Admission Requirements and Application Process

Admission Requirements

Students interested in the Master of Science in Nutrition/Dietetic Internship (MSDI) program must meet the requirements set for the UMass Amherst Graduate School as well as the Dietetic Internship (DI) program. Requirements stated below are for both the MSDI and standalone DI programs.

1. All students must have completed an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics approved or ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and hold a signed DPD verification statement. For information on specific DPD course requirements, please visit our Dietetics Track (DPD) page.
2. If applying to the standalone DI, students must hold a graduate degree in nutrition, public health, or health-related field, OR be in the process of completing a master's degree with the projected graduation date to be on or before entering supervised practice.

Academic Requirements

Specific Courses 

• Two semesters of Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT, or equivalent), with grades of B or better* and taken within the last two years.
• Two semesters of Anatomy & Physiology with grades of B or better*. For questions regarding these requirements, please contact the csmaxwell [at] umass [dot] edu (subject: Application%20grade%20requirements) (program director).

GPA / Grades

A cumulative GPA of 3.2 or above is expected in undergraduate work and 3.5 or better in graduate work. Specific attention is given to DPD-related courses. Holistic consideration of course load, employment status, and/or extracurricular activities is given when reviewing overall grades. *Applicants with grades lower than a B in related courses are still encouraged to apply.

Personal Statement

Applicants should address the following in their personal statement:

• Why do you believe the program at UMass Amherst is a good fit for you?
• What unique skills or qualities you will bring to our MSDI/DI program?
• What are your short-term and long-term goals?
• Max length 1000 words.

Note: If applying to the MSDI, you may use the same personal statement for the graduate school application. Be sure to include your intended interest in the MSDI in your statement.

Interview

The UMass Amherst DI program conducts virtual interviews as part of the application process. Selected applicants will be contacted via email prior to the notification deadline to schedule their interviews. Applicants who do not complete the interview portion will not be considered for acceptance into the MSDI or standalone DI programs.

Work and Volunteer Experience

Prior work or volunteer experience in the nutrition and health-related fields is highly encouraged but not required. Examples of preferred experiences include, WIC or Head Start, food bank/food pantry, elder nutrition services, and dietary aid. 

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants should submit three letters of recommendation: at least two from faculty/academic instructors, and one from a supervisor/employer. For applicants who have been outside of academia for more than two years, one letter from a former academic instructor, and two letters from past/current supervisors/employers is acceptable.

Letters of recommendation are given significant attention during the application process. It is highly encouraged that you request letters from those who know you well and can speak to your academic achievements and/or overall work ethic.

Application Process

Our supervised practice programs follow the application deadlines set forth by ACEND (currently Oct. 8th and Jan. 15th). External applicants are required to apply through DICAS (Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application System). Internal applicants holding a DPD verification statement from UMass Amherst do NOT need to apply through DICAS. However, all applicants applying to an MSDI program (accelerated 4+1 MSDI or MSDI) must submit an application to the Graduate School.

DICAS charges $50 for the first program you apply to and $25 for each additional program. The Graduate School at UMass Amherst charges a $90 fee. 

Please visit the DICAS help center for additional information on completing your application, or visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website for specific help with the DICAS process.

Additional Information

Residential Requirements

The MSDI and supervised practice (DI) programs at UMass Amherst are campus-based and in-person (not online or distance). The supervised practice portion provides approximately 1200 hours, 1,000 of which takes place in the professional setting. Most of our preceptors work in western Massachusetts and the surrounding areas and located within one hour of the UMass Amherst Flagship campus. Out-of-state students are encouraged to relocate to the western Massachusetts area to complete their internship experience. Having personal, reliable transportation is required for completing the supervised practice portion as some rotation sites are not accessible by public transportation.

Accommodations and Exceptions in the DI Program

The supervised practice (DI) program at UMass Amherst allows for prior learning credit on a case-by-case basis. Students may be able to apply hours spent in a nutrition-related field toward the 1,000 hours of supervised practice required for our program. For example, if an applicant worked as a nutrition specialist at WIC for one year, they may apply up to 300 hours toward their supervised practice, reducing the overall time spent in the program. Note: number of hours applied, and competencies completed require an attestation from the former supervisor.