Application to the Masters in Dietetics and Nutrition Program (MDN) and Premier Dietetic Internship (PDI) is open to students entering their final year of study in an ACEND-accredited undergraduate didactic program in dietetics.

Twenty-four positions are available in the UD MDN/PDI program. Applicants must be accepted by both the UD MDN and Premier Dietetic Internship programs to be offered an acceptance letter to the UD MDN/PDI program. Applicants will complete one application through the UD Graduate Admissions portal for the MDN program.

Application and admission to the program is first offered as a pre-select to current University of Dayton Dietetics students. If positions for the MDN/PDI program remain after this selection, external applicants will be reviewed and considered for admission.

Application timelines

Internal applicant pre-select (current UD undergraduates in the Dietetics program)

• Sept. 1: Application opens
• Oct. 15: Application deadline
• Nov. 15: Notification letters mailed
• Nov. 30: Deadline for students to confirm acceptance (with deposit)

External applicant review (dependent on availability of spots after internal pre-select)

• Sept. 1: Application opens
• Nov. 1: Application deadline (midnight)
• Dec. 1: Notification letters mailed
• Dec. 15: Deadline for students to confirm acceptance (with deposit)

Note: Applicants must be able to matriculate into the UD MDN program by May 20 in order to complete the summer of online graduate courses required for the program. This requires the student to graduate in May and to receive the signed verification statement from their didactic program in dietetics (DPD) Director with a signed date no later than May 30.

Minimum application qualifications

• GPA: minimum 3.0 overall GPA (Science grades: C+ or higher; B- or higher preferred; professional Dietetics course grades: B- or higher)
• Work experience: Evidence of 200 hours of nutrition-related work experience (minimum 100 hours/paid documented experience, with 100 hours/documented nutrition related non-paid experience in which student made significant contributions to the development and/or delivery of nutrition related services is considered as meeting this requirement)
• Service to the profession: Examples include: Active participation in Student Dietetic Association (SDA); executive position in SDA; service to undergraduate Dietetics program as a research assistant, teaching assistant or other project that supports the mission and goals of the undergraduate dietetics program; takes the leads on projects for the dietetics program or on nutrition-related project that impacts the community and fellow dietetic students.
• Leadership experience: Examples include: Executive position in a university or community organization, works a job with high level of trust and responsibility assigned to position, serves as mentor in any setting, experience leading groups outside of the classroom setting.

Required documents for application

• Intent to Complete form: This form is completed by the applicant's DPD Director. Applicant will provide an email address for their DPD Director in their application. An ACEND Letter of Intent form will be completed by the DPD Director.
• Personal statement: 1000 word limit; address the following: 1) Your interest and journey to prepare to successful complete the internship, graduate school and practice in the profession of dietetics, 2) Strengths and area of growth during the past four years of undergraduate study, 3) A goal you would like to accomplish during your time in graduate school and dietetic internship and how these programs align and support you achieving this goal.
• Resume and Dietetics Course Worksheet (doc): Resume should be no more than two pages. Complete the worksheet located here and upload to your application site.
• GRE: Competitive GRE (required for external applicants).
• Transcripts from all universities attended.
• Letters of recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required, one from each of the following: 1) DPD director, 2) medical nutrition therapy instructor (pdf), and 3) work reference (pdf). Applicants will request a letter of recommendation through the online application process. An email will be sent to your designated reference with directions on how to complete the recommendation process.
• Non-paid work experience form (pdf): Required only if the applicant is submitting non-paid nutrition related work experience as part of the 200 hours paid work experience.