BU MS + Hebrew Rehabilitation Center (HRC) Partnership DI

The only DI program in New England dedicated to advancing excellence in nutrition care for older adults and rehabilitation populations.

Focus: Geriatric Nutrition and Rehabilitation Care

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For September 2027 Enrollment

  • *Application open date: August 5, 2026
  • Priority Application Deadline: October 8, 2026
  • Secondary Deadline: January 15, 2027 (space permitting)

Highlights

  • Nine-month Supervised Practice Experience
  • Focus on clinical nutrition and food service management
  • Rotations in long-term care, rehabilitation, acute care, and plan-your-own elective
  • Specialized training in dementia care, wound management, dysphagia, end-of-life nutrition care
  • The MS component begins in September 2027, DI component begins in September 2028, and the MS degree is awarded in May 2029.

Program Overview

In the BU MS + HRC Partnership DI program, students complete BU’s MS in Nutrition with a clinical concentration, tailored to prepare them to get the most out of the HRC’s dietetic internship. The program spans 21 months and is only available on a full-time basis. After successfully completing at least 32 graduate-level credits, including all core coursework and a graduate practicum, students begin their full-time supervised practice experience at HRC.

HRC is a Harvard Medical School-affiliated long-term chronic care and rehab hospital for older adults.  It serves patients with complex medical needs, providing a full continuum of person-centered care for those with chronic illness & short term post acute recovery needs.  The HRC DI is the only internship in New England focused on geriatric nutrition care and clinical rehabilitation.  It is a 9-month, full-time program, preparing graduates to care for the growing population of older adults in hospital settings with an emphasis on clinical nutrition and food service management, raising the standards in senior health care.

The HRC DI offers a wide range of learning experiences with training in subacute clinical, outpatient, community, food service, skilled nursing, and long-term care settings and includes specialized training in dementia, geriatric nutrition, wound care, dysphagia, and end-of-life care.

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Program Highlights

  • BU’s prestigious graduate degree with the HRC DI, a Harvard Medical School-affiliated senior health care center.
  • MS degree clinical concentration includes coursework in nutrition science, biostatistics, epidemiology, metabolism, counseling, medical nutrition therapy, nutrition assessment, and research.
  • Access to top-tier faculty in research, clinical care, sports, media, and related fields.
  • Hands-on training in a state-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Center.
  • Graduate practicum experience aligned with student interest.
  • Core professional skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, and evidence-based practice.
  • Supervised practice experience with integrated training in subacute clinical, outpatient, community, food service, skilled nursing, and long-term care settings.
  • In-person, STEM-eligible graduate program.
  • Guaranteed Merit Scholarship of at least $10,000.

Program Structure

Fall Spring
Year 1 MS Semester 1 at BU MS Semester 2 at BU
Year 2 Begin DI at HRC – September Complete 36 DI week– May

 

# of Weeks Rotation
2 weeks Orientation
16 weeks Clinical Nutrition (includes 5 weeks long-term care, 5 weeks rehab, 3 weeks medically complex/acute hospital care, 3 weeks staff relief)
5 weeks Food Service Management
1 week National Nutrition Month Programming
2 weeks Community Nutrition (Head Start, Community Servings, public schools)
2 weeks Health Promotion and Wellness in Social Media
2 weeks Outpatient
2 weeks Plan your own
2 weeks RDN Test Preparation
2 weeks Vacation (December and February)

How to Apply

  • During the application process, applicants can elect to be considered for our partnership program with HRC DI.
  • Prospective students are encouraged to attend information sessions for both BU MS and HRC DI.
  • Applicants should follow the standard BU DiCAS application instructions and apply by October 8, 2026 for study beginning in September 2027.
  • In addition, applicants must select the BU MS + HRC DI Partnership Program within the Questions tab of the Program Materials section of the application.
  • Select applicants will be invited to interview with BU and HRC as part of the review process.
  • Students are admitted simultaneously to the BU MS + HRC DI.

Questions?

For questions about the academic portion of the BU MS + HRC DI partnership program, please contact Marijane Staniec. For questions about the HRC DI component of this program, please contact Alegria Cohen, DI Program Director.