Degree Requirements: 45 Credit Hours

Admission Requirements

Meeting minimum entry requirements does not guarantee a seat in the program.

Standard Admission:

1. Completion of a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education of Nutrition & Dietetics, the accrediting agency of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, with coursework completed within the last 5 years
2. Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), with a minimum of a ‘C’ in prerequisite DPD, math, and science coursework
3. TOEFL IBT score of 80 with a minimum score of 20 in each of the four exam sub-sections (international students)
4. Submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE). No minimum score required.
5. Completion of dietetic related volunteer and work experience, in the fields of nutrition, food science, health, laboratory or clinical research, foodservice, food industry, nutrition education, or health promotion
6. Completion of the online Georgia Southern Graduate Application 
7. Submit official transcripts from each college or university previously attended. 
8. Completion of the online Dietetic Internship Centralized application Service (DICAS http://portal.dicas.org ) packet with the following:
   • Application Information 
   • Intent to Complete or Verification of Completion of a Didactic Program in Dietetics
   • Personal statement (8000 character limit) discussing the following:
     • Why you want to enter the dietetics profession
     • Your interest in community nutrition or in school nutrition (choose only one)
     • Your short-term and long-term goals
     • Experiences and skills that reflect your ability to be successful in the dietetic internship and as a registered dietitian
     • An assessment of the qualities, knowledge, and skills you feel you need or wish to improve upon
     • Other information you consider important for the selection process
   • Resume that includes education, work and professional history, recognition/awards, membership and participation in professional organizations, dietetic related volunteer experience, other experiences related to the dietetic internship. 
   • Three letters of reference
   • Upload results of a criminal background check that includes federal , state and local levels. For Professional Screening & Information (PSI), the costumer code is CUST and the product 983 and product code GSUN for background check only (background check must be clear of offenses for the previous five years), http://www.psibackgroundcheck.com/
9. Register with D & D Digital matching system at http://www.dnddigital.com and submit the D & D Digital registration fee. Pre-Select Georgia Southern University graduates do not register with D & D Digital matching system. 
10. Completion of a pre-admission interview.
11. Completion of a pre-admissions math quiz.
12. Required documentation after acceptance to the DI Program are listed on the program website: https://chp.georgiasouthern.edu/hk/graduate/dietetic-internship-programs/combined-masters-of-science-in-nutrition-and-foods-plus-dietetic-internship-ms-di-program/ms-di-program-admissions/

Direct Admission (preselect):

Georgia Southern seniors in the DPD program or past Georgia Southern DPD graduates are eligible for direct admission based on the following criteria:

1. Current seniors are eligible, or students who have completed the program in the past five years.  Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), with a minimum of a ‘B’ in DPD professional courses, a ‘C’ in the other prerequisites DPD, math, and science coursework.
2. Those who accept direct admission cannot participate in the national matching process. Those who decline direct admission may still apply through the standard admission process. A pre-admission interview may be required if the number of eligible seniors exceeds reserved placement slots.​​​​​​​

NOTE: Contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for other admissions related information.

Program of Study

• NTFS 7331 - Applied Food Science (3 Credit Hours)
• NTFS 7333 - Research Methods in Nutrition and Foods (3 Credit Hours)
• NTFS 7334 - Applied Medical Nutrition Therapy (3 Credit Hours)
• NTFS 7335 - Public Health & Community Nutrition (3 Credit Hours)
• NTFS 7337 - Macronutrient Metabolism (3 Credit Hours)
• NTFS 7338 - Micronutrient Metabolism (3 Credit Hours)
• NTFS 7339 - Energy Balance for Weight Management (3 Credit Hours)
• NTFS 7431 - Nutrition Education (3 Credit Hours)

• or COHE 7238 - Communication for Change 

• NTFS 7611 - Graduate Seminar (1 Credit Hour)
• NTFS 7612 - Professional Development (1 Credit Hour)
• NTFS 7613 - Dietetic Internship Orientation (1 Credit Hour)
• NTFS 7790 - Practicum in Nutrition and Dietetics (1-9 Credit Hours) *

Total Credit Hours: 45

*Recommend interns take NTFS 7790  for 9 credit hours in the Fall and Spring semesters. A total of 18 credit hours will apply toward program completion. ​​​​​​​

Advisement

Graduate students are advised by their program. Graduate students should reach out to their graduate program director for information regarding the structures in place to facilitate advisement. For more information visit Graduate Academic Advisement .

Graduate students can also contact the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies for more information about their program director.

Phone: 912-478-COGS (2647)

Email: gradschool@georgiasouthern.edu