Master of Science/Dietetic Internship

If you are interested in learning more about the program, you can attend one of our virtual open houses which occur via Zoom on the THIRD Friday of every month at 2 pm EST. Please email kkane@tuftsmedicalcenter.org if you are interested.

Frances Stern Nutrition Center Dietetic Internship participates in the Centralized Online Dietetic Internship Application (DICAS) and only participates in the spring dietetic internship matching. In addition to the DICAS application, applicants are also required to complete and submit the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy application form.  Do NOT send materials directly to FSNC or Tufts University.

Selection Criteria

Application to the Combined / Master's Degree/Dietetic Internship Program requires successful completion of The Academy's Didactic Program in Dietetics requirements and fulfillment of the application process noted above.

Interns are selected based on:

• Scholastic achievement
• Professional references
• Written and oral expression
• Leadership abilities
• Professional activities
• Work experience
• GRE scores (optional)

Application Checklist

• Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS)
  • Submit personal statement, recommendations, and transcript through this application.
  • DICAS charges $50 for the first application and $25 for each additional application.
• Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy application form. Complete the application online.
  • Complete Application Information and Academic History Section
  • Do NOT submit essays, recommendations, or other supporting material through the online application.  
  • Pay a $70 application fee through the online application system.

Note: The cost for participating in the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS) is separate from the FSNC Application Fee.

Deadline for Application

The deadline for application to the Combined Dietetic Internship / Master Degree Program at Frances Stern Nutrition Center / Tufts University is the spring matching deadline for the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS), February 15, 2023. Do not send any materials directly to Tufts University. All materials become the property of the Frances Stern Nutrition Center.

Computer Matching

The Master of Science/Dietetic Internship Program at Frances Stern Nutrition Center / Tufts University participates in the Computer Matching Program sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. All applicants must also participate in the Computer Matching Program through D &D Digital, otherwise their application will not be considered. Applicants should follow directions on the D & D Digital website (link below), and prioritize their Dietetic Internship preferences, from any Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics-accredited Didactic Programs. There is a $55.00 charge for D &D Digital computer matching. 

D&D Digital Systems
304 Main Street, Suite 301
Ames, IA 50010-6148

Phone: +1 (515) 292-0490
Fax: +1 (515) 663-9427
Website: www.dnddigital.com
Email: dnd@sigler.com

Acceptance

Appointments to the internship are made on match day, as designated by D&D Digital. Applicants will find their matching result on www.dnddigital.com. This is the ONLY source of notification for applicants. The Appointment Date is in April. Matched applicants must contact the dietetic internship director by telephone, FAX or email on or before 5:00 PM (time zone of the program) on Notification Day to confirm the acceptance of the match.

Phase II Selection

Any combined Master of Science/Dietetic Internship positions not filled during first round match will be selected from applications that were reviewed by the program with the first round match. This means that students who have applied during the first round matching process but, did not match to any program during the first round, will be given priority for a Phase II selection.

• The program will reach out directly to any unmatched students who have previously applied to the program during the first round to begin the Phase II selection.
• If the open internship position is still not filled after consideration of the initial applicants, new applications to the combined Master of Science/Dietetic Internship program  will be considered from students who have not previously applied to the program.
• New applicants should apply to the program through DICAS Phase II, and must meet the application requirements as stated above, including application to the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and optionally reporting GRE test scores.
• For further information or questions about the Phase II Selection, please contact Kelly Kane at kkane@tuftsmedicalcenter.org

Tuition

For current tuition rates, please refer to our Tuition and Expenses page to an overview of tuition and fees. This document shows expenses not only for the Friedman degree programs, but also for living in/around Boston, books and supplies, and associated fees. 

For information about financial aid, please refer to the Office of Financial Aid page.

View Current Degree Requirement Worksheet

Required Courses

Seven core courses are required for all students and are taught at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, as well the courses offered via the optional specialization, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Nutrition (see specialization courses on degree requirement worksheet linked above). The core courses include:

• Nutritional Biochemistry (NUTR 315)
• Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy (NUTR 316)
• Principles of Epidemiology (NUTR 204)
• Fundamentals of Nutrition Policy and Programming: How Science and Practice Interact (NUTR 203; common substitute NUTB 206) or other approved policy class of choice
• Statistical Methods for Health Professionals I and II (NUTB 250 and NUTB 350)
• Advanced Clinical Nutrition Practice in Kidney Disease (NUTR 0374)
• Senior Project (enroll via NUTR 497: Directed Study)

Electives

The remainder of graduate course work consists of four additional elective courses. Students have the opportunity to take elective courses in the graduate degree programs at Tufts University School of Medicine Master of Public Health program, Harvard University School of Public Health, Brandeis University, Boston College, Boston University, and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University, as well as at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

Minicourses

In addition to regular courses, there are minicourses and special classes designed to help interns become more skillful practitioners. Lecturers are from our own medical and dental faculties as well as from other universities or health care facilities. Examples of recent offerings include counseling, pediatrics, and management.

Joint Internship Classes

Lectures by prominent Boston physicians, dietitians, and other experts are offered regularly in joint classes for all the dietetic internships of Greater Boston and throughout Massachusetts including, Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center, Massachusetts General, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Mount Auburn Hospital, Simmons College, Boston University, University of New Hampshire, and Southcoast/Sodexho Hospitals. This gives interns a chance to meet professional colleagues and to become familiar with the extensive health care resources of the city.  Topics include: Nutrition Support, Sports Nutrition, Obesity, Nutrition Research, and others.

Workshops

Workshops, planned for each class according to need, may include Research Design, Cultural Diversity and a Management Seminar.

Program Timeline

First Year (Entering Student)

Second Year (Senior Student) (June - May)

Transfer of Courses Previously Taken

A student may transfer toward their Master of Science/Dietetic Internship degree program a course previously taken at other universities or other Tufts University schools, provided the course was not used toward another degree. Transfer of a course(s) does not reduce the cost of the Dietetic Internship degree program. Only courses that have been taken within the last five years at regionally accredited U.S. universities are routinely considered for transfer. Students who wish to transfer courses taken outside the U.S. or for courses taken more than five years prior to enrollment should discuss the possibility with the Academic Dean and exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. The maximum quantity of transfer courses as semester hour units allowed for MS/Dietetic Internship degree program is: 6 semester hour units.

The following materials are required for a course to be considered for transfer of semester hour units:

1. An official transcript demonstrating a grade of B or better in the course and showing the year the course was taken;
2. A detailed syllabus, in English. (Note: if a syllabus is not available, students may petition the Academic Dean to substitute course notes or other material);
3. The amount of the Friedman School semester hour units requested;
4. A completed Petition for Transfer of a Course form with all of the above information (http://nutrition.tufts.edu/students/registrar/forms).

Graduates of our program hold a variety of positions in the fields of nutrition and policy. These include:

• Faculty member, coordinated undergraduate program in dietetics
• Nutrition in ambulatory services of a teaching hospital or general hospital
• Nutritionist for neighborhood health centers, health maintenance organizations, or maternal and infant care centers
• Consultant for private health organization, group practice, extended care facilities, and day care centers
• Teaching in colleges, universities and schools of nursing
• Nutritionist in rehabilitation institutes
• Full professor in a Dental School
• Nutritionist on inpatient nutrition support team
• Clinical nutritionist in community and teaching hospitals
• Research dietitian
• State food and nutrition specialist (cooperative extension)
• Director of clinical nutrition services
• Nutritionist in the private sector - food industry
• Director of Dietetic Internship
• Nutritionist at a Health Center or Athletic Facility
• Nutritionist in an outpatient weight loss center
• Nutrition Communication Specialist at a Dairy Council
• Project Manager at a restaurant company that focuses on sustainability and local sourcing
• Dietitian in Private Practice
• Healthcare Marketing Associate
• Research Unit Project Manager
• Senior Program Manager for a community based pediatric nutrition initiative

Additionally, alumni of the Frances Stern Nutrition Center have been employed by a wide range of companies and organizations, including the World Health Organization, Oke USA Fair Trade Fruit Company, Mathematica, Bon Appetit Management Company, The Almond Board, USDA, California Department of Public Health, Equal Exchange Program, Kaiser Permanente, DynaMed, Med Mark Nutrition Labeling Initiative.

Frances Stern Nutrition Center

The Frances Stern Nutrition Center was established in 1918 by Frances Stern, a pioneer in the field of applied nutrition. The Center was the first organization of its kind in the world and has served as a model for many other nutrition clinics in the U.S. and abroad.

In the early 1900s most people did not understand the fundamental principles of nutrition. Frances Stern, a well-respected nutritionist for the US Department of Agriculture, recognized this problem and simply suggested, "Someone should show them." Taking her own advice to heart, Stern revolutionized nutritional education by using visual aids in her instruction. She believed that it is better to show rather than tell people how much they can eat.

Read more on their web site

Tufts Medical Center

Nutrition resources at the Tufts Medical Center include both adult and pediatric clinical programs for hospitalized and ambulatory patients, as well as the Frances Stern Nutrition Center. Tufts Medical Center is the major clinical unit affiliated with the Tufts University School of Medicine. Tufts Medical Center has established a national and international reputation for research, teaching, patient care, and graduate and postgraduate education.

Read more on their web site

Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts

Scientists at the HNRCA examine how nutrition impacts healthy aging and the role nutrition plays in preventing diseases of the aging. The HNRCA, which is an independent research facility  located two blocks away from the Friedman school on the Tufts Boston campus, was established in 1977 as a unique partnership between the USDA and the University.  Many of the scientists at the HNRCA’s 20 research labs are also Friedman School faculty.  Friedman students have unique opportunities to conduct research  under the supervision of HNRCA scientists who have international stature in their respective areas of research expertise.

Read more on their web site

Boston Food Allergy Center

The Boston Food Allergy Center offers patients with food allergy and/or food associated gut disorders comprehensive state-of-the-art diagnostic studies and treatments including oral food challenges, skin prick testing, patch testing, component-resolved diagnostics, endoscopies, as well as various breath tests to evaluate for H. pylori, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and various food intolerances. Students will work with Dr. John Leung, a US-trained physician triple board-certified in Allergy/Immunology, Gastroenterology, and Internal Medicine in reviewing clinical history, physical exam, and previous laboratory, histological, and endoscopic data, confirming a diagnosis and providing a customized nutrition therapy plan.

Read more on their website

Please note: Due the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the rotations that take place outside of Tufts Medical Center may be temporarily reduced or on hold. Alternate experiences will be provided. The number of weeks spent in each experience and other details are subject to change.

Ambulatory Services: Outpatient Counseling Adults

Interns are provided with introductory experiences and close staff supervision in counseling patients. This is typically a five week rotation. Common patient diagnoses are obesity, hypertension, diabetes, prenatal conditions, and underweight. Typical diet instructions include sodium restriction and weight reduction and gain. Students are also introduced to management principles and problems in an ambulatory clinic setting. The focus of this experience is on developing skills in planning nutritional care, counseling, and documenting care provided. This includes setting priorities, long-term goals, and behavioral objectives for patients. Interns are also provided opportunity to complete nutrition evaluation, therapy and care of the cancer and solid organ transplant patient in an outpatient clinic setting. The student plans individualized nutrition care and provides nutrition counseling on the basis of nutrition priorities.

Administrative/Management Affiliation

This three week experience includes activities involved in the management of the nutrition staff and hospital departmental budget as well as exposure to program management at the Friedman School. The interns also are involved in data collection for quality improvement activities as well as individual clinical management projects.

Other Ambulatory Affiliations

In the following clinical experiences in Tufts Medical Center Ambulatory Clinics interns learn to function independently as outpatient dietitians in the given setting. They actually go to the assigned specialty clinic and, in the most cases, have access to a private office where they counsel patients. They set priorities for patients, accept patient referrals, devise individualized nutrition care plans and work as a member of the health care team in providing total patient care. Students also interact with students in other health related professions–dental, medical, social services, etc. All interns' medical progress notes are reviewed and co-signed by a preceptor who meets with the student on a regular basis to discuss cases and provide supervision.

WIC/Public Health

After an observation period, interns function as staff nutritionists in the Women, Infants and Children Program in a neighborhood health center in and around Boston during this two to three week rotation. Among other activities, they identify individuals who are at nutritional risk, provide nutritional counseling to individuals and groups, and refer clients to other health team members when appropriate.

USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging

Students participate in ongoing nutrition surveys, ambulatory studies, metabolic studies, and the operations of a kitchen in a large research unit. They are exposed to recruitment methods, research protocols and protocols, and interdisciplinary projects. Typically, this rotation is two - three weeks in length.

MGH Weight Center/Tufts Medical Center Weight and Wellness Center

Students take part in the multidisciplinary care approach to obesity management. They observe and participate in individual and group counseling sessions. In addition, they are exposed to both the medical and surgical approaches to weight loss. The intern is also given the opportunity to directly observe a gastric restrictive surgery. Typically, two to three weeks is spent in the Tufts Medical Center Weight and Wellness Center and three weeks are spent in the MGH Weight Center.

Affiliations in Inpatient Acute Care

Clinical Experiences in Tufts Medical Center Inpatient Acute Care Setting: Interns are precepted in each specialty area by dietitians having expertise in the various specialty areas listed below.

Adult

Students function in the role of a clinical dietitian in an acute care hospital setting under the supervision of the clinical dietitians who have specialized expertise in particular areas of nutritional intervention. The students initially observe the dietitian and assist in daily tasks. They are later given individuals, groups, or a floor of patients to screen, assess, develop care plans for, monitor and counsel under the supervision of the dietitian. Each rotation provides a gradual increase in patient acuity and type of nutritional intervention required.The students' experience is enhanced by attendance at team conferences, medical and surgical rounds, journal review and nutrition rounds. In addition, journal articles and other readings pertinent to each rotation are available on the units.Students are also responsible for assuring that food service to patients is appropriate. They interact with the Food Services Department and are responsible for communicating pertinent patient information to them.

a. Cardiology

In this two week introduction to acute care, the dietetic intern develops basic skills in nutritional assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and appropriate medical record documentation for patients with the following problems: cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarctions, atherosclerosis, heart transplantation, postoperative surgical needs and hyperlipidemias. The intern will develop appropriate nutritional care plans, monitor status and provide nutritional education for these patients.

b. General Medicine / General Surgery

During this three week rotation, the intern uses their newly acquired skills in nutritional assessment of more complicated medical patients including Renal, Cardiac, Diabetes, GI and the Aging Population. In addition, the dietetic intern identifies the special nutritional needs of surgical patients by assuming responsibility for the nutritional care of patients on the following surgical services: vascular, oncology, GI, gynecology, cardiothoracic, bariatric surgery, and general surgery. They develop appropriate nutrition care plans for patients on various modified diets as well as those on tube feedings, and are involved in education of patients and families. They also become familiar with the nutrient content or standard nutrition solutions and are able to recognize indications for use.

c. Hematology/ Oncology/ Bone Marrow Transplant

Interns provide nutritional care to patients having different types of cancers, including solid tumors, leukemias, lymphomas, and myelodysplastic syndromes. They also identify the special nutritional needs of the bone marrow transplant patient and become familiar with chemotherapeutic agents and their side effects effects and are introduced to parenteral nutrition during this three week rotation.

Pediatrics

The students are provided a three week rotation in our level 3 neonatal ICU and our NICU follow up clinic in order to learn about the nutritional need and care of premature infants.

Advanced Clinical Experience/Staff Relief

In this affiliation, interns assume total responsibility for inpatient nutritional care in an assigned area for a three week period.

Additional Experiences

Renal

Students participate in nutrition assessment and care of ambulatory renal patients. They also observe and serve as a health care team member for patients undergoing hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis during this four week rotation.

Dental

Students are provided with a unique experience in dealing directly with dental professionals on supervisory and advisory basis in reference to nutritional care of patients. The dietetic intern receives an overview of dental science and the relevant dietary factors which will make her a valuable asset to the dental profession. In this experience, the intern supervises dental students in teaching preventive nutrition dentistry to their patients. Typically, this rotation is two-three weeks in length.

Food Service Management

Through experience and observation, students develop skills in managing time and other resources; establishing safe and sanitary practices; purchasing, receiving and storing of food; developing, implementing and evaluating menus; providing for quality control; educating food service employees. The administrative and management skills developed in this affiliation promote greater effectiveness and adaptability in both clinical and community nutrition. It takes place at Tufts Medical Center's Food Service Department led by Aramark during a two week period.

Optional Affiliation

An affiliation of about three weeks' duration in an area of special interest to the intern is planned. This is done to allow students to explore an area of interest or to permit a more in depth experience in a specific area. The Optional Affiliation time is application oriented, whereas Senior Independent Study (Senior Project) is more research oriented and is usually designed towards producing a publication. Flexibility is available for the Optional Affiliation, but alternate Affiliation choices must be discussed with and approved by the Dietetic Internship Director.

Program Costs (2022-2023)

Expenses for one year of a two year program

*The Dietetic Internship has a one-time Clinical Training Fee of $20,000 charged by Tufts Medical Center. Students may request an increase to their financial aid to cover this expense.