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.

Program Overview

Through the program, you will develop a research proposal in an area of your choice and complete a practicum experience in an area such as an outpatient eating disorders program, private practice nutrition counseling, a clinical research center at a large teaching hospital, an outpatient cardiovascular clinic at a suburban teaching hospital, or the office of a nationally distributed nutrition newsletter.

The MS degree program must be completed before entry into the Dietetic Internship (DI), a six-credit, 29-week, full-time course beginning in June or January following completion of the MS degree program.

Note that the 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).

Dietetic Internship

Applicants matching with our MS/DI program are guaranteed a $10,000 merit-based scholarship.

The Dietetic Internship has clinical sites at major teaching and community hospitals in the greater Boston area. The clinical sites provide excellent opportunities for you to observe and participate in a wide variety of areas of nutrition practice including nutrition support, pediatrics, oncology, nephrology, cardiology, diabetes, surgical care, outpatient counseling, food service, and management.

The six-credit DI requires tuition payment. You must also pay a nonrefundable $1,000 fee to your internship site during the first two weeks of the DI. A car may be necessary to get to the DI site, as some sites are approximately 40 miles from Boston.

Credentialing

After successful completion of the DI, which includes documentation of the completion of dietetic competencies and the MS+DI 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 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 rage on the national RDN exam.

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.

The MS+DI program participates in the AND Computer Match through D&D Digital, 304 Main Street, Ames, Iowa 50010. Telephone: 515-292-0400.

Note: Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). 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). In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. It is ACEND’s considered opinion that the program is designed to and does meet all state dietetics licensure and certification laws, though some states may interpret their statutes differently. Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited didactic program in dietetics (DPD) at Boston University are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.

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 invite you to introduce yourself by filling out the Request Information form or emailing us at sargrad@bu.edu.