NOTIFICATION OF PROGRAM MODEL CHANGE
The Combined MS in Nutrition and Dietetic Internship (MS/DI) at Saint Elizabeth University has been reorganized into a Future Education Model Graduate Degree Program. Explore the new Graduate Degree Program or contact Anne Buison, PhD, RDN, Program Director, for more information.
Note: As of Fall 2024, we are no longer accepting new students into the MS/DI. The program, as it exists, will sunset in 2026 as our final cohort of students complete their graduate studies. The MS/DI voluntarily chose to reorganize and did so in good standing. This in no way influences the reputation or quality of the education you received.
For DI and DPD alumni needing documentation or information, your documents will remain within the Foods and Nutrition, Dietetics Please contact the Interim Director of the MS/DI, Monica Luby, MS, RDN, FAND at mluby@steu.edu or 973-290-4092 with any questions.
M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetic Internship Program
The combined M.S. in Nutrition/Dietetics Internship program (MS/DI) is a 22-month, 38-credit, non-thesis program including 1135 hours of supervised practice. Students complete 20 credits of online M.S. in Nutrition coursework and 18 credits of DI program-specific coursework. Supervised practice takes place during fall and spring semesters of the second year, and site placements are arranged by DI faculty. Practice sites include acute and critical care, pediatrics, outpatient services – diabetes and renal, long-term care, wellness/nutrition counseling, public health, and community health.
Students who successfully complete the program receive a M.S. in Nutrition and a verification
statement of program completion. They are then eligible to take the National Registration
Examination for Registered Dietitians/Nutritionists (RD/RDN).
Applicants to this program are not required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
The program offers a choice of concentrations Entrepreneurial Nutrition Practice concentration
or Community and Public Health Nutrition.
Program Details
- Program Mission, Goals, and Outcomes
- Application Information
- For more information on program requirements, tuition, credit for prior learning, and more, please see the MS/DI Handbook 2024 - 2026
Individuals who have a master’s degree and DPD Verification may be considered for a direct-to-DI pathway. Please contact the Interim DI Director, Monica Luby, at mluby@steu.edu or 973-290-4092.
How to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
You must complete a supervised practice requirement and at least a master’s degree to be eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic registration (CDR) credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).
According to the 2024 Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession, the median full-time salary of RDNs is $79,000 per year. As with any profession, salaries and fees vary by region of the country, employment settings, scope of responsibility and supply of RDNs. Salaries increase with experience and many RDNs — particularly those in business, management, education and research — earn incomes above $100,000.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dietitians is projected to grow 7% from 2023-2033, faster than the average for all occupations, because of the increased emphasis on the role of food and nutrition in preventing and treating diseases, a growing and aging population and public interest in nutrition.
For more information, visit the Academy of Nutrition Dietetics: Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Click here for an update on RDN licensure in New Jersey.
Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require
a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become
a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In addition, CDR requires that individuals
complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation
Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited dietetic internship through
the Combined Master's in Nutrition and Dietetic Internship program at Saint Elizabeth
University are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.
For more information about state licensing requirements for RDNs, please see the MS/DI Handbook.
Accreditation Status
The Dietetic Internship Program of Saint Elizabeth University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, Illinois, 60606, Phone: 800-877-1600 through December 31, 2025.