Dietetics, M.S.
Admission Requirements
Prospective students who wish to apply for admission to the master’s degree program must meet the admission requirements, described in detail at www.marshall.edu/dietetics. Admission is competitive.
The following standards are used to made admission decisions:
- Completion of a Didactic Program in Dietetics. Admitted students are required to provide a Verification Statement and transcript with final degree confirmation prior to beginning program.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) is preferred.
- A personal statement of 1000 words or less
- Documented volunteer or paid work experience in foodservice and/or nutrition care is preferred.
- Three letters of recommendation
- Completion of an online personal interview
For further information about any of these items, including personal statement guidelines and interview instructions, please consult the admission section of the website at www.marshall.edu/dietetics.
Application to Marshall University’s Master of Science degree is completed through a centralized application system known as DICAS. Applicants will apply online using the DICAS application. To learn more about the DICAS application process visit https://dicas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login. If a student is admitted, he or she will receive further instructions from the program director regarding formal application to the graduate program through Marshall University Graduate Admissions.
Students pursuing the distance track should consult the distance program admission information on the website, www.marshall.edu/dietetics, for additional requirements related to rotation schedules, preceptors, and information on state eligibility for distance education through Marshall University.
Any other prospective students must currently hold the status of Registered Dietitian through the Commission on Dietetic Registration or a Verification Statement from an accredited DPD program. Admission of Registered Dietitians will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the department. Those holding Verification Statements can be conditionally admitted for one semester. Full admission will be contingent on acceptance. Both types of potential students should follow the admissions process described in this catalog or at the Graduate Admissions website at www.marshall.edu/graduate/admissions/how-to-apply-for-admission.
For more information on international student requirements, visit http://www.marshall.edu/graduate/admissions/international-admission /.
Program Requirements
The degree consists of a total of 36 graduate credit hours. Thirty-three hours consist of required coursework (11 courses) and 3 hours consist of elective credits, which must be approved by the advisor. Required courses are as follows:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DTS 508 | Nutrition Cardiac Disease | 3 |
| DTS 670 | Adv Med Nutrition Therapy I | 3 |
| DTS 671 | Sports Nutrition | 3 |
| DTS 672 | Diabetes & Nutrition Mngt | 3 |
| DTS 673 | Administrative Dietetics | 3 |
| DTS 674 | Food Allergies & Intoler | 3 |
| DTS 675 | Dietetic Internship I | 3 |
| DTS 676 | Dietetic Internship II | 3 |
| DTS 677 | Dietetic Internship III | 3 |
| DTS 679 | Adv Med Nutrition Therapy II | 3 |
| DTS 690 | Sem DTS Research Comm | 3 |
- All students will be required to sit for a written and oral comprehensive examination in their final semester and must pass in order to graduate. The exam will be administered by a graduate committee consisting of three graduate faculty members.
- In addition to the requirements listed in Marshall University’s standards for good standing, a student pursuing a degree in Dietetics will maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher and receive a score of satisfactory or better on all preceptor evaluations, when applicable.
Students who successfully complete the program will receive a verification statement and be eligible to sit for the registration examination for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
Plan of Study
The student will develop a Plan of Study or blueprint for graduation requirements, which must be approved by the student's advisor, The Plan of Study must be on file in the Graduate Studies office before the student registers for the 12th semester hour. A typical plan will consist of the following:
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| DTS 670 | Adv Med Nutrition Therapy I | 3 |
| DTS 672 | Diabetes & Nutrition Mngt | 3 |
| DTS 675 | Dietetic Internship I | 3 |
| DTS 690 | Sem DTS Research Comm | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| DTS 671 | Sports Nutrition | 3 |
| DTS 673 | Administrative Dietetics | 3 |
| DTS 676 | Dietetic Internship II | 3 |
| DTS 679 | Adv Med Nutrition Therapy II | 3 |
| Approved elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| DTS 508 | Nutrition Cardiac Disease | 3 |
| DTS 674 | Food Allergies & Intoler | 3 |
| DTS 677 | Dietetic Internship III | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |