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Overview

The Viterbo University coordinated program provides didactic and supervised practice experiences aligned with the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics 2017 Accreditation Standards. It prepares entry level registered dietitian nutritionists for faithful service and ethical leadership.

Mission and Philosophy | Viterbo University

The Master of Science in Community Medical Dietetics program at Viterbo University is intended to prepare graduates to work as advanced level practitioners and professionals. Through an individualized advanced-level, nutrition-care focus, this program seeks to meet the growing need for advanced level practitioners while instilling an appreciation for interprofessional collaboration and education, along with an appreciation for lifelong learning. This program provides opportunities to achieve expanded roles in health promotion, disease prevention, and nutritional interventions in addition to professional leadership skills. The program prepares graduates with the advanced knowledge and skills to become progressive and innovative leaders in dynamic health care settings.

Tracks for the MSCMD

Paths in the MSCMD to prepare students for their professional goals:

• MS in Community Medical Dietetics- RDNs (30 credits)
  
  This pathway was designed to support dietetic/nutrition professionals with the advanced skills, knowledge and behaviors to grow within the field. Informed by research data, industry trends, and the health care and business environment, the Nutrition Sciences master’s is an evidence-based program placing emphasis on disease prevention and management.  This degree prepares our graduates to work independently and collaboratively in today’s integrative healthcare world.
  
  
• MS in Community Medical Dietetics – Initial RDN license preparation supervised practice hours/Direct Entry (63 credits, with the opportunity to waive up to 15 foundational credits)
  • This pathway is designed for students that require foundational coursework to become a registered dietitian.  Further, students will obtain advanced nutrition skills through graduate coursework with an emphasis in their particular area of interest.  In addition, this track includes supervised practice, providing students with all experiences needed to take the registration exam to become a registered dietitian.  This track requires successful completion of the following pre-enrollment courses: Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab; Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab; General Chemistry or Chemistry for Health Sciences; Biochemistry; Organic Chemistry; Microbiology with Lab. Students may enroll in this track at a distance. First review of applications will take place on November 1 annually and continue on a rolling basis until May 1 or all spots are filled. This program offers only a summer start (May). 

• For students interested in the 4+1 B.S. and M.S. click here.

Dietetic Internship Only

Dietetic Internship + Non-Thesis Masters (clinical focus)

Dietetic Internship + Thesis Masters

Distinct Curricular Themes of the MSCMD

An individualized curriculum which allows the flexibility to select from a menu of courses that best meets the needs of the individual student to align with their specific professional or personal goals. For example:

• An individual working with athletes would take the core courses, and select electives such as the following and complete a research project that focuses on athletes.
  • Advanced Sports Nutrition
  • Topics in Nutrition
  • Systems Approach to Obesity
  • Nutrigenomics
• An individual working in the community might choose electives in the following and complete a research project on interventions for the prevention or treatment of childhood obesity.
  • Advanced Nutrition Counseling
  • Systems Approach to Obesity
  • Nutrition, Disease, and the Inflammatory State
  • Topics in Nutrition
• A clinical dietitian might choose to complete a research project surrounding Medical Nutrition Therapy interventions for disease management and select the follow courses:
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy III
  • Nutrition and Cancer
  • Nutrition, Disease, and the Inflammatory State
  • Topics in Nutrition or Nutrigenomics

An emphasis on leadership principles to practice in nutrition and dietetics whether relating to systemic leadership, or the supervisory skills needed to assist with organizational change and transformation.

An evidence-based research model that emphasizes quantitative and qualitative methodologies consistent with master’s level inquiry specific to one’s own practice setting, including competencies in interpretation and critique of scientific health care literature for application and integration into practice settings.

Nutrition Electives

• NUTR 520 - Systems Approach to Obesity
• NUTR 540 - Nutrition, Disease, and the Inflammatory State
• NUTR 560 - Advanced Sports Nutrition
• NUTR 545 - Advanced Nutrition Counseling
• NUTR 550 - Nutrigenomics
• NUTR 580 - Nutrition and Cancer
• NUTR 630 - Medical Nutrition Therapy
• NUTR 650 - Topics in Nutrition

Other Potential Electives

• EDUC 505 - Leading with Integrity
• EDUC 507 - Leadership and Institutional Change
• HMGT 584 - Managerial Coaching in Health Care
• HMGT 630 - Health Care System
• HMGT 635 - Population Health
• HMGT 640 - Health Care Finance
• HMGT 650 - Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care
• HMGT 660 - Health Care Outcomes and Process Improvement
• NURS 550 - Scholarly Writing Intensive
• SVLD 501 - Servant Leadership Theory and Practice
• SVLD 504 - Ethical Decision Making for the Common Good
• SVLD 560 - Power, Trust, and Organizational Culture
• SVLD 555 - Servant Leadership and Global Change