Dietetics MS with Dietetic Internship
- Internship
- Master's Degree
- Online
- Online
Accelerated and Traditional Options (See Course of Study)
Fall Term (Aug.)
$698/Credit
An Online Dietetics Masters Degree with a Distance Dietetic Internship
Do you want to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)? Our Dietetics Master of Science with Dietetic Internship program will prepare you for your RDN exam.
This program is for students who have completed (or are almost finished with) an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).
You can choose an accelerated or traditional timeline to complete the program. See the Course of Study section for details.
Dietetics MS Degree
You will take master’s courses online to become an expert in the field. Course topics include:
- Nutrition assessment and intervention
- Macronutrient and micronutrient metabolism
- Nutrition counseling methods
- Public health
- Dietetic research
You will also have elective course choices that let you focus on nutrition topics or populations that are important to you.
Overview of the UNC Dietetic Internship and Master of Science with Dietetic Internship programs.
Distance Dietetic Internship
You’ll complete your internship coursework online, but your internship hours will be done mostly in person.
- Help design your internship: You’ll help choose the locations for your internship and plan your own studies.
- Gain a variety of hands-on experience: You will complete clinical, community and food service rotations. Plus you will choose another concentration: nutrition education and counseling, management and ICU.
ACEND Accredited
The dietetic internship program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
Our internship program has helped hundreds of dietitians:
- We have offered our accredited distance dietetic internship for more than ## years. (does KiND know this info????)
- We have a 100% completion rate over the last five years.
- Most of our students pass the registration exam on their first try.
Why Choose UNC for your Dietetic Internship?
Distance Dietetic Internship
We were the 1st Distance Dietetic Internship, starting in 1995.
Quality Meets Affordability
Access a high-quality, innovative program at an affordable price.
Paid Rotations Allowed
We are one of the few internships that allow paid rotation sites.
Your Career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Becoming an RDN
If you complete this program, you will hold a master’s degree and receive a Dietetic Internship Verification Statement. This makes you eligible to sit for the national standardized RDN exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Successful completion of the CDR RDN exam means:
- You will receive the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential.
- You will be eligible to apply for state licensure in states that provide licensure for dietitians. Note: Colorado is a non-licensure state.
Entry Level Requirements Update
Beginning January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) has changed the degree requirement for dietitian registration eligibility from a Bachelor’s degree to a Master’s degree (in any field) in addition to the current requirement of a verification statement from an ACEND accredited dietetics program. More information:
Graduate Degree Registration Eligibility Requirement Frequently Asked Questions
Graduate Degree Registration Eligibility Requirement Student Option Scenarios
Course of Study
Fully Online / Distance Delivery
The Dietetics MS with Dietetic Internship is a distance education program. It includes online master’s coursework and a distance-supervised internship. The program starts each fall term (August).
Traditional timeline: less than 3 years.
- You will complete the online coursework in less than two years, taking courses in fall and spring terms only.
- You will begin the internship the summer term after you complete your academic coursework.
- With this option, you can choose to work while completing the academic coursework.
Accelerated timeline: less than 2 years.
- You will take online coursework for the first fall and spring term.
- You will begin the internship the first summer term. You will then complete your internship rotations and remaining coursework during the final fall and spring terms.
- With this option, you can choose to work for the first nine months of the program.
To see specific course offerings, visit an example current students page for this program.
Courses and Requirements
This is a 41-credit master’s degree program. Your degree will be awarded after you successfully complete all coursework and rotation hours.
View Courses & Degree Requirement Details
Transfer Credit
If you have taken graduate courses that align with program courses, you can request transfer credit. Approved transfer credit can reduce the cost of completing this degree. Program faculty will review your transfer credit to confirm that it matches course content and objectives. See the full graduate transfer credit policy for details.
You must complete all Dietetic Internship coursework at UNC. These credits can not be transferred in.
Internship Details
See the Student Handbook for complete details about the program, rotation hours, APL details, etc.
Complete the Following Requirements
- Attend the DI online internship orientation.
- Successfully complete all master’s degree coursework, including DI coursework. Please see the Online Learning page to review technology requirements for taking online courses.
- Complete a minimum 1,000 hours of supervised practice.
- Successfully complete all competencies (score of 3 or higher).
- Uphold the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice.
- Completion of an exit survey.
Securing Your Rotations
You are responsible for identifying and securing your supervised practice sites and preceptors. But we are here to help you! The DI director, internship faculty and staff are always working to find new preceptors and maintain relationships with veteran preceptors. We may have contact information for preceptors in your area. If not, we may be able to help you establish new relationships.
Internship Hour Requirements
You will complete at least 1,000 internship hours.
- Clinical: at least 300 hours (max 400 hours). The clinical preceptor(s) must be an RDN. At least one hospital must be JCAHO or DNV approved with 80 or more beds. A majority of your clinical hours should be completed at these facilities. Rotation experiences should prepare you for professional practice with patients/clients with various conditions, including but not limited to: overweight and obesity; endocrine disorders; cancer; malnutrition; and cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and renal diseases.
- Foodservice: at least 300 hours (max 400 hours). Examples of foodservice facilities are hospitals, school nutrition programs, non-profit organizations, LTC facilities and educational institutions.
- Community: at least 300 hours (max 400 hours). Examples of community facilities are WIC, Head Start, Public Health Department, Senior Nutrition programs, corporate/employee wellness, etc.
- Concentration: at least 100 hours (max 200 hours). Concentration options: Nutrition Education & Counseling, Management or ICU.
- Long-Term Care (LTC): at least 40 hours (max 80 hours) as part of your clinical hours OR foodservice hours.
Additional Rotation Policies
- You can complete your rotations in any order, based on site availability and feedback from the DI Director.
- You must complete your supervised practice hours in the United States, U.S. Territories or military bases.
- Up to 200 hours can be completed remotely (not including orientation). You must complete your remaining hours in-person.
APL Available
Our Dietetic Internship program participates in the Assessment of Prior Learning (APL) recognized by ACEND. If you have previous experience in dietetics or a related field, you may apply to reduce the number of hours completed in the foodservice or community rotations. APL does not reduce the required credit hours or lessen tuition costs, but it can reduce the number of required internship hours by up to 220 hours.
After admission, please contact dietetic.internship@unco.edu or review the student handbook for APL application instructions.
Deadline: April 20th
Take the Master's Degree or Internship as Stand-Alone Programs
Dietetics MS
If you do not need your Dietetic Internship, we also offer a Dietetics Master of Arts program that does not include the internship.
Dietetic Internship
If you already have a master’s degree, you can apply to our stand-alone Distance Dietetic Internship program.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking graduate students who are enrolled in 6 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Assistant positions may be available on an annual basis. Graduate Assistants are engaged in faculty scholarship and undergraduate instruction as well as other duties. Graduate Assistant positions include a stipend, and a tuition and partial fee waiver for up to 10 credits per semester.
Scholarships
UNC offers a variety of scholarships, and our scholarship application process is fast and easy. Any student wanting to apply for scholarships offered through UNC must complete and submit a UNC Scholarship Application, available online via Ursa. A full list of scholarships available to graduate students can be found on the Office of Financial Aid website.
Federal Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Master’s degree students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full-time enrollment is based on 9 credits per term.
You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
- Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic year, but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
- If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses.
- Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.
You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited college or university.
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better, on a 4.00 point scale, for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are in the process of completing a previous degree or have special GPA considerations, please read the specific requirements for this program type.
- Note: the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for graduate school admission.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
- You must currently have (or will have by the time you start the internship program) a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) or Foreign Dietitian Education (FDE) Verification Statement.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
Licensure Eligibility by State
The U.S. Department of Education requires UNC to ensure its professional licensure programs meet the educational requirements for licensure in the state a student is located at the time of initial enrollment. Please review the UNC Licensure page to determine the states in which the UNC Dietetics MS with Dietetic Internship program meets the licensure requirements.
International Student Eligibility
This program requires rotations to be completed in the United States.
No student visa: F-1 and J-1 student visas are not available for this program. However, if you are a non-U.S. citizen who will be in the U.S. under another visa category, you may be able to enroll in this program. Before you apply, please check for enrollment or employment restrictions for your visa category.
If you do apply to this program, you will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Visit the Academic Department
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
Licensure Eligibility by State
This program is related to a state licensure, endorsement or other credential. If you intend to pursue a credential outside of Colorado, please check the Licensure Eligibility by State section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Application Dates and Deadlines
DICAS application open: the UNC Dietetic Internship application opens on July 15 each year. This is almost one year in advance. Students start the program each June.
Early admission deadline for UNC Students and Alumni: Dec. 15, 5 p.m. Mountain time. If applying for early admission, please see the alternate process information below. After this date, you will need to apply through DICAS.
Early Admission Applicants will be notified of admission decision by mid-January. Applicants are required to notify the program via email of their decision to accept or deny their position by March 15.
DICAS MSDI application deadline: You must submit your completed application through DICAS by 11:59 p.m. Central time on Feb. 1 to receive full consideration. We reserve the right to extend the application deadline. We will notify all applicants and prospects if there is a deadline extension. Extensions are not typical. You are strongly encouraged to submit by the Feb. 1 deadline.
We review applications on a rolling basis. If you submit your application before the Feb. 1 deadline, you may receive a decision at any time before the deadline. Only complete applications will be reviewed. After review, you will either be invited for an interview or notified of denial.
Notification Day (DICAS): We will inform you whether you have been admitted, denied or waitlisted by March 1 or sooner.
Applicant Decision Day (DICAS): March 15 deadline to notify programs of your intent to accept or decline admittance. Early notification is preferred.
Application Process Details
Early Admission for UNC Students and Alumni
UNC students and alumni are eligible for early admission.
- Please email dietetic.internship@unco.edu for instructions on how to apply for Early Admission.
- If you receive early admission, you will also need to pass a later review of your final transcripts with DPD grades, confirm your degree and submit your DPD Verification Statement.
General Admission (DICAS)
- The UNC MSDI program uses the DICAS platform for all applications, except early admission.
- View the full UNC program-specific application details in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
- Additional directions and support are available via the DICAS Applicant Help Center.
Applying via DICAS
Start Your DICAS Application