BU MS + Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center DI Partnership
Program Overview
During the MS+DI preselect application process, applicants can elect to be considered for our partnership program with the BIDMC DI.
In this partnership program, students will complete BU’s MS in Nutrition with a clinical concentration, specifically tailored to prepare them to get the most out of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC)’s dietetic internship.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is a large, urban teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School in the heart of Boston’s renown Longwood Medical Area. The BIDMC mission is to provide exceptional care, where the patient comes first, supported by world class education and research.
The BIDMC internship is a 10-month full-time program with an emphasis on nutrition therapy. Interns receive high level training in therapeutic nutrition interventions for medically complex patients, advanced nutrition support practice, and nutrition counseling and education. Interns have access to smart and dedicated preceptors in a team-oriented, supportive environment. As part of the program, interns have frequent practice with public speaking and peer-to-peer teaching.
Program Highlights:
- In BU’s MS Nutrition Degree – Clinical Concentration, you will deepen your nutrition science and metabolism knowledge, hone your counseling skills, sharpen your nutrition assessment skills, be trained to evaluate, understand, and implement the results of current research, and complete a practicum in an area of your interest.
- This MS degree specifically prepares you to get the most out of BIDMC’s dietetic internship
- Complete DI rotations in clinical nutrition, food service systems, nutrition counseling, community nutrition, staff relief, and plan your own/specialty.
- Provides a seamless path to be eligible for the national RDN credentialing exam in 22 months.
- Enter the field as an MS, RD capable of interpreting current nutrition research, solving problems, communicating effectively with extensive experience treating medically complex patients at a large teaching hospital.
See below for further instructions on how to apply. Students enrolled in this program will first complete their MS in Nutrition at BU, followed by a DI at BIDMC. Learn more about the BIDMC DI.
Unlike the standard MS+DI program at BU, which takes 16 months to complete, the BU MS + BIDMC DI partnership program is a 22-month program. Enrolled students will begin their BIDMC DI in September (rather than June) following the completion of the MS curriculum. In addition, enrolled students are responsible for all BIDMC costs associated with the DI.
Applicants matching with our MS/DI program are guaranteed a merit-based scholarship.
Program Structure
| Fall (September Entry) | Spring | |
| Year 1 | MS Semester 1 at BU | MS Semester 2 at BU – complete in May |
| Year 2 | Begin DI at BIDMC – September | Complete 41 week DI – complete in June |
| # of Weeks | Rotation |
| 1 week | Orientation |
| 22 weeks | Clinical Nutrition |
| 4 weeks | Food Service Systems |
| 6 weeks | Counseling and Community Nutrition |
| 3 weeks | Plan Your Own/Specialty |
| 3 weeks | Staff Relief |
| 2 weeks | Vacation |
How to Apply
Prospective students interested in this partnership program should follow the standard BU MS+DI pre-select application instructions and apply by November 15, 2023. In addition, applicants for this program must select the BU MS + BIDMC 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 BIDMC as part of the review process.
Students are accepted simultaneously to the BU MS + BIDMC DI.
Questions?
If you have questions about the academic portion of the BU MS + BIDMC DI partnership program, please contact Marijane Staniec. For questions about the DI portion of this program, please contact Julie Robarts.