Program Overview

Nutrition and Food Systems (Dietetic Internship) MS

The Master's of Nutrition and Food Systems is designed to allow students to complete their dietetic internship along with their graduate degree. With the dietetic internship program, students can use their real-world experience for the next step in their career as a Registered Dietitian.

Program-at-a-Glance (Graduate)

• Credit Hours: Total Hours: 33-36
• Cost per Credit Hour: $578.12
• Completion Time: 1-3 years (pending hours enrolled)
• Accreditation: ACEND
• Special Requirements: No GRE required

Program Description

The Master's of Nutrition and Food Systems is designed to allow students to complete their dietetic internship along with their graduate degree. This program will allow students opportunities to pursue careers in dietetics, child nutrition programs, food and nutrition services management, community nutrition, and more. The curriculum is focused on higher-level knowledge and skills while providing an understanding of research design and advanced knowledge in nutrition and food systems management, leadership, nutrition counseling and education, and health promotion.

What can you do with a Nutrition and Food Systems Master's degree?

A Nutrition and Food Systems MS can help students develop the knowledge and skills to impact nutrition, food production, and public health.

Course Requirements

• Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice in Kinesiology and Nutrition | 3 hrs.
• Applying Evidence-Based Practice in Kinesiology and Nutrition | 3 hrs.
• Thesis | 6 hrs.
• Critical Issues in Local and Global Health | 3 hrs.
• Current Topics in Nutrition and Food Systems | 3 hrs.
• Nutrition Education: Theory, Research, and Practice | 3 hrs.
• Nutrition Assessment and Documentation | 3 hrs.
• Food Systems Management | 3 hrs.
• Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy | 3 hrs.
• Advanced Practice in Nutrition and Food Systems I | 3 hrs.
• Advanced Practice in Nutrition and Food Systems II | 3 hrs.
  • Advisor approved Electives (15 hrs.)

Additional Note

Please note that the above information is meant to be a guide and is not official. For further information regarding courses for this degree, see the University Bulletin.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is the advisor for this program?
  • The advisor for this program is Dr. Stephanie Smith.
• Who is eligible to apply to the Dietetic Program MS emphasis?
  • Students who apply to the combined master's and dietetic internship at USM through DICAS.
• Does this master's degree qualify me to work as a dietitian or nutritionist?
  • Students who complete the combined master's and dietetic internship will be eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration examination to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
• What else is required besides the coursework for this dietetics program?
  • For those completing a dietetic internship concurrently with the master's degree, 1,000 hours of supervised practice in various facilities will be completed alongside graduate coursework.

Admission Requirements

• Interns are admitted either during pre-select or computer match.
• Begin during the fall semester and may be enrolled as part-time or full-time graduate students for the 21-month program.
• Attend fully online classes each semester with scheduled virtual class meetings.
• Are required to participate in a minimum of 1,200 hours of experiential learning while enrolled in the internship.
• Must have regular access to a computer with Internet/email capability, a webcam, and printing/scanning capabilities.
• Must be "ServSafe"-certified and have all required immunizations prior to beginning supervised practice in the fall semester.
• Are responsible for their own housing, transportation, health insurance, and costs of drug screenings and criminal background checks during supervised practice.
• Must maintain Academy membership and liability insurance.
• Must abide by all requirements of the facilities in which they are placed.

Application Steps and Deadlines for DI Application

1. Apply to Graduate School for Fall Term Admission

• Application to Graduate School Program
• Pay $60 Application Fee
• All college/university transcripts to graduate school (including fall grades for computer matching)

2. Centralized Application or Pre-Select Application

• The Dietetic Internship Program at The University of Southern Mississippi uses an internal application for Pre-Select applicants and the online centralized internship application, referred to as DICAS for computer matching applicants.

3. Supplemental Internship Application

• Download the Preferred location for supervised practice placement (1-page PDF).
• Complete the form and mail along with a $50 check made payable to the Dietetic Internship Program at Southern Miss.

Pre-Select and Computer Matching

• Preselect Option: Up to eight of the twenty Southern Miss Dietetic Internship positions may be filled by the Preselect Option rather than Computer Matching.
• Computer Match Code: The University of Southern Mississippi- MS/DI (789)

Admission Requirements

In addition to the requirements detailed in Admissions Requirements and Procedures, applicants must submit the following documents:

1. Statement of Purpose
2. Résumé
3. Three Letters of Recommendation Students who wish to pursue the Dietetic Internship must also meet the following requirements and submit the following documents:
4. Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Verification Statement
5. Undergraduate DPD curriculum minimum GPA of 3.00 and science GPA of 2.7 with no grade lower than a "C"
6. Be admitted to a dietetic internship accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)

Program Requirements and Academic Policies

In addition to the requirements detailed in General Degree Requirements and General Academic Information, students in the Southern Miss Dietetic Internship must also pass a criminal background check and obtain professional liability insurance. Thesis option is available (minimum 3 hours required).