Graduate Studies in Nutrition

Graduate Studies Nutrition

Master of Science in Nutrition
Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetic Internship

Quincy Byrdsong, Vice Provost for Health Affairs
Autumn C. Marshall, Chair, Department of Nutrition

Tracy Noerper, Director, Master of Science in Nutrition

Anne Lowery, Director, Dietetic Internship

Core Faculty

Ruth Henry, Professor of Kinesiology
Anne Lowery, Associate Professor of Nutrition
Autumn C. Marshall, Professor and Chair of Nutrition
Tracy Noerper, Assistant Professor of Nutrition
Ann Toy, Assistant Professor of Nutrition

Lipscomb’s graduate studies in nutrition offers two degree plans for eligible candidates. The Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetic Internship (combined program) is for applicants who have previously earned a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Verification Statement and meet the minimum admission requirements. Candidates are required to complete both DICAS and Lipscomb Graduate School applications. The Master of Science in Nutrition is for Registered Dietitians or registration eligible internship graduates. The Master of Science in Nutrition can be individually paced and completed in-person on campus, fully online or in a hybrid format. The MS in Nutrition requires completion of the Lipscomb Graduate School application.

Admission Requirements

MS in Nutrition

Completed Lipscomb University graduate school application
Completed one of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics accredited undergraduate or certificate nutrition programs
United States Registered Dietitian (RD) verified by CDR
Excellent reference/recommendations
GRE optional

The Master of Science in Nutrition consists of 33 hours of study and is designed for professionals who are current Registration Eligible or are Registered Dietitians (RDs) seeking to earn a graduate degree to enhance skills and knowledge and contribute to research in the field. For more information on eligibility for either pathway, please review the admission requirements on our website https://www.lipscomb.edu/academics/programs/nutrition-graduate.

MS DI Program

Completed both DICAS and Lipscomb University graduate school application
Completed one of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics accredited undergraduate or certificate nutrition programs providing a verification statement
Minimum DPD GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Verification statement from an approved undergraduate or certificate program in dietetics
Excellent reference/recommendations, with one from your academic advisor
Applicable nutrition courses from within the past five years
GRE optional

The MS DI is designed to provide 45 credit hours and also meet the 2022 Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics’ (ACEND) competencies for entry-level dietetics practice through preparation for the Registration Examination for Dietitians. The program has options for Medical Nutrition Therapy, Health Promotion and Wellness, as well as Sports Nutrition concentrations and provides students with a minimum of 1000 supervised practice hours in a variety of healthcare, community and foodservice settings. Successful completion of the MS DI provides a graduate degree and a DI verification for registration examination eligibility.

The program has only a full-time option with a tight sequence of coursework in the first three semesters and experiential competency-based learning over two semesters in the second year. The University academic calendar will be followed beginning in August with completion of the MS DI in May of the second year. Didactic coursework will be completed during the Fall, Spring and Summer (3 semesters) of the first year and experiential competency-based learning will be planned over 32 weeks (Fall and Spring semester) of the second year. There will be an option for the first 30 hours to be completed via hybrid-online delivery for those wishing to wait to come to Nashville until the second experiential year. The University has the technology and recording capability to provide quality online education.

If needed, interns may take up to 48 weeks (150% of DI program length) for completion of the experiential DI program during their second year. Lipscomb has affiliation agreements with supervised practice sites across Nashville, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Clarksville, Gallatin, and Columbia. Students will follow the university graduate calendar, including a one-week break at Thanksgiving, a three-week break at Christmas, and one-week break for Spring Break. The program provides the interns with exam review materials to be used throughout the program as well as an on-campus review.

The DI is designed for a full 35-hour work week over 30 weeks plus one pre-rotation week for orientation and one post-rotation week for the RD Review, meeting a minimum of 1000 experiential hours of supervised practice in a variety of settings. Occasional weekend involvement for the program may be expected. Participants complete supervised experiences in medical nutrition therapy, foodservice management, community nutrition, and sports nutrition across the lifespan. A culminating experience of staff relief is completed after following successful completion of the clinical in-patient rotations at an intern’s assigned hospital. This experience allows the student to function independently as an entry-level dietitian in the hospital setting with minimal oversight.

Program Mission

The university’s primary mission is to integrate Christian faith and practice with academic excellence. This mission is carried out not only in the classroom but also by involvement in numerous services to the church and the larger community. The mission of the MS DI Program at Lipscomb University is to provide graduate didactic curriculum and supervised practice experience to educate students to successfully function as entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists in the state, region, and nation. The curriculum is designed to provide for achievement of the competencies established for entry-level dietitians through excellence in both the classroom and supervised practice settings, encouragement of community service, and commitment to the Code of Ethics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The mission of the Master of Science in Nutrition, designed for current registered dietitians, is to enhance knowledge and skills, as well as contribute to the field of research by completing courses in a format that works for a professional. Expect excellence in our graduate-level curriculum designed to help you advance in knowledge and competencies for dietetics practice and research.

Completion Requirements

The MS in Nutrition and DI verification statement will be granted only under the following circumstances:

The dietetic intern has earned a B or greater in all associated MS DI courses (one course allowed to have a C).
The dietetic intern has satisfactorily completed all required assignments associated with experiential courses as assessed by preceptor and/or DI director’s grading of learning modules, case studies, projects and uploaded to Evalue prior to program completion.
The dietetic intern has demonstrated ethical and professional performance with competence as an entry-level practitioner through satisfactory completion of all scheduled supervised practice rotations with a 4 or better on all competencies logged in E*Value.
The dietetic intern has met all financial obligations to Lipscomb University.
The dietetic intern has completed the CDR Exit Packet including Registration Eligibility Application Form, RDE Mis-use Form, and demographic information on the CDRREPS portal.

The MS in Nutrition will be granted under the following circumstances:

The student completes all requirements for the degree within a six year period from of the time of initial matriculation.
The student meets the minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 for all program courses. No grade below a C is acceptable. Such grades will not apply towards degree completion.
The student has met all financial obligations to Lipscomb University.

Financial Information

Tuition and Fees for 2022-23

Tuition
Tuition per credit hour	$1,030
Tuition to audit	50% of tuition

Fees
Application fee	$50
Returned payment fee	$30
Payment plan enrollment fee (per semester)	$60

Graduation

Students must register for GN 999X the semester in which all coursework will be completed for graduation. Students who do not file their intent to graduate form in the registrar’s office by the end of the first week of their last semester may be delayed in graduating.

Graduate students receiving degrees are hooded during the May and December commencement exercises.

Program of Study Requirements

Master of Science

Master of Science in Nutrition

Courses

Nutrition/Dietetics