MS/DI FAQ's - Department of Nutrition and Dietetics

Both Programs:

How long is your program?
- Our program is one year in length. Interns begin orientation the third week of August and will finish the internship the following August (around the second week of the month).
What is your concentration?
- School nutrition education and grantsmanship
What is the cost of your program?
- The most up-to-date information for cost can be found on our website:
  - On-site: https://www.marshall.edu/nutrition-and-dietetics/program-costs/
  - Distance: https://www.marshall.edu/nutrition-and-dietetics/distance-dietetic-internship-program-costs/
- Do I need to take the GRE?
  - The GRE is not required for our internship programs.
- Do you require COVID vaccines?
  - The facilities used for our on-site internship experiences require the initial dose (1 or 2 dose vaccination depending on vaccine taken) and booster doses, as applicable with timing of vaccines. If vaccination is required by a facility, interns will be expected to take the vaccine or risk not completing the rotation, which means the intern cannot complete internship requirements.
- Is it possible to work while in the DI?
  - The internship is the first priority for interns. Most students can work a few hours each week. Absences due to outside employment are considered unexcused. An intern’s top priority should be the internship and accommodations for employment outside the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics will not be made. A dietitian’s work schedule does not always fit into an eight-hour day. Interns are expected to remain at their rotations until the preceptor excuses them for the day. Interns are not permitted to ask to leave early for a job.
- How is the online interview set up?
  - Each applicant is asked to complete a video interview through Hireflix and directions on how to complete this will be part of your DICAS application.
  - You will be asked to answer 5 questions. Once you see the question you will have 45 seconds to prepare your answer and 2 minutes to record your answer.
- Do you offer a RD exam Prep course?
  - We do offer the All Access Dietetics Pass Class RDN Review course at no additional cost to you. During this course, you will attend virtual sessions and complete worksheets, quizzes, and exams.
- Are there required courses for your MS degree?
  - Yes, there are required courses for our MS degree. Here is the course schedule:
    - Fall:
      - DTS 670 Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy I
      - DTS 672 Diabetes and Nutrition Management
      - DTS 675 Dietetic Internship I
      - DTS 690 Seminar in Dietetics Research and Communication
        
        Each course is 3 hours for a total of 12 hours
      - Spring:
        
        DTS 679 Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy II
        
        DTS 671 Sports Nutrition
        
        DTS 676 Dietetic Internship II
        
        DTS 673 Administrative Dietetics
        
        Approved Elective
        
        Each course is 3 hours for a total of 15 hours
        
        Summer:
        
        DTS 508 Nutrition Cardiac Disease
        
        DTS 674 Food Allergies and Intolerances
        
        DTS 677 Dietetic Internship III
        
        Each course is 3 hours for a total of 9 hours

On-site:

Do I need to set up any rotations if I am an on-site intern?
- You do not. The internship director will set up all rotations for you.
What are housing options for on-site interns?
- There are many areas that provide housing options for on-site interns. Here are a few places: http://www.thorntreeapts.com and http://www.gardenparkrentals.com/. We are happy to connect you with current interns if you would like more information on housing.
What benefits do on-site interns get as an RA?
- On-site interns receive a research assistantship to with our department and nutrition education program. Benefits of this include half off tuition (doesn’t include University fees) and a small stipend. In addition, you gain experience in implementing nutrition education though a MyPlate curriculum in grades K-2 and policy, system, and environmental changes.

Distance:

How should I obtain preceptors for my distance rotations?
- It is a requirement that you obtain preceptors for the following rotations:
  - School Nutrition Education
    - Look for preceptors who work in school systems
      - School Food Service Directors
      - Head Start Program Coordinators
      - Health Teachers
    - Look for preceptors who are providing nutrition education in schools
      - State Extension Program Agents/Educators
    - Community Nutrition
      - Look for preceptors who are providing nutrition education in community setting
        
        Outpatient services in hospitals/clinics
        
        Private Practice Dietitians
        
        Eating Disorder Clinics
        
        WIC
        
        Employee Wellness Dietitians
        
        Government Nutrition Policy
        
        Public Health Dietitians
        
        National Dairy Council
        
        National Beef Council
        
        Grocery Market Dietitians
        
        Sports Dietitians
      - Medical Nutrition Therapy
        
        Look for dietitians working in:
        
        acute care hospitals
        
        rehab hospitals
        
        long-term care facilities
        
        inpatient eating disorders
        
        Also, with MNT you are required to have at minimum 4 weeks of ACUTE CARE experience
      - Food Service Management
        
        Look for dietitians/supervisors working in:
        
        hospital food service management
        
        food service directors working in public school setting (sometimes are dietitians, but doesn’t have to be)
        
        food service directors in university or college setting (sometimes are dietitians, but doesn’t have to be)
Will I have to find my own sites for the distance internship before applying?
- The short answer here is yes. You are required to find your own rotation sites for the distance internship program. The internship coordinator will assist you in giving you ideas and supporting you as you make contact with sites, but ultimately you are the one finding and contacting these sites to work with you.
- Now, previous interns have contracted with multiple sites around the country over the last several years, so there may be sites that are close to your vicinity that have experience working with Marshall University. A list of those sites can be provided upon request.
What days each week can I schedule my rotation hours for if I am in the distance internship?
- You are encouraged to schedule your rotation hours Tuesday-Friday each week. There are some dietitians that do work weekends and you are permitted to schedule your hours on weekend days as well, if you so choose.
- Mondays are for completing your graduate class work. You are NOT permitted to schedule rotation hours on Mondays during the fall and spring term semesters.
Are you required to set up your rotations in a certain order?
- No, you set up your rotations according to how it best fits your schedule and that of your preceptors. We would encourage you to not immediately jump into completing your MNT at the beginning of the year as many interns have reported that they wished they would have waited further into their internship to complete this experience after having experience in other rotations and obtaining deeper information of MNT knowledge from their graduate courses. But, there are many MNT preceptors that have only so many opportunities for availability, so you basically go with what you can get with your MNT rotations.
- You should also note that you may be in a situation where a preceptor can only take you for 4 weeks at one point in time and then can allow you to complete your hours at that site several months later. It is perfectly fine to split up your rotations as such.
Can I do two rotations at one site facility under the same preceptor?
- You are permitted to complete two rotations at the same site and under the same preceptor; however, we encourage you to try and find multiple preceptors to learn from during your internship experiences. Learning under one preceptor is perfectly fine, but it is better when you can have multiple preceptors to learn from.
Can I complete two rotations at the same time?
- No, you can complete two rotations in one facility, but you cannot complete two rotations simultaneously. You need to split it up. Example: Oftentimes, an intern will complete food service management and school nutrition education under the same preceptor (School Food Service Director); you will need to complete all school nutrition education rotation hours before completing the FSM rotation hours (or vice versa).