COHP LINKS

Student Services

Information Request

Academics
  Clinical Lab Science
  Communication Disorders
  Dietetics
  Nursing
  Social Work
  COHP Home


Students
  Forms for CD students
  Forms for Nursing
  VISTA
  Nursing Handbooks
  COHP Home

PDA

For Faculty

Directory

Alumni

COHP Mission Statement

University Mission Statement

Notice of Privacy Practices
 

COHP Home

DIETETICS

Master of Science Degree in Dietetics

The Master of Science in Dietetics program offers a unique opportunity to dietetics professionals in southern West Virginia.  The program is open to persons who have completed a bachelor’s degree in dietetics at an accredited institution and have been admitted to the dietetic internship certificate program or are currently a Registered Dietitian.  Those students presently enrolled in or who have completed the internship certificate program, consisting of seven courses, accumulate 21 graduate credits, providing the basis for the master’s degree.  The degree consists of a total 36 graduate credit hours.

 In addition to the internship certificate requirements, students pursuing a master’s degree can choose from one of three concentration areas: Clinical Nutrition, Community Nutrition, or Food/Nutrition Management.  Other departments throughout the University (i.e. health care administration, nursing, sociology) provide the nine credit hours of coursework in the concentration area and research or statistics.

 Students are also provided with the option to complete a thesis or six additional hours or course work in the chosen area of concentration.  Those choosing a thesis option are required to defend the thesis orally.  However, all students are required to sit for a comprehensive written examination in their final semester.

 Mission

 The mission of the Master program is to prepare graduates to practice in advanced level professional positions in the fields of clinical nutrition, community nutrition, and/or food and nutrition management.

Program Objectives

 The Master of Science in Dietetics will provide students with the opportunity to:

1.     Acquire knowledge and skills required for entry-level and advanced positions in clinical nutrition, community nutrition, and food/nutrition management programs and for participating in food and nutrition research.

2.     Demonstrate competencies for entry- and advanced-level positions in dietetics programs for effective delivery of food/nutrition services and for conducting food and nutrition research.

3.     Engage in collaborative relationships to further develop competencies for management level practice in food and nutrition programs and to pursue rural healthcare research initiatives.

4.     Develop knowledge and skills as a dietetic professional to assume leadership roles in clinical nutrition, food/nutrition management, community-based nutrition programs, and food and nutrition research.

5.     Use effective oral and written communication skills in providing nutrition counseling and education to individuals, groups, and communities for health promotion, maintenance, treatment, and rehabilitation.

6.     Apply food and nutrition research findings toward the practice of nutrition programs in the clinical, community, and foodservice environments in both urban and rural areas.

 Program Outcomes

 The outcomes for the internship certificate program will also be applicable to the master’s program.  These outcomes are as follows:

1.     Students completing the Dietetic Internship will achieve knowledge and skills, as well as, demonstrate competencies for entry-level practice in all specialization areas of the dietetics profession.

2.     Students will satisfactorily complete the didactic component of the internship, which provides up-to-date information on the latest developments in foodservice management, medical nutrition therapy, and dietetics research and education.

3.     Program graduates will gain practical dietetics knowledge and application skills through interaction with clinical preceptors in a variety of settings.

4.     The Dietetic Internship will provide academic and clinical experiences to adequately prepare graduates for entry-level work in the field after program completion.

5.      Additional outcomes that are specific to the master’s degree program are as follows:

A.   The program will prepare graduates to practice advanced level professional dietetic responsibilities within a specialized area of emphasis.  Depending on concentration area, graduates will be able to practice as chief clinical dietitians, community nutrition specialists, or food/nutrition managers in hospitals or school based management, just to name a few.

B.    Graduate students will initiate scholarly research, especially in the area of rural nutrition and health care.

Admission Criteria

 Prospective students who wish to apply for admission to the master’s degree program must meet the admission requirements for the dietetic internship.  Upon successful completion of the internship certificate program students then need to submit an additional application requesting full admission to the master’s program.

 Any other prospective students must currently hold the status of Registered Dietitian through the Commission on Dietetic Registration.  Applying for admission to the University can then be done through the Graduate College.  The department handles these admissions on a case-by-case basis.  Such students will also be required to take all DTS courses listed for the dietetic internship except for the 9 hours of internship practicum courses.

 To then successfully complete the program, students are required to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher and receive a score of satisfactory or better on all preceptor evaluations.  

Program Requirements

 Regardless of concentration area, students are expected to complete the minimum course requirements previously established for the dietetic internship certificate program.  These courses are listed below:

 ** Three additional courses (9 hours) are required for all students; those choosing not to complete a thesis will need to select an additional 6 course credit hours in their concentration area.  Course selections may vary person to person within the concentration area, but must be pre-approved by the Program Director. 

 Sample Courses of Concentration Areas

 The following are samples of the types of courses a student can take in each concentration area.  However, keep in mind that other courses may be more appropriate to take and that all courses must be approved by the student’s advisor. Again, please remember these courses provided are just a SAMPLE.

Clinical Nutrition Concentration

 Community Nutrition Concentration

Food/Nutrition Management Concentration 

Thesis and Coursework Options

 The final six hours of the 36-hour program are to consist of either a thesis or additional coursework.  By the end of the first year of study, students will have chosen a graduate committee and submitted a plan of study to the Graduate College and their advisor.  The committee should be comprised of the student’s advisor and at least two additional faculty members who can assist in planning the research design, developing the prospectus, and completing requirements for a thesis in addition to writing questions for the comprehensive examination.

 Comprehensive Examination

 The comprehensive examination will consist of at least one question from each committee member and will be administered during the final semester.  Students will be given four hours to complete written responses to the questions, and a pass or fail decision will be reached by the committee members.

 Contact Information

Dr. Kelli J. Williams, PhD, RD, LD
Marshall University
Department of Dietetics
One John Marshall Drive
Huntington, WV  25755
williamsk@marshall.edu
304-696-4336

Please feel free to call or email if you have any questions or would like to discuss the program.  Also if you would like, an appointment can be made to visit or even tour the facilities.