Overview
The Keene State College combined Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition with Dietetic Internship (MSDI) cultivates leaders as Public Health Dietitian Nutritionists to inform, educate, and empower the public about health and nutrition issues. Through a policy, systems, and environmental focus, graduates will form community, state and national partnerships and collaborate to identify and solve pressing health and nutrition concerns. Overview
The Keene State College combined Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition with Dietetic Internship (MSDI) cultivates leaders as Public Health Dietitian Nutritionists to inform, educate, and empower the public about health and nutrition issues. Through a policy, systems, and environmental focus, graduates will form community, state and national partnerships and collaborate to identify and solve pressing health and nutrition concerns.
In the MSDI, graduate students will complete a minimum of 1,000 hours supervised practice in clinical, food service management, community, and specialty rotations (12 credits) in addition to 24 credit hours of graduate coursework. The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) in conjunction with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) is working towards the new education model for practice in nutrition and dietetics, which will require a Master’s degree to qualify for the national registration exam to be credentialed as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist after January 1st 2024. The KSC MSDI will meet all requirements established by ACEND and CDR.
The stand-alone KSC dietetic internship is no longer available.
Accreditation Status
Keene State’s Dietetics Internship program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The KSC MSDI was provided provisional accreditation through ACEND in January 2020. Program Outcome Data for Stand-Alone KSC DI Available Upon Request
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190 Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995 (800) 877-1600 www.eatrightpro.org
What, Who, Why, How
What is the MSDI at Keene State?
The Keene State College combined Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition with Dietetic Internship (MSDI) is a 13-month long, full-time program for people who have a bachelor’s degree in a nutrition-related field and who can provide verification that they have completed the Didactic Programs in Dietetics (DPD) coursework.
It combines rotations working in clinical, food service management, community, and specialty settings. We are unique in that we provide diverse dietetic training while offering interns an opportunity to fully invest in a region within New Hampshire. At the start of the program, interns are placed in one of four regions throughout the state and complete most, if not all, supervised practice rotations within that geographic area. This will allow them to connect with their local community and develop a deeper understanding of the role of the RD throughout a population and system.
Who applies to the MSDI?
MSDI candidates are people who would like to become Master Prepared Registered Dietitians (RDs). Completion of an ACEND accredited MSDI program and the receipt of a Verification Statement from the MSDI Director qualifies graduates to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitian Nutritionists administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
More information about the RDN exam can be found here.
All states accept the RDN credential for state licensure and certification requirements. The KSC MSDI curriculum meets State requirements for licensure/certification including education, supervised practice and eligibility to sit for the CDR exam upon receipt of a verification statement. If a graduate wishes to obtain New Hampshire State licensure, they must first hold an RDN card, verifying registration. They then must submit the following to the New Hampshire Board of Licensed Dietitians, Office of Professional Licensure & Certification (121 South Fruit Street, Suite 303, Concord, NH 03301):
- Completed application form, available here
- Passport-type photograph
- A letter of verification of their RDN status sent from CDR, sent directly to the Board (see address above)
- A check or money order in the amount of $110.00 made payable to: Treasurer, state of New Hampshire
- Transcript sent from school granting highest relevant degree directly to the Board (see address above)
- Verification Statement document from MSDI.
Additional information about New Hampshire state licensure can be found here
Additional information about US state licensure/certification can be found here.
Why become a Registered Dietitian?
Registered Dietitian (RD) credentials qualify food and nutrition specialists for careers in healthcare facilities as nutritional counselors and educators, in institutions like schools and hospitals as food service managers, in community and public health settings, in food and nutrition-related businesses and industries, in nutritional research, in private practice as consultants and educators, and more.
How does the application process work?
The Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition with Dietetic Internship accepts 10 graduate students/interns annually. There are two ways to apply to the MSDI program:
-
Pre-Select Program – The pre-select program is open to all MSDI applicants who have graduated from an ACEND-accredited DPD program. Applicants admitted and committed to the Keene State College pre-select program are not eligible to apply to another supervised practice option through the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS). To apply, please follow the MSDI: Pre-Select Application Instructions below.
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DICAS/DI Match Program – After the pre-select application phase, prospective students can apply for any remaining openings to the MSDI program using the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics national computer matching process through the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) system and through D&D Digital. For detailed information about the DICAS computer matching process, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Dietetic Internship Match website. To apply, please follow the MSDI: DICAS Match Application Instructions below.
MSDI: Pre-Select Application Instructions
Pre-select applicants should apply online using the Keene State College Graduate School Application.
Transcripts
Professional Resume
Letters of Recommendation
Three (3) letters of recommendation are required and should be completed by individuals familiar with your academic ability and professional work experience. Letters of recommendation must be submitted online through the Keene State College Application.
Statement of Professional and Career Goals
Specific questions we want you to address in your personal statement for KSC:
- Why do you want to enter the dietetics profession?
- What are some experiences that have helped to prepare you for your career? Give a specific example of how you have demonstrated each of the following characteristics (if possible, relate your examples to work you have done within the community or in public health settings):
- Flexibility -Teamwork
- Self-direction
- Organizational skills
- Communication skills
- What are your short- and long-term goals?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses/areas needing improvement? What have you learned from your successes? Your mistakes?
- Because we consider leadership skills important, describe a situation or project in which you took a leadership role. How did you move the project forward? What roadblocks did you encounter and how did you overcome them?
- What other information do you consider important for the selection decision?
Application Fee
Application Fees have been waived for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Interview
Once applications are received and reviewed, candidates will be asked to participate in a brief virtual interview with the MSDI Director.
DPD Verification Statement
MSDI applicants should be currently working towards their DPD Verification Statement or already have one. While the DPD Verification Statement does not need to be submitted when applying, it must be completed and sent to the MSDI Director prior to the start of the academic program.
Pre-select applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through January 15th. Pre-select applicants will be notified of their admission decision by January 26th. A non-refundable $500 deposit is due upon receipt of your acceptance
MSDI DICAS Match Application Instructions:
Applying to the program is a multi-step process completed through the Dietetic Internship Computerized Application Services (DICAS), D&D Digital, and the College.
Dietetic Internship Computerized Application Services (DICAS)
We will be participating in the online centralized internship application, DICAS, which may be found here, for any remaining openings in the MSDI program. DICAS will be available in early December for the Spring match. The online application must be completed for our program by 11:59 p.m. central time on February 15. These dates may vary; please make sure to check the DICAS website to verify. The DICAS fee is $50 for the first application you submit and $25 for each additional application.
*The following are components of your application that will be done in DICAS
- Complete the sections for personal and academic information.
- Personal statement: In DICAS you have the ability to write multiple personal statements so that each one is tailored to the specific program for which you are applying (maximum 1,000 words per statement).
- Send Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended should be sent to:**
DICAS - Transcript Dept. PO Box 9118 Watertown, MA 02472
Be sure to follow the DICAS instructions for mailing in your transcripts so DICAS receives them in a timely fashion.
Specific questions we want you to address in your personal statement for KSC:
- Why do you want to enter the dietetics profession?
- What are some experiences that have helped to prepare you for your career? Give a specific example of how you have demonstrated each of the following characteristics (if possible, relate your examples to work you have done within the community or in public health settings):
- Flexibility
- Teamwork
- Self-direction
- Organizational skills
- Communication skills
- What are your short- and long-term goals?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses/areas needing improvement? What have you learned from your successes? Your mistakes?
- Because we consider leadership skills important, describe a situation or project in which you took a leadership role. How did you move the project forward? What roadblocks did you encounter and how did you overcome them?
- What other information do you consider important for the selection decision?
References - When completing the application form, applicants must include the name and email address for each reference. An email will be sent to the reference requesting the completion of a reference form. The form will be completed online. Students applying to more than one program will need to use the same individuals as references for each application. Include three references in your DICAS application; of those three, one should be from a teacher/professor, one from a work or volunteer supervisor, and one other reference of your choice.
For any questions regarding DICAS, please email DICASinfo@DICAS.org
D&D Digital
The KSC MSDI selects applicants through a computer matching process. Applicants must register on the D&D Digital website, pay the $55.00 computer matching fee with a credit card and submit their prioritized list of selected programs online to D&D Digital before the designated deadline dates. You can obtain the instruction packet from your Didactic Program advisor or by contacting D&D Digital at dnd@sigler.com. Applicants should call D&D Digital prior to the deadline if they do not receive an e-mail with login information.
D&D Digital Program Code - 245
The Program
The MS in Public Health Nutrition with Dietetic Internship (MSDI) encourages interns to work at the community, county and state level with a strong focus in population health. Students will work within counties and public health networks throughout New Hampshire to complete their experiential learning hours in food service management, counseling, clinical, specialty, community and public health. Our fully online Masters provides students with the flexibility to complete coursework on their time and invest in the community that they live.
Each year, the KSC MSDI will accept 10 applicants through a pre-select application process followed by the Spring match through DICAS.
MSDI Course Sequence
FIRST YEAR (Total Credit Hours: 24)
Special Summer Session (6 Weeks, 3 Credits Total)
- PH 630: Dietetic Internship: Clinical One
Fall Semester (12 Credits Total)
- PH 626: Pathophysiology in Clinical Care (3 credits)
- PH 616: Research Methods (8-week course) (3 credits)
- PH 612: Public Health Nutrition I (8-week course) (3 credits)
- PH 630 Dietetic Internship: Clinical Two and Three (3 Credits)
Spring Semester (12 Credits Total)
- PH 614: Public Health Nutrition II (3 Credits)
- PH 605 Nutritional Epidemiology (8-week course) (3 Credits)
- PH 603: Advanced Nutrition Counseling (8-week course) (3 credits)
- PH 630 Dietetic Internship: Specialty, Food Service Management, Public Health (3 Credits)
Summer Session (9 Credits)
- PH 608: International Health (3 credits)
- PH 622: Nutrition Problems in the U.S. (3 credits)
- PH 630: Dietetic Internship: Counseling, Food Insecurity, Food Systems and Sustainability (3-credits)
For Course Descriptions, visit the academic catalog here
Transfer Credits
-
MSDI Students can request that up to 12 credits from other institutions be transferred. These must have been completed with a grade of ‘B-’ or better and cannot have been counted towards the awarding of another degree. The decision to accept transfer credits is fully at the discretion of the Graduate Program Coordinator and/or by committee or other review process set up by the academic degree program. Documentation of transfer credit acceptance must follow standard KSC procedures set by the Registrar.
-
Graduate level courses taken elsewhere can be evaluated by MSDI faculty for satisfying specific course requirements for the master’s degree. For consideration, students must supply the syllabus that lists course outcomes and assessment methods, and have earned a “B-“ or better in the course under consideration.
Financial Aid
For more information about financial aid visit the KSC Financial aid website.
Length
The MSDI is a13-month long, full-time program with a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised practice coordinated with asynchronous online graduate coursework. Orientation begins the d supervised practice beginning the first full week of August. The program concludes in August 13 months after the start, with the Keene State College commencement ceremony.
Program Completion Requirements
Interns will be supported and assisted by the MSDI staff in order to successfully complete the program. In order to be eligible to graduate the graduate student/intern must:
- Meet all core competencies as outlined by ACEND
- Meet all program competencies as outlined by the KSC MSDI
- Complete the minimum of 1,000 hours of practical experience
- Receive a rating of “3” or greater on a 4 point Likert scale on final evaluation forms
- Earn a B or higher in all graduate coursework
- Complete all of the performance requirements of graduate courses
- Fulfill all financial obligations of the internship (tuition and program fees)
Supervised Practice Rotations
Clinical (480 Hours)
Food Service Management (200 Hours)
Specialty (120 Hours)
Public Health and Community Nutrition (400 Hours)
In the MSDI, graduate students will complete a minimum of 1,200 hours supervised practice in clinical, food service management, community, and specialty rotations (14 credits) in addition to 31 credit hours of graduate coursework. The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) in conjunction with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) is working towards the new education model for practice in nutrition and dietetics, which will require a Master’s degree to qualify for the national registration exam to be credentialed as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist after January 1st 2024. The KSC MSDI will meet all requirements established by ACEND and CDR.
The stand-alone KSC dietetic internship is no longer available.
Accreditation Status
Keene State’s Dietetics Internship program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The KSC MSDI was provided provisional accreditation through ACEND in January 2020. Program Outcome Data for Stand-Alone KSC DI Available Upon Request
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190 Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995 (800) 877-1600 www.eatrightpro.org
What, Who, Why, How
What is the MSDI at Keene State?
The Keene State College combined Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition with Dietetic Internship (MSDI) is a 22-month long, full-time program for people who have bachelor’s degree in a nutrition-related field and who can provide verification that they have completed the Didactic Programs in Dietetics (DPD) coursework.
It combines rotations working in clinical, food service management, community, and specialty settings. We are unique in that we provide diverse dietetic training while offering interns an opportunity to fully invest in a region within New Hampshire. At the start of the program, interns are placed in one of four regions throughout the state and complete most, if not all, supervised practice rotations within that geographic area. This will allow them to connect with their local community and develop a deeper understanding of the role of the RD throughout a population and system.
Who applies to the MSDI?
MSDI candidates are people who would like to become Master Prepared Registered Dietitians (RDs). Completion of an ACEND accredited MSDI program and the receipt of a Verification Statement from the MSDI Director qualifies graduates to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitian Nutritionists administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
More information about the RDN exam can be found here.
All states accept the RDN credential for state licensure and certification requirements. The KSC MSDI curriculum meets State requirements for licensure/certification including education, supervised practice and eligibility to sit for the CDR exam upon receiept of a verification statement. If a graduate wishes to obtain New Hampshire State licensure, they must first hold an RDN card, verifying registration. They then must submit the following to the New Hampshire Board of Licensed Dietitians, Office of Professional Licensure & Certification (121 South Fruit Street, Suite 303, Concord, NH 03301):
- Completed application form, available here
- Passport-type photograph
- A letter of verification of their RDN status sent from CDR, sent directly to the Board (see address above)
- A check or money order in the amount of $110.00 made payable to: Treasurer, state of New Hampshire
- Transcript sent from school granting highest relevant degree directly to the Board (see address above)
- Verification Statement document from MSDI.
Additional information about New Hampshire state licensure can be found here
Additional information about US state licensure/certification can be found here.
Why become a Registered Dietitian?
Registered Dietitian (RD) credentials qualify food and nutrition specialists for careers in health-care facilities as nutritional counselors and educators, in institutions like schools and hospitals as food service managers, in community and public health settings, in food and nutrition-related businesses and industries, in nutritional research, in private practice as consultants and educators, and more.
How does the application process work?
The Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition with Dietetic Internship accepts 10 graduate students/interns annually. Applying to the program is a multi-step process completed through the Dietetic Internship Computerized Application Services (DICAS), D&D Digital, and the College. Participation in the DICAS application process and matching process through D&D Digital allows prospective students to apply to more than one program.
The Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition with Dietetic Internship requires applicants to also submit an application to the College through Graduate Studies. The graduate school application fee and additional requirements have been waived.
In addition to the DICAS standardized application, D&D Digital ranking and graduate studies application, the KSC MSDI requires supplemental documentation including a professional portfolio. Additional information is available here
The Program
The MS in Public Health Nutrition with Dietetic Internship (MSDI) encourages interns to work at the community, county and state level with a strong focus in population health. Students will work within counties and public health networks throughout New Hampshire to complete their experiential learning hours in food service management, counseling, clinical, specialty, community and public health. Our fully online Masters provides students with the flexibility to complete coursework on their time and invest in the community that they live.
Each year, the KSC MSDI will accept 10 applicants during Spring match through DICAS.
MSDI Course Sequence
FIRST YEAR (Total Credit Hours: 24)
Special Summer Session (6 Weeks, 6 Credits Total)
-
PH 601 Food Systems and Sustainability (2 Credits)
-
PH 602 Food and Nutrition Policy, Programs and Services (2 Credits)
-
PH 630 Dietetic Internship (2 Credits)
Fall Semester (9 Credits Total)
-
PH 603 Advanced Nutrition Counseling and Assessment (3 Credits)
-
PH 604 Learning Theory: Practical Applications throughout the Lifespan (3 Credits)
-
PH 630 Dietetic Internship (3 Credits)
Spring Semester (9 Credits Total)
-
PH 615 Nutritional Biochemistry (3 Credits)
-
PH 605 Nutritional Epidemiology (3 Credits)
-
PH 630 Dietetic Internship (3 Credits)
SECOND YEAR (Total Credit Hours: 24)
Summer Session (6 Credits Total)
-
PH 618 Advanced Nutritional Biochemistry (3 Credits)
-
PH 608 International Health (3 Credits)
Fall Semester (9 Credits Total)
-
PH 620 Advanced MNT (3 Credits)
-
PH 612 Public Health Nutrition I: Capstone (3 Credits)
-
PH 630 Dietetic Internship (3 Credits)
Spring Semester (9 Credits Total)
-
PH 616 Research Methods and Design (3 Credits)
-
PH 614 Public Health Nutrition II: Capstone (3 Credits)
-
PH 630 Dietetic Internship (3 Credits)
For Course Descriptions, visit the academic catalog here
Transfer Credits
-
MSDI Students can request that up to 12 credits from other institutions be transferred. These must have been completed with a grade of ‘B-’ or better and cannot have been counted towards the awarding of another degree. The decision to accept transfer credits is fully at the discretion of the Graduate Program Coordinator and/or by committee or other review process set up by the academic degree program. Documentation of transfer credit acceptance must follow standard KSC procedures set by the Registrar.
-
Graduate level courses taken elsewhere can be evaluated by MSDI faculty for satisfying specific course requirements for the master’s degree. For consideration, students must supply the syllabus that lists course outcomes and assessment methods, and have earned a “B-“ or better in the course under consideration.
-
MSDI students who have completed the B.S. in Public Health/Nutrition and/or the Dietetic Internship at KSC, the following courses will be considered based on grade earned, and semester completed:
-
PH 415 Nutritional Biochemistry: If KSC B.S. Public Health/Nutrition students have earned an “A” or “AB” in fall 2018, 2019 or 2020, PH 615 Nutritional Biochemistry can be “waived”.
-
EDUCCI 698 Research and Public Practice: If Dietetic Intern alumni took this course in spring 2021, it will satisfy PH 602 Food and Nutrition Policy.
-
EDUC 690 Food, Wellness and the Social Environment: If Dietetic Intern alumni took this course in spring 2020 or spring 2021, it will satisfy PH 601 Food Systems and Sustainability.
Financial Aid
For more information about financial aid visit the KSC Financial aid website.
Length
The MSDI is a 22-month long, full-time program with a minimum of 1,200 hours of supervised practice coordinated with asynchronous online graduate coursework. Orientation begins the last week of June with classes and supervised practice beginning the first full week after the July 4th holiday. The program concludes in May, 22-months after the start, with the Keene State College commencement ceremony.
Program Completion Requirements
Interns will be supported and assisted by the MSDI staff in order to successfully complete the program. In order to be eligible to graduate the graduate student/intern must:
- Meet all core competencies as outlined by ACEND
- Meet all program competencies as outlined by the KSC MSDI
- Complete the minimum of 1,200 hours of practical experience
- Receive a rating of “3” or greater on a 4 point Likert scale on final evaluation forms
- Earn a B or higher in all graduate coursework
- Complete all of the performance requirements of graduate courses
- Fulfill all financial obligations of the internship (tuition and program fees)
Supervised Practice Rotations
Clinical (480 Hours)
Food Service Management (200 Hours)
Specialty (120 Hours)
Public Health and Community Nutrition (400 Hours)
More Information Coming Soon
