M.S. in Dietetic Systems Leadership
The Master of Science degree in Dietetic Systems Leadership with the Dietetic Internship (MSDI) is a continuous, combined two-year degree program.
The MS portion begins in the first year with six online classes. Students select two electives during the first year, with at least one chosen from the policy emphasis block.
In the second year, the dietetic internship begins with orientation at MSU-Bozeman, followed by an immersive sustainable food systems rotation. After this rotation, interns relocate once from Bozeman to a major rotation site in Kalispell, Missoula, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, or Billings, MT or Sheridan, WY. Interns then complete the remainder of the internship during the fall and spring semesters, totaling 1,085 hours of supervised practice in clinical, community, and food service management affiliate settings.
Upon successful completion of all coursework, the professional project, and supervised practice requirements, interns are awarded the Master of Science degree and a Dietetic Internship verification statement. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) exam. The MSDI program prepares dynamic, entry-level dietitians who are equipped to lead sustainable health solutions for people and the planet, with emphasis on serving Montana and the Rocky Mountain regions.
MSU also offers the Montana Dietetic Internship Non-Degree Certificate (DI only), designed for applicants who already hold a master's degree and a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) verification statement. The DI verification statement is awarded upon successful completion of required coursework and the supervised practice experience.
In addition, MSU offers an Accelerated 4+1 Program that allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition and a DPD verification statement in four years, followed by completion of the Master of Science in Dietetic Systems Leadership and dietetic internship in the fifth year.
Graduates of the DI Non-Degree Certificate and Accelerated 4 + 1 Program are eligible to sit for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credentialing examination.
For more information about the Montana Dietetic Internship and Graduate Program, visit the Department of Food Systems, Nutrition, and Kinesiology program page.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Apply foundational sciences to food and nutrition knowledge to meet the needs of individuals, groups and organizations;
- Apply and integrate client/patient-centered principles and competent nutrition and dietetics practice to ensure positive outcomes;
- Apply food system principles and management skills to ensure safe and efficient delivery of food and water;
- Apply community and population nutrition health theories when providing support to community or population nutrition programs;
- Integrate evidence-informed practice, research principles and critical thinking into dietetic practice.
- Display leadership, business and management principles to guide practice and achieve operational goals.
- Display professional behaviors and effective communication in nutrition and dietetics interactions
Dietetic Systems Leadership, MS
| Year 1 | Credits |
|---|---|
| HHD 501 - Research Methods in HHD I | 3 |
| HHD 512 - Research Methods in HHD II | 3 |
| NUTR 525 - Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy | 3 |
| NUTR 527 - Critical Thinking, Research & Evidence Informed Nutrition Practice | 3 |
| Choose at least 1 of the following policy electives in Year 1 | 3 |
| Summer | |
HDFS 465R - Family Law & Public Policy | |
NUTR 520 - Nutrition, Public Health, & Systems Change | |
| Spring | |
SFBS 552 - State of the Food Environment | |
| If only chosing 1 policy elective, choose 1 of the following electives in year 1 | 3 |
| Fall | |
NUTR 528 - Advanced Food Systems Management in Dietetics | |
NUTR 540 - Nutrition Education and Counseling (Nutrition Education & Counseling) | |
SFBS 551 - Global Food Perspectives | |
| Spring | |
NRSG 610 - Health Care Informatics | |
NRSG 611 - Program Planning & Evaluation for Quality Improvement | |
NUTR 530 - Food Innovation & Entrepreneurship | |
| Year Total: | 18 |
| Year 2 | Credits |
| NUTR 560 - Food Systems Leadership for Nutrition Professionals | 3 |
| NUTR 575 - Research/Prof Paper/Project | 6 |
| NUTR 598 - Internship | 9 |
| Year Total: | 18 |
| Total Program Credits: | 36 |
Accelerated Program
The Accelerated Program follows two years in the Food and Nutrition undergraduate program at Montana State University (or an equivalent education in a similar program at another university). The Accelerated Program is a 5 year total program.
| Year 3 | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| NUTR 301 - Food and Culture | 3 | ||
| NUTR 421 - Macronutrient Metabolism | 3 | ||
| NUTR 425 - Medical Nutrition Therapy I | 3 | ||
| NUTR 351 - Nutrition and Society | 3 | ||
| NUTR 494 - Seminar | 1 | ||
| NUTR 528 - Advanced Food Systems Management in Dietetics | 2 | ||
| HDFS 359 - Theories and Skills for the Human Services | 3 | ||
| HDFS 371 - Research Methods in HHD | 3 | ||
| NUTR 395 - Pract: Quantity Foods Production and Management | 3 | ||
| NUTR 422 - Micronutrient Metabolism | 3 | ||
| NUTR 426 - Medical Nutrition Therapy II | 3 | ||
| NUTR 499 - Capstone for Dietetics | 1 | ||
| CORE IH/IA/D | 3 | ||
| Year Total: | 15 | 19 | |
| Year 4 | Credits | ||
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | ||
CHTH 317 - Health Behavior Theories | |||
CHTH 435 - Human Response To Stress | |||
PSYX 375 - Behavior Modification | |||
PSYX 383 - Health Psychology | |||
| HHD 501 - Research Methods in HHD I | 3 | ||
| NUTR 440 - Nutrition Education and Counseling | 3 | ||
| NUTR 527 - Critical Thinking, Research & Evidence Informed Nutrition Practice | 3 | ||
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | ||
HDFS 455R - Program Planning and Administration in Family & Consumer Sciences | |||
HDFS 465R - Family Law & Public PolicyClass can only be used once towards degree. | |||
NUTR 490R - Undergraduate Research | |||
SFBS 451R - Food Systems Research | |||
SFBS 445R - Culinary Marketing: Farm/Table | |||
| HHD 512 - Research Methods in HHD II | 3 | ||
| NUTR 525 - Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy | 3 | ||
| Choose one of the following policy electives: | 3 | ||
HDFS 465R - Family Law & Public PolicyClass can only be used once towards degree. | |||
NUTR 520 - Nutrition, Public Health, & Systems Change | |||
SFBS 552 - State of the Food Environment | |||
| Year Total: | 15 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 5 | Credits | ||
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| NUTR 560 - Food Systems Leadership for Nutrition Professionals | 3 | ||
| NUTR 575 - Research/Prof Paper/Project | 3 | ||
| NUTR 598 - Internship | 3 | ||
| NUTR 575 - Research/Prof Paper/Project | 3 | ||
| NUTR 598 - Internship | 6 | ||
| Year Total: | 9 | 9 | |
| Total Program Credits: | 79 | ||
Electives for Accelerated Program
| Global Diseases and Health Disparities | 3 | |
| Introduction to Pharmacology | 3 | |
| Human Response To Stress | 3 | |
| Mental Health & Social Issues in Aging | 3 | |
| Communication and Marketing in Community Education | 3 | |
| The Ethic of Care | 3 | |
| Exercise Physiology | 4 | |
| Kinesiology | 4 | |
| Exercise Program for Older Adults | 3 | |
| Sport Psychology | 3 | |
| Nutrition for Sports and Exercise | 4 | |
| Food Processing | 3 | |
| Experimental Foods | 3 | |
| Psychology of Aging | 3 | |
| Eating Disorders | 3 | |
| Small Business and Entrepreneurship in Food and Health | 3 | |
| Sociology of Health & Medicine | 3 | |