The Auburn University MS-DI Program prepares entry-level dietitian nutritionists for a variety of careers in health care, wellness, and food service management. The program aims to improve awareness and understanding among health professionals and the public of the vital role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of disease and in health promotion. On completing the program, graduates will earn a Master of Science degree and will be eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitian Nutritionists offered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
Students accepted into the MS-DI program participate in the online non-thesis option of the Master of Science in Nutrition. This provides an opportunity for students to engage in the supervised practice experiences 3 days per week as required by the dietetic internship, and complete their coursework on other days, evenings and weekends. Most current PC/Mac or laptop models will meet basic minimum hardware requirements with little or no configuration upgrades. Newer versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Acrobat Professional, Microsoft Office Professional (for PC or for Mac), and antivirus software will be required.
MS Nutrition Science (Online; 34 Hours) + Dietetic Internship Curriculum
| SUMMER 1 | HRS | FALL | HRS | SPRING | HRS | SUMMER 2 | HRS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NTRI 7050 Methods of Research | 2 | NTRI 7530 Human Nutrient Metabolism | 4 | NTRI 7520 Macronutrients: Integration and Metabolism | 4 | NTRI 7980 Non-thesis Research | 3 | |
| NTRI 7850 Research Seminar | 1 | NTRI 7620 Sports Nutrition | 3 | NTRI 7030 Leadership and Management in Nutritional Sciences | 3 | Statistics | 3 | |
| NTRI 7020 Advanced Nutrition & Diet Therapy | 3 | NTRI 7010 Practicum (384 hours) | 3 | NTRI 7010 Practicum (384 hours) | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| NTRI 7010 Practicum (240 hours) | 3 | Complete course credit check and apply for graduation | Elective | 3 | ||||
| RD Review Session | ||||||||
| Total Hours | 9 | 10 | 10 | 5 |
For a list of course descriptions, visit the Auburn Bulletin.
NTRI 7010 Practicum
Interns will participate in the rotations in the following areas:
Additionally, interns will participate in alternate supervised practice activities such as:
The program does not grant credit for prior supervised practice or graduate learning. Students enrolled in AU MS-DI program are required to successfully complete all courses and rotations in the program to receive a verification statement.
For a list of relevant dates throughout the program year, visit the Auburn Academic Calendar and Graduate School Calendar.
Graduation Requirements
Auburn University requires students admitted into the Dietetic Internship to successfully complete the following requirements to receive a verification statement.
Degree-requiring students:
Students must possess a grade point average of 3.0 for the required graduate course work and complete all courses in the degree curriculum to be awarded their MS in Nutrition Sciences degree. Program graduates are issued a signed verification statement by the Program Director upon completion of the following: the MS in Nutrition Sciences degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, achievement of all ACEND competencies, and satisfactory evaluations in a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised practice experience.
Verification Statement Only Students:
Program graduates are issued a signed verification statement by the Program Director upon completion of the following: achievement of all ACEND competencies and satisfactory evaluations in a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised practice experience.
For more information on becoming an RDN, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website.
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
