Combined Master's Degree
Program Overview
The combined Master of Science - Dietetic Internship (MS-DI) Program at the University of Florida offers an exciting, dynamic and challenging environment in which to fulfill the final educational step in becoming a Registered Dietitian (RD). Internship experiences are conducted in leading medical centers, community settings, and specialty practice areas ranging from acute inpatient care to outpatient and wellness settings. We offer three areas of emphasis: General, Research and Sports Nutrition.
Our Sports Nutrition emphasis is available on a competitive basis to one student per year, although students in other emphasis areas have the opportunity to request an elective rotation in Sports Nutrition.
Students attending our program also earn a Master of Science degree from a prestigious university recognized by the Association of American Universities. Our combined approach helps students develop critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills so that our graduates are positioned to be leaders in their chosen areas of dietetic practice.
Accreditation
The MS-DI Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE*), the accrediting body of the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
Mission
The mission of the MS-DI Program is to provide a progressive and effective program that integrates graduate education, research, service, and supervised practice to develop competent, entry-level practitioners with advanced nutrition knowledge who are prepared to meet the needs of the citizens of Florida and the nation. This is accomplished through a partnership among the dietetics faculty, university faculty, site preceptors, current and former students, prospective employers, administrators, community groups and other external constituencies.
Program Goals
- Prepare and graduate students who meet the requirements for the Master of Science degree and who are
competent entry-level practitioners.
- Outcome Measures: Site preceptor evaluations, program completion rate, pass rate on the Registration Examination for Dietitians, employment rates and responses on employer surveys.
- Develop research skills and foster an evidence-based approach to practice.
- Outcome Measures: Performance in specified courses and responses on program graduate and employer surveys
- Reinforce the concept of lifelong learning as a personal and professional responsibility for dietitians.
- Outcome Measures: Development of individual learning objectives, self-evaluation of performance and professional development, completion rates for professional development activities, development of a satisfactory CDR learning plan and responses on employer surveys.
Program Start Dates
June 2008, Sports Nutrition emphasis
August 2008, General or Research emphasis
Application Deadlines
Sports Nutrition emphasis: December 7, 2007
All application materials must be received by this date (no exceptions). For detailed information about the Sports Nutrition emphasis and the application procedures for this emphasis area, click on the options listed under “Sports Nutrition” on the navigation bar. The Sports Nutrition emphasis is handled through the pre-select option. Qualified applicants who are not selected for this emphasis will be notified in time to participate in the computer matching process and are eligible for consideration for the remaining positions (see below) in our Master of Science – Dietetic Internship Program, as well as other dietetic internship programs of interest to them. Applicants who fall into this category must submit the mark/sense card with prioritized selections to D&D Digital Systems, Inc. by the February 15, 2008 deadline.
General or Research emphasis: January 11, 2008
Late or incomplete applications will be considered through February 15, 2008 (post-mark date). Only applications that include all of the required materials by this date will be considered. Prospective students who submit late applications or do not complete the application process until after January 11, 2008 may not receive notification of acceptance/denial into the University of Florida Graduate School until after the D&D Digital computer ranking deadline has passed. All MS-DI Program applicants (except for the Sports Nutrition emphasis) must participate in the D&D Digital computer matching process. Late or incomplete applications may not meet the deadline for assistantship decisions. Teaching/research assistantships are limited and highly competitive.
