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Option 1: M.S. Dietetics Specialization

Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ this option

In this option, our Dietetic Internship is integrated into our 18-month, . Students must complete all courses and supervised practice to receive an M.S. in Nutrition and a Verification Statement from our Dietetic Internship Program.

Admission requirements

  • Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Verification Statement or a Declaration of Intent from your DPD Director
  • Cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.75

Application procedure

Applicants are admitted to the M.S. Dietetics Specialization on a competitive basis.

Prospective students should apply online to the M.S. Dietetics Specialization through the University's Graduate School and submit an application to our Dietetic Internship Program through the

A complete application includes:

  1. A statement of purpose to be included in both your Graduate School application and DICAS application that addresses the following questions (in 1,000 words or less):
    1. Why do you want to gain admission to the M.S. Dietetics Specialization, and why is this program a good fit for you?
    2. What experiences (e.g., academic, co-curricular, employment) have helped you prepare for this program?
    3. What are your short- and long-term academic and professional goals?
    4. What are your strengths and areas for improvement?
  2. Three letters of reference to be included in both your Graduate School application and DICAS application. Enter the contact information for your three references on your DICAS application. They will be contacted through DICAS to address the following questions:
    1. Summarize your relationship with the applicant applying to the M.S. Dietetics Specialization. Please discuss the duration and nature of your relationship with the applicant.
    2. Describe and provide relevant example(s) of the applicant’s analytical and problem-solving skills.
    3. Describe and provide example(s) of the applicant’s communication skills and abilities to work effectively in a team environment.
    4. How would you quantitatively or qualitatively rank this applicant’s readiness to succeed in the M.S. Dietetics Specialization relative to other peers/employees?
  3. Official transcripts from every institution attended. Both the Graduate School and DICAS will need official transcripts.
  4. TOEFL results if applicable (required by the Graduate School only).
 

Spring 2025 | Important dates

Milestone Date
Deadline to apply to DICAS and the University's Graduate School Feb. 15, 2025
Interview Variable time frame
Notification date (accepted, waitlisted, rejected) - Letter sent by email March 1, 2025
Decision date March 15, 2025
Supervised practice dates Jan. 20 - July 10, 2026
 

A Dietetic Internship Program Verification Statement will be provided after successful completion of the M.S. Dietetics Specialization, which includes successfully completing the minimum of 1,000 hours of documented supervised practice experiences necessary to acquire the ACEND 2022 Core Competencies for the Registered Dietitian.

Class schedule

This is an example course progression. Please refer to your advisor and the for the current degree requirements. 

First fall semester

  • NUTR 701: Advanced Metabolism (3 units)
  • NUTR 702: Advanced MNT Techniques (3 units)
  • CHS 701: Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Health (3 units)

Total units: 9

Spring semester

  • NUTR 732: Nutrition Assessment Techniques (3 units)
  • NUTR 727: Nutrition Practicum (3 units)

Total units: 6

Summer session

  • NUTR 704: Evidenced-Based Principles and Practice (3 units)
  • NUTR 727: Nutrition Practicum (3 units)

Total units: 6

Second fall semester

  • NUTR 703: Leadership in Nutrition and Dietetics (3 units)
  • NUTR 796: Professional Paper (3 units)
  • CHS 702, 712 or 755: Elective (3 units)

Total units: 9

 

Cost, financial aid and assistantships

In addition to the cost of your master's degree, you will also have internship-specific costs. To help defray these costs, there are options for financial aid and assistantships.

Master's degree costs

 The University's cost calculator provides an estimate of the direct expenses you can expect to pay for a graduate education by semester, and additional information is available on the tuition and fees website.

Internship-specific costs for all internship options

Program expense category Estimated cost
Pre-internship requirements: Medical exam, immunizations, titers and TB testing $100 - $200
Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification $30
Food Handler Exam or ServSafe Manager Exam $15 - $36
Scrubs (if required) $25 - $50
Liability coverage $32 - $50
Books, general supplies $100
Average monthly one-bedroom apartment rental in Reno or Las Vegas $1,045
Transportation costs (will vary; see ) $200 - $300

Options for financial aid

Student interns may apply for private student loans.

Prospective students should contact the University's Financial Aid Office for all financial aid information, including the amount of collegiate loan certification.

Student interns are encouraged to apply for scholarships from the and the Βι¶ΉΣ³»­'s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources.

Assistantships

The Department of Nutrition awards both teaching and research assistantships on a competitive basis.

If you are awarded an assistantship to help defray the cost of your education, please note that you must register for at least six graduate-level credits each semester (excluding summer). The Graduate School requires all graduate students to take a minimum of 6 credits. Failing to maintain this enrollment or earning less than a 3.0 GPA will jeopardize this financial assistance.  

The Graduate Dean's approval, with a note of explanation from the student's major advisor, is required to register for more than 12 credits in a semester.

For additional details regarding assistantships, please see Grad Assistantship Handbook.