The MS in Nutrition with Dietetic Internship (MS-DI) is a 4-semester program that enables graduates the opportunity to fulfill the academic and experiential requirements to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians (RD Exam) to become Registered Dietitian/Nutritionists (RDN). RDNs specialize in applied nutrition and can be found in various practice settings, including hospitals, schools, industry, private practice, and public health clinics.
All interns, including those in the verification statement only track, complete 9-credit hours of NTRI 7010 Advanced Practicum in Dietetics, which includes the 1000 hours of supervised practice to meet the requirements as established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). For those enrolled in the MS program, academic coursework is completed by distance learning, while most rotations are local (within a 90 mile radius) to Auburn University to allow interns the flexibility needed to participate in supervised practice experiences. Supervised practice will occur in various settings, including acute and critical care, private practice, outpatient, long-term care, SEC and Olympic sports, wellness, public health/WIC, community, cooperative extension service, school food service, hospital food service, and other profession settings.
The cost for the program is:
Supervised practice will occur in various settings, including acute and critical care, private practice, outpatient, long-term care, SEC and Olympic sports, wellness, public health/WIC, community, cooperative extension service, school food service, hospital food service, and other profession settings.
Supervised practice will take place in Alabama and Georgia (within an approximate 90-mile radius).
MS Nutrition Science (Online; 34 Hours) + Dietetic Internship
| SUMMER 1 | HRS | FALL 1 | HRS | SPRING 1 | HRS | SUMMER 2 | HRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NTRI 7050 Methods of Research | 2 | NTRI 7500 Minerals | 3 | NTRI 7510 Vitamins | 3 | NTRI 7980 Non-thesis Research | 5 |
| NTRI 7850 Research Seminar | 1 | NTRI 7530 Human Nutrient Metabolism | 4 | NTRI 7520 Macronutrients: Integration and Metabolism | 4 | RD Exam Review Course | |
| ERMA 7300 Design and Analysis | 3 | NTRI 7010 Practicum (384 hours) | 3 | NTRI 7010 Practicum (384 hours) | 3 | DI Verification Statement upon completion of program | |
| NTRI 7010 Practicum (240 hours) | 3 | ||||||
| Total Hours | 9 | 10 | Complete course credit check and apply for graduation | 10 | 5 |
Accreditation Status
The Auburn University Dietetic Internship is accredited by ACEND, the accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as registered dietitian nutritionists.
ACEND can be contacted by:
Mail: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995
Phone: 800-877-1600 ext 5400
Email: ACEND@eatright.org
Online: eatrightpro.org/acend
Professional Licensure and Certifications
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 RDN. In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by ACEND. Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited MS-DI Program at Auburn are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.
For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN, visit the ACEND information page.
The Auburn MS-DI Program is designed to lead to professional certification through the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). 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.
Program Director:
Kelsey Rushing, PhD, RDN, LD
Director, Dietetic Internship (DI)
Lecturer
Department of Nutritional Sciences
College of Human Sciences
102-F Poultry Science Building
260 Lem Morrison Drive, Auburn, AL 36849
O: 334-844-3429 | F: 334-844-7417 | E: krushing@auburn.edu
