Becoming an RD/DTR

About MDA

Contact MDA

Becoming an RD/DTR

Join MDA

The field of dietetics and nutrition is diverse and exciting and there are many ways to become involved in the field.

An Associate's degree from an accredited program will enable those interested in nutrition to become Dietetic Technicians, working with Registered Dietitians and others in various capacities.

Others may prefer obtaining a Bachelor's degree in nutrition and eventually becoming a Registered Dietitian. In order to become a Registered Dietitian, (RD) there are methods of obtaining the necessary courses. The first is to complete the necessary didactic courses. Completion of the didactic courses can be done in several ways. A Bachelor's degree from an accredited program with the appropriate courses taken will qualify you to apply for an internship or coordinated program. Students who already hold a Bachelor's degree in another field, may opt to obtain a Masters degree, or just take the courses necessary to meet the didactic requirements. Following completion of a didactic program, necessary practice experience is completed with a dietetic internship, coordinated program or Masters program with internship. Registered Dietitians may also want to further their education with a graduate degree.

The following is a list of the available programs for education in the field of nutrition.

New or Recently Created Degree Programs

1. Online Master of Public Health in Nutrition, UMass Amherst

The Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, and Continuing Professional Education at UMass Amherst, have initiated a new, fully online Master of Public Health in Nutrition program that allows you to earn your credentials at your own pace, from anywhere, without interrupting your career. The program will help you enhance your nutrition science background; build skills in program planning, policymaking, needs assessment, and public health research; and interact with UMass faculty and health professionals from around the world.

For more program information, go to UMassOnline: www.umassonline.net/degrees/MPHinNutrition.html

Additional UMass Amherst links:
School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition:
www.umass.edu/sphhs/nutrition/index.html
Continuing and Professional Education:
www.umassulearn.net/mphn

2. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) is proud to introduce a new part-time evening Master of Applied Natural Products (MANP) degree program. This unique program is geared towards working health care professionals who are interested in expanding their knowledge in the area of natural products, herbal and dietary supplements.

For more information including program highlights and contacts, please see this MCPHS Brochure.

3. The Masters of Applied Nutrition at Northeastern University School of Professional and Continuing Studies is designed as a two-year program for the working professional. Classes are offered in the early evening to accommodate work and other obligations of our students.

Students have the opportunity to study in one of four specialty tracks:

Obesity and Eating DisordersNutrition EducationNutrition and Fitness
Business and Entrepreneurship in Nutrition

For more information or to apply, please go to www.spcs.neu.edu. For more specific information about the Masters of Applied Nutrition, please contact the Program Coordinator, Dr. Ellen Glovsky, at 617-373-8563.

4. Graduate Eating Disorders Institute, Plymouth State University

Mardie Burckes-Miller, Ed.D., CHES, CEDS, serves as the director and a professor of a new unique eating disorders focused graduate program. At Plymouth State University, you can become more informed about the many faces and facets of eating disorders and become a catalyst for action. If you have a bachelor's degree or higher and an interest in the field of eating disorders, come to Plymouth State.

You can enroll in a stand-alone 15 credit Eating Disorders Institute, an MED with a 15 credit focus in Eating Disorders, or for those professionals with a MED/MS, a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies with a focus in Eating Disorders.

Unique features include: Weekend format for working professionals, small classes (less than 10), faculty who are eating disorders professionals, students from a variety of disciplines, and hands-on courses.

For more information about the up-coming first course within the program, Eating Disorders Awareness, beginning this spring, April 27, 2007, or the program, please see this PSU EDI flyer, and contact Mardie Burckes-Miller at Margaret@plymouth.edu or 603-535-2515.

Established Degree Programs

Dietetic Technician Programs
Didactic Programs
Coordinated Programs
Dietetic Internships
Advanced Degree Programs

Dietetic Technician Programs
*Institution*		*Program Director*	*Degree Granted*
	Laboure College 2120 Dorchester Avenue Boston, MA 02124-5698 Email: Labourecollege@labourecollege.org Web: www.labourecollege.org	Ann S. Manion, MBA, RD. 617/296-8300 ext. 4042 fax: 617/296-7947	AS
Laboure College requires entering students have a high school diploma or a GED. Laboure offers some alternative ways to deliver education, including distance education, evening courses and weekend courses. Enrollment is open in the fall, winter, spring and summer semesters. Laboure currently holds accreditation, and recently had a site visit from The American Dietetic Association. [top]
Didactic Programs
*Institution*		*Program Director*	*Degree Granted*
	University of Massachusetts -Amherst Department of Nutrition Box 31420 Chenoweth Laboratory Amherst, MA 01003-1420 www.umass.edu/sphhs/nutrition	Nancy Cohen, PhD, RD 413/545-0740 fax: 413/545-1074 cohen@nutrition.umass.edu	BS
	Boston University Graduate Nutrition Program 635 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215 www.bu.edu/sargent	Roberta Durschlag, PhD, RD 617/353-7488 fax: 617/353-7567 rdurschl@bu.edu	BS
	*Simmons College* Department of Nutrition 300 The Fenway Boston, MA 02115-5898 www.simmons.edu	Dr. Liz Metallinos-Katsaras 617/521-2711 fax: 617/521-2711 elizabeth.metallinoskatsaras@simmons.edu	BS
	Framingham State College 100 State Street Framingham, MA 01701-9101 www.framingham.edu/nutrition/index.html [top]	Marilyn Abernethy, DPH, RD 508/626-4757 fax: 508/626-4003 maberne@frc.mass.edu	BS/MS
Coordinated Programs
*Institution*		*Program Director*	*Degree Granted*
	Framingham State College 100 State Street Framingham, MA 01701-9101 www.framingham.edu/nutrition/index.html [top]	Suzanne Neubauer, PhD, RD 508/626-4754 fax: 508/626-4003 sneubau@frc.mass.edu	BS/MS
Dietetic Internships
*Institution*		*Program Director*	*Degree Granted*
	University of Massachusetts -Amherst Department of Nutrition Box 31420 Chenoweth Laboratory Amherst, MA 01003-1420 http://www.umass.edu/dieteticinternship/	Nadine Braunstein, MS, RD, LDN, CDE phone: (413) 545-2484 fax: (413) 577-3838 dieteticdirector@nutrition.umass.edu	12 Graduate Credits
The dietetic internship at The University of Massachusetts-Amherst is 11 months in length and begins in August. Typically, between 8-10 interns are selected for the program, and they are appointed in April. The estimated tuition is $5500, though tuition is subject to change.
	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 330 Brookline Avenue Boston, MA 02215 http://www.bidmc.harvard.edu/dietetic	Patricia Samour, MMSc, RD phone: 617-667-2580 fax: 617-667-3126 psamour@bidmc.harvard.edu
The dietetic internship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is 10 months in length, begins in September, and has a nutrition therapy focus. Typically, between 8-12 interns are selected for the program, and they are appointed in April. Tuition is currently $4200, though tuition is subject to change.
	*Boston University* Graduate Nutrition Program 635 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215 http://www.bu.edu/sargent	Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD 617/353-7470 fax: 617/353-7567 salge@bu.edu	Masters
The dietetic internship at Boston University is 19-24 months in length and begins in September. Typically, between 12 interns are selected for the program, and they are appointed in April. The estimated tuition is $1000 plus $713 per credit hour, though tuition is subject to change.
	Brigham and Women's Hospital 75 Francis Street Boston, MA 02215 www.brighamandwomens.org/nutrition/	Alice McCarley, MS, RD 617/732-7493 fax: 617/566-5164 Amccarley@bics.bwh.harvard.edu	None
The dietetic internship at the Brigham and Women's Hospital is 11 months in length and begins in either August or October. Typically, 12 interns are selected for the program (6 per class), and they are appointed in April. The estimated stipend is $4500, though it is subject to change.
	Francis Stern Nutrition Center New England Medical Ceter Tufts University 750 Washington Street, Box 783 Boston, MA 02111 www.nutrition.tufts.edu/admissions/programs/fsnc/	Kelly Kane, MS, RD, LDN, CNSD Phone: (617) 636-8309, (617) 636-5273 Fax: (617) 636-2864 email: kkane@tufts-nemc.org	MS
The dietetic internship The Francis Stern Nutrition Center is 20-21 months in length and begins in August. Typically, 8 interns are selected for the program, and they are appointed in April. The estimated tuition is $33,000, though tuition is subject to change.
	Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Nutrition & Food Services BLKBA 002 55 Fruit Street Boston, MA 02114 http://www.massgeneral.org/dietetic	Kathleen Creedon, MHPE, RD, LDN 617/726-2589 fax: 617/726-7649 KCreedon@partners.org	None
The dietetic internship at the Massachusetts General Hospital is 50 weeks in length and begins in September. Typically, 12 interns are selected for the program, and they are appointed in April. The tuition is $4800, though it is subject to change.
	*Simmons College* Department of Nutrition 300 The Fenway Boston, MA 02115-5898 www.simmons.edu	Nancie Herbold, Ed.D, RD 617/521-2709 fax: 617/521-3137 nherbold@simmons.edu	12 graduate credits
The dietetic internship at Simmons College is 7-8 months in length and begins in September. Typically, between 6 interns are selected for the program, and they are appointed in April. The estimated tuition is $6744, though it is subject to change.
	Mt. Auburn Hospital 330 Mt. Auburn Street Cambridge, MA 02238 www.mtauburn.caregroup.org/mededu/mededu.asp	Kateri Wyne MPH,RD,LDN 617/499-5159 fax: 617/499-5673 kwyne@mah.harvard.edu	None
The dietetic internship at the Mt. Auburn Hospital Hospital is 11-12 months in length and begins in September. Typically, 2 interns are selected for the program, and they are appointed in April. The estimated tuition is $1,200, and stipend is $75 per week, though it is subject to change.
	Sodexho/Southcoast 101 Page Street New Bedford, MA 02740 http://www.southcoast.org/jobs/interns-dietary.html	Elizabeth Winthrop, MS, RD 508/961-5161 fax: 508/961-5166 winthrope@southcoast.org	None
The dietetic internship sponsored by Sodexho at Southcoast Hospitals Group is 10 months in length and begins in September. Six interns are selected through computer matching. The internship has a nutrition therapy emphasis and an excellent job placement record. Cost of tuition is $4800.
	*Sodhexo Distance Education Program* 45 Hayden Ave Lexington, MA 02420 http://www.dieteticintern.com	Barbara Woodland, Ed.D, RD 603/487-5293 Fax: 603/487-2666 DistLearningIntern@sodexhoUSA.com	None
The web site for the SodexhoDistance Education Program contains all program information, including application materials. [top]
Advanced Degree Programs
Institution		*Program Director*	*Degree Granted*
	University of Massachusetts - Amherst Department of Nutrition Chenoweth Laboratory University of Massachusetts 100 Holdsworth Way Amherst, MA 01003-9282 http://www.umass.edu/sphhs/nutrition	Mokhtar T. Atallah, PhD 413/545-0740 Fax: 413/545-1074 matallah@nutrition.umass.edu	Masters, MPH, Doctoral
	*Boston University* Graduate Nutrition Program 635 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215 http://www.bu.edu/sargent	Roberta Durschlag, PhD, RD 617/353-7488 fax: 617/353-7567 rdurschl@bu.edu	Masters
	Simmons College Department of Nutrition 300 The Fenway Boston, MA 02115-5898 http://www.simmons.edu	Nancie Herbold, Ed.D, RD 617/521-2709 fax: 617/521-3137 nherbold@simmons.edu	Masters
	Plymouth State University Graduate Eating Disorders Institute	Mardie Burckes-Miller 603-535-2515 Margaret@plymouth.edu	Masters
	*Framingham State College* 100 State Street Framingham Center, MA 1701-1901 website: www.framingham.edu/dgce/ms_human_nutrition.htm	Suzanne Neubauer, PhD, RD 508/626-4754 fax: 508/626-4003 sneubau@frc.mass.edu	Masters

[top]

Institution