MS in Nutrition Programs (with and without Dietetic Internship)

The graduate programs offer advanced study in human nutrition. As described below, Master of Science (MS) degree programs are available for students who do, or do not, have undergraduate preparation in nutrition. Some programs incorporate the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and/or a Dietetic Internship (DI). The DPD and the DI are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995; 312-899-0040, ext. 5400. A car may be necessary to get to the DI site. The DI is a 29-week, 6-credit course requiring payment of tuition. In addition, a $1,000 fee must be paid to the site.

Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate the ability 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.

Programs of Study

Advanced Study in Nutrition Science

Students interested in advanced study of nutrition science should apply to the MS nutrition degree program. The MS nutrition degree program offers core coursework to provide advanced education in nutrition science. Beginning September 2021, as part of their core coursework, students will choose between a medical or public health model course to explore prevention of nutrition-related disease risk. In this program, students will also choose a nutrition-associated concentration to complement their study of nutrition science. Upon admission, students (in conjunction with their academic advisor) work to identify a concentration and then propose this to the program faculty, who then approve the student’s curricula plan.

Programs for Students with Undergraduate Preparation in Nutrition

Beginning September 2021, students interested in the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential and a career in clinical nutrition/counseling who have received a Didactic Program in Dietetics Verification Statement should pursue the MS (clinical concentration)+DI. In this program, the MS must be completed before entry into the DI. Specific admission requirements are listed below. The 29-week, full-time DI begins in either June or January following successful completion of the MS program.

Students with undergraduate preparation in nutrition who have already earned the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential, or who are interested in graduate-level study in human nutrition, should pursue the two-semester MS degree program.

Program for Students Who Do Not Have Undergraduate Preparation in Nutrition

Students without undergraduate preparation in nutrition who are interested in obtaining an MS degree and credentialing as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) should apply to the DPD/MS (clinical concentration)+DI program, which will begin September 2021. In this program, students maintaining satisfactory academic progress in coursework will receive the appropriate Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) Verification Statement and will be preselected into the DI. Specific admission requirements are listed below. The 29-week, full-time DI begins in January or June following successful completion of the five-semester DPD/MS program.

All programs prepare graduates to critically evaluate and implement the results of current research, solve problems, and communicate effectively. Students study with faculty involved in research, education, administration, professional practice, communication, and consulting. As part of their program, students develop a research proposal and complete a practicum. Past practicum sites have included a large urban hospital, as part of a nutrition support team; a private practice focused on nutrition for athletes; a clinical research center at a large teaching hospital; an outpatient cardiovascular clinic at a suburban teaching hospital; and the offices of a nationally distributed nutrition newsletter.

The DI has clinical sites at major teaching and community hospitals in the greater Boston area. Please be advised that students may need a car to get to a clinical site. The clinical sites provide excellent opportunities for students to observe and participate in a wide variety of specialties, such as nutrition support, pediatrics, oncology, nephrology, cardiology, diabetes, surgical care, outpatient counseling, food service, and management.

Depending on their program, graduates pursue careers in a wide variety of settings. Clinical environments could include medical and surgical services of hospitals, outpatient clinics, cardiac rehabilitation centers, and private practices. Graduates could also work in the fitness/wellness industry, the pharmaceutical industry, public health, or as consultants to professional sports teams, corporations, and restaurants.

Admission Requirements

Applicants should refer to the appropriate program website below for the most up-to-date admission requirements and application deadlines:

Degree Requirements

Students are eligible to receive a master of science degree upon completion of a minimum of 32 credits of coursework at the 700 level and above. At least 25 credits must be taken at Boston University as a degree candidate. Required courses for each program are listed below.

An overall grade point average of B (3.0) or higher must be attained in graduate-level (700-level or above) classes. In graduate courses, no grade below C is acceptable for credit. Additionally, the maximum number of credits with a C or C+ in courses 700 level or above is 8 credits.

SAR HS 811 is graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Pass indicates B– or better work.

A student may complete any of the academic programs on a full- or part-time basis. The DI must be completed on a full-time basis. All programs must be completed within seven years of matriculation.

Information Specific to the DPD/MS (clinical concentration)+DI

The DPD/MS (clinical concentration) is a five-semester program. In the Curricula section below, courses are classified based on whether they meet DPD requirements, MS requirements, or both. All DPD Professional courses must be completed with a minimum grade of B–, and DPD Science courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C–. Requirements for completing the MS degree are detailed in the Degree Requirements section. After successful completion of the five-semester DPD/MS (clinical concentration) program, students will receive an ACEND DPD Verification Statement and be awarded an MS degree. They will then be preselected into the DI program. The DI begins in either January or June following successful completion of the DPD/MS (clinical concentration). After satisfactory completion of the DI, which includes documentation of the completion of dietetic competencies and the MS (clinical concentration)+DI program evaluation, students will receive the ACEND DI Verification Statement.

Information Specific to the DI

The DI is a 6-credit, 29-week, full-time course requiring payment of tuition. In addition, interns must pay a nonrefundable $1,000 fee to their internship site during the first two weeks of the DI. Please note, a car may be necessary to get to the DI site as some sites are as much as 40 miles from Boston. After successful completion of the DI, the student will receive the appropriate ACEND DI Verification Statement. At this time, the student will have met the core competencies for the supervised practice component of entry-level dietitian education programs as mandated by the ACEND and be eligible to sit for the national registration examination.

Curricula

All courses are 4 credits unless otherwise indicated. The DI begins following successful completion of all courses in the appropriate programs.

Two-Semester MS (All courses listed are required for the degree program unless noted.)

Fall entrance (begin September 2021):

Fall

    • SPH BS 704 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 cr)
    • Concentration course (4 cr)
    • SAR HS 776 Nutritional Epidemiology
    • SAR HS 783 Metabolic Regulation

    Spring

    • SAR HS 742 Nutrition for Disease Prevention: Lifecourse or SAR HS 720 Nutrition and Disease Prevention: Public Health
    • SAR HS 785 Nutrition Research (3 cr)
    • Concentration courses (10 cr)

    Spring entrance (begin January 2021):

    Spring

    • SPH BS 704 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 cr)
    • SAR HS 742 Nutrition for Disease Prevention: Lifecourse or SAR HS 720 Nutrition and Disease Prevention: Public Health
    • SPH EP 785 Nutritional Epidemiology
    • Graduate concentration courses (6 cr)

    Fall

    • SAR HS 785 Graduate Nutrition Research (3 cr)
    • Graduate concentration courses (8 cr)
    • SAR HS 783 Metabolic Regulation

    MS (clinical concentration)+DI (All courses listed are required for the degree program.)

    Fall entrance (begin September 2021):

    Fall

    • SPH BS 704 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 cr)
    • SAR HS 776 Nutritional Epidemiology
    • SAR HS 783 Metabolic Regulation
    • SAR HS 788 Clinical Nutrition Counseling (3 cr)
    • SAR HS 779 Advanced Clinical Nutrition
    • SAR HS 705 Foundations of Interprofessional Practice (0 cr)*

    Spring

    • SAR HS 704 Essentials of Professional Practice (2 cr)
    • SAR HS 742 Nutrition for Disease Prevention: Lifecourse or SAR HS 720 Nutrition and Disease Prevention: Public Health
    • SAR HS 785 Nutrition Research (3 cr)
    • Graduate elective (2+ cr)
    • SAR HS 811 Practicum (3 cr)*
    • SAR HS 705 Foundations of Interprofessional Practice (0 cr)*

    *Optional for degree, required for the DI

    The DI (SAR HS 703) begins in June or January following successful completion of academic coursework. It is a 6-credit, 29-week, full-time class requiring payment of tuition. In addition, a $1,000 fee must be paid to the internship site.

    Spring entrance (begin January 2021):

    Spring

    • SPH BS 704 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 cr)
    • SPH EP 758 Nutrition Epidemiology
    • SAR HS 704 Essentials of Professional Practice (2 cr)*
    • SAR HS 742 Nutrition for Disease Prevention: Lifecourse or SAR HS 720 Nutrition and Disease Prevention: Public Health
    • SAR HS 811 Practicum (3 cr)*
    • SAR HS 705 Foundations of Interprofessional Practice (0 cr)*

    Fall

    • SAR HS 783 Metabolic Regulation
    • SAR HS 779 Advanced Clinical Nutrition
    • SAR HS 785 Graduate Nutrition Research (3 cr)
    • SAR HS 788 Clinical Nutrition Counseling (3 cr)
    • Graduate elective (2+ cr)
    • SAR HS 705 Foundations of Interprofessional Practice (0 cr)*

    *Optional for degree, required for the DI

    DPD/MS (clinical concentration)+DI (begin September 2020)

    Courses marked (*) are required to complete the DPD.

    Courses marked (+) are required to complete the MS.

    Courses marked (‡) are required to complete the DI.

    Fall I

    • SAR HS 551 Human Nutrition Science*
    • Graduate elective (2+ cr)+
    • SPH BS 704 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 cr)+
    • CAS PS 101 General Psychology*

    Spring I

    • SAR HS 500 Food Science*
    • SAR HS 510 Managing Food and Nutrition Services*
    • SAR HS 561 Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle*
    • SAR HS 542 Exercise Physiology

    Fall II

    • SAR HS 566 Community Nutrition*
    • SAR HS 584 Medical Nutrition Therapy I*
    • SAR HS 776 Nutritional Epidemiology+*
    • SAR HS 788 Clinical Nutrition Counseling (3 cr)+*

    Spring II

    • SAR HS 585 Medical Nutrition Therapy II*
    • SAR HS 704 Essentials of Professional Practice (2 cr)‡
    • SAR HS 742 Nutrition for Disease Prevention: Lifecourse or SAR HS 720 Nutrition and Disease Prevention: Public Health+
    • SAR HS 811 Practicum (3 cr)‡
    • SAR HS 785 Nutrition Research (3 cr)+*

    Fall III

    • SAR HS 586 Applied Nutrition Care*+
    • SAR HS 783 Metabolic Regulation+
    • SAR HS 779 Advanced Clinical Nutrition+
    • Graduate elective (2+ cr)
    • SAR HS 705 Foundations of Interprofessional Practice (0 cr)*‡

    The DI (SAR HS 703) begins in January or June following completion of academic coursework. It is a 6-credit, 29-week, full-time class requiring payment of tuition. In addition, a $1,000 fee must be paid to the internship site.