Master’s degree) as well as a Bachelor’s degree to be eligible to sit for the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). More info is available from the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND’s considered opinion that the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND-accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state’s licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license. More information about state licensure and certification can be found at this link: State Licensure.

Dietetic (DI) Internship Program

The ACEND-accredited DI is a critical component of the DPD/MS+DI program. The DI is a full-time, 29-week experience designed to provide you with critical thinking skills and prepare you for the national registration exam and entry-level employment as an RDN. 

Our training sites, throughout Massachusetts, provide excellent opportunities to observe and participate in a wide variety of specialty areas of practice such as community nutrition, medical and surgical care, nutrition support, oncology, nephrology, cardiology, diabetes, out-patient counseling, food service, and food service management and engage with people across the life span from children to aging adults.  Each intern completes a staff relief rotation and an elective rotation in an area of their interest. The MS and DPD coursework must be completed successfully before entry into the DI.

A car may be necessary to get to the DI as some sites are as far as 60 miles from Sargent College.  Each student should be prepared to provide their own transportation to sites that are not accessible by public transportation.

The DI is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995; Telephone: 312-899-0040 ext. 5400 (https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend).

Learn more on our DI Program page.

Credentialing

After successful completion of the DI, which includes documentation of the completion of dietetic competencies and the program evaluation, you will have met the competencies for the supervised practice component of entry-level dietitian education programs as mandated by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). You will receive an ACEND DI Verification Statement and you will be eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration national registration exam. Graduates of our MS/DI program maintain a longstanding 100 percent pass rate on the national RDN exam within one year of completing the program.

The Boston University DI is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995. Telephone: 312-899-0040 ext. 5400. For more information, please visit the ACEND website.

Boston University Measurable Learning Outcomes

Our curriculum is guided by the achievement of specific learning outcomes. At the completion of the program, students will be able to:

  • Conduct an effective dietary counseling session.
  • Demonstrate the ability to interpret current research in nutrition and health.
  • Demonstrate the ability to design research studies to answer current and relevant nutrition-related questions.

Want to learn more?

We’d love to keep you informed of upcoming events and news! Keep in contact by filling out the Request Information form or emailing us at sargrad@bu.edu.