With an emphasis in cultural competence and diversity in dietetics practice, the M.S. in Clinical Nutrition with the Dietetic Internship will prepare you to become a professional dietitian by providing graduate coursework and quality supervised practice.

Immaculata’s Master of Science in nutrition will give you an in-depth understanding of nutrient metabolism, medical nutrition therapy, and changing nutritional needs throughout the life cycle, along with specialized topics in applied nutrition. You will be able to effectively communicate nutrition information, develop and implement current research, utilize nutrition literature and resources, and integrate nutrition knowledge from a variety of sources.

Two tracks are available for obtaining a master’s degree in nutrition, depending upon your background and career goals. Continue reading to learn more about the clinical nutrition track with an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship, or learn more about the nutrition education and counseling track here.

Clinical Nutrition, M.S. with Dietetic Internship Program Highlights

• Faculty have real-world experience as Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
• You will have a faculty advisor to guide you through your degree program from start to finish.
• You may participate in faculty-mentored research projects with some funding available.
• The program is flexible, with evening, hybrid, and online courses offered.
• A variety of courses are offered as electives to suit your interests and professional needs.

This track is for those who want to earn a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (R.D.N.) credential and obtain a graduate degree. By January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a graduate degree to meet the entry- level registration eligibility education requirements for dietitians.

Career Opportunities

Upon completion of the internship, you will be eligible to take the registration exam and become an R.D.N. With this credential, you may work in areas such as:

• Clinical facilities—hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes or other long-term care facilities
• Community and public health settings—public health departments, programs for seniors or WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), or Head Start programs
• Business and industry—food service management or operations in schools, supermarkets, and other institutions
• Higher education
• Sports nutrition
• Private practice

Dietetic Internship

Immaculata’s Dietetic Internship will give you supervised experience in dietetics practice as part of your master’s degree in clinical nutrition. The internship integrates our graduate nutrition faculty’s academic expertise with the medical and dietetic expertise of leading health care facilities in the surrounding area. The internship requires an intensive commitment of working full-time for approximately 10 months or part-time, three days per week, with extended time for completion. The internship and related coursework will provide 24 (out of 39) graduate credits toward the M.S. in Clinical Nutrition. Admission to the Dietetic Internship requires a separate application (see below).