Nutrition and Dietetics

Chair and Clinical Associate Professor: Byington

Professors: Blanton

Associate Professor: Weeden

Clinical Assistant Professor: Petersen

Clinical Assistant Professors: Hilvers, Reader

Emerita: Dundas, McKnight, Schneider
Master of Science in NutritionDegreeM.S.
Master of Science in Nutrition/Dietetic InternshipDegreeM.S.

The Master of Science in Nutrition with Dietetic Internship is a combined Master of Science and Dietetic Internship.

Applications for the Master of Science in Nutrition, MS are not being accepted for catalog year 2023-2024.

Three graduate faculty (Blanton, Petersen, and Weeden) are available to work on capstone projects with a nutrition focus.

Master of Science in Nutrition-Dietetic Internship

The mission of the Idaho State University Master of Science in Nutrition – Dietetic Internship is to prepare caring and competent entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists who collaborate with other health professionals through a supervised practice experience that exceeds the performance standards of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. 

Program Goals 

Goal #1: Program graduates are professionally competent entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists through a comprehensive supervised practice experience.

  • At least 80% of program interns complete program within 24 months (150% of program length).
  • Of graduates who seek employment, 75 percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
  • 90 percent of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
  • The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
  • 90% of working RDNs over a five-year period will be satisfied that the MS-DI program adequately prepared them for effective entry-level careers in dietetics.

Goal #2: Prepare program graduates to be caring registered dietitian nutritionists who promote collaboration within their practice setting.

  • 50% of graduates over a five-year period will participate in professional organizations within the first year following graduation.
  • Of those employers who respond to the survey, 90% of employers will rate program graduates’ preparation for entry-level practice as satisfactory or higher.
  • 50% of employers over a five-year period will rate program graduates’ collaboration within their employment setting as satisfactory or higher.

Program Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and Courses for Assessment

SLO 1: Spur systemic behavioral changes at the community and population levels.

  • NTD6620 Nutrition Epidemiology
  • NTD6622 Maternal, Infant, and Child Health

SLO 2: Address public health issues across the life span, including but not limited to obesity, diabetes, and chronic disease.

  • NTD5561 Nutritional Biochemistry
  • NTD6620 Nutrition Epidemiology
  • NTD6622 Maternal, Infant, and Child Health
  • NTD6624 Nutrition and Aging
  • NTD6640 Research, Writing, and Grantsmanship
  • NTD6650 Capstone Project II

SLO 3: Help individuals make behavioral changes to improve health outcomes.

  • NTD6624 Nutrition and Aging
  • NTD6650 Capstone Project II

Practicum courses NTD6655, 6656, and 6657 are assessed using ACEND Core Competencies.  Please contact the department for more information.