Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions

Students can apply through the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Service (DICAS). The deadline is February 15th.

No, only students who completed a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) as an undergraduate student can apply (click here to learn more about the ACU DPD program).

No, all application materials will be reviewed through the DICAS portal.

No, there is not an ACU application fee (outside of DICAS).

Rotations are available in Abilene and in the Fort Worth/Dallas metroplex. Up to 15 interns may be taken for these sites combined. Rotations are also approved in other areas besides Abilene and the metroplex.

Students must have a 3.0 overall GPA to apply.

The GRE is not required for admission.

Yes, students may transfer credits pending faculty approval.

The combined M.S. in Nutrition/Dietetic Internship is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

The MS in Nutrition coursework is fully online. The Dietetic Internship is residential and traditionally has been based in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex but can also be in other areas.

No, all admitted students complete the MS in Nutrition.

Yes, students can complete the 36-hour MS in Nutrition online without the Dietetic Internship. Students would select 15 hours of electives within the 36 hour program. However, students must complete a Dietetic Internship in order to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians.

Admitted students work closely with the Program Director to determine their degree plan timeline. However, most students will complete online courses during their first year before beginning the residential Dietetic Internship rotations.

Each cohort begins in June. During the first year, online courses are taken continuously and begin every 8 weeks. The Dietetic Internship portion begins in August of the second year.

Students focus on the issues of hunger, health, housing and hope:

Hunger – Interns will address hunger of those in poverty by working in the Opportunity Center Food Bank and the Summer Feeding Programs. The internship schedule will include several clinical rotations including but not limited to cardiac, endocrinology, intensive care, oncology, pediatric, renal, surgical, and general medical.

Health – Along with the clinical experiences, an outpatient counseling rotation will address health of the clientele using knowledge gained in the clinical rotations.

Hope – Hope is manifested in education and gaining skills for employment. Dietetic interns will be instrumental in helping teach basic culinary and food service skills to a wide variety of people.

Housing – Indirectly, housing will be addressed through your involvement in teaching basic selection, procurement and preparation of healthy meals for home use.

Other rotations in clinical, foodservice, and community areas are also completed during the dietetic internship.

It is possible to work during the first year of the program while completing the first 27-30 credit hours online. However, working is not recommended during the second year of the program while completing the Dietetic Internship courses, as the internship rotations are like a full-time job. Also, interns will have homework as well as internship activities at night and during some weekends.

Yes, admitted students can apply for a departmental scholarship.

Yes! Please call our admissions counselors at 855-219-7300 to connect with the Program Director.

Students who have already completed a Dietetic Internship will apply directly through ACU Online (not through DICAS). Please click here to begin your application.

The admissions committee offers rolling admission year round, so there is no specific deadline. However, the earlier applications are submitted, the sooner admitted students can secure their spot and begin the next available term.

Students can apply to begin the MS in Nutrition during one of 6 entry terms per year. These terms begin in August, October, January, March, May and June.

If the Dietetic Internship was completed within the last 5 years, 6 hours of internship credit will be applied toward the MS in Nutrition. The student will then complete 33 hours of graduate coursework online (for a total of 39 credit hours).

If the student completed a Dietetic Internship more than 5 years prior to applying, they will complete 39 hours of online graduate coursework.

For students receiving credit for a completed Dietetic Internship, it is possible to complete the master’s program in 1 year, however, the majority of students complete the program in 1.5 – 2 years.

The MS in Nutrition is offered fully online for students who do not need to complete the ACU Dietetic Internship.

No, students are not required to travel while completing online courses.

Each course is 7 weeks long with a one week break between courses (courses begin every 8 weeks). Students can complete either 1 or 2 courses at a time during each 7-week term.

Yes. In fact, some students have worked full-time while completing 2 courses at a time.

Yes! Please call our admissions counselors at 855-219-7300 to connect with the Program Director.

Yes, students can complete the 39-hour MS in Nutrition fully online, without completing the Dietetic Internship. Students would select 18 hours of electives within the 39 hour program.

In this case, students will apply directly through ACU Online (not through DICAS).  Please click here to begin your application.