Dietetic Experiential Track

**Now accepting rolling applications for 2025-2027 cohort until August 1, 2025

The program aims to confidently prepare students to enter professional practice as a well-rounded dietetics practitioner who strive to serve the public with evidence-based dietetic practice. The goals and objectives listed align with the University, Department, and Program’s Mission statements and will demonstrate that graduates of the program will successfully transition into the dietetics field.

Outcome data is available upon request.

Program Goal 1

The Marywood University Dietetic Graduate Program-Experiential Track will develop competent graduates to encourage critical thinking and evidence-based practice to promote wellness and to treat individuals and diverse populations.

Program Objectives for Goal 1 are measured by the following standards:

Upon completion of the program:

At least 80% of program students complete all program/degree requirements within 33 months (150% of the program length). (RE 2.1.c.1.a)
At least 90% of the program graduates will have completed at least one health promotion project throughout the program timeline.

One-year post completion:

On the one‐year post completion employer survey, of those that respond 90% will score “agree or strongly agree” with a mean value of 2.0 or greater regarding graduate’s preparation for entry-level practice. (RE 2.1.c.1.d)
Of graduates who seek employment 70% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of the program graduation. (RE 2.1.c.1.b)

Over a three-year period:

The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%. (RE 2.1.c.1.2)

Program Goal 2

The program will produce graduates who are confident self-directed leaders capable of effective advocacy and demonstrate commitment to the community and the profession.

Program Objectives for Goal 2 are measured by the following standards:

Upon completion of the program:

At least 85% of program graduates will take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion. (RE 2.1.c.1.c.1)
On the end of program survey, at least 75% of graduates who respond will “agree or strongly agree” with a mean value of 2.0 or greater regarding the program fostering self-directed learning.
On the three-year post program survey, at least 80% of graduates who respond will “agree or strongly agree” with a mean value of 2.0 or greater regarding leadership service in the dietetics profession and/or the community at large.
On the three-year post program survey, at least 40% of program graduates who respond will indicate they have become a preceptor or mentor dietetic students.

Onsite Track

Additional Info - Onsite

The dietetic internship program - onsite track is a full time program that will require students to come to Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The student will be placed in facilities/agencies in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre or surrounding area and attend classes on campus. The DI program onsite track includes 36 graduate credits consisting of graduate coursework and supervised practice rotations or experiential coursework. Upon successful completion of the DI program onsite track, the onsite intern is eligible to take the RDN exam.

Facilities used for the onsite track placements will be in a 120-mile radius. Distances greater than 100 miles per day may be required for all rotations as well as the special pediatric rotation (CHOP).

NoteStudents who have completed a minimum of a Bachelor's degree and a Didactic Program approved or accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) are eligible to apply. Acceptance is contingent upon acceptance from Graduate Admissions at Marywood University. Admission to the program is competitive. Up to 15 students are selected for the onsite track. Up to 10 of those 15 can potentially be accepted using the ACEND approved pre-select option available to current Marywood students only. Reach out to the Program Director for the specific application due date and additional details regarding the pre-select option for current Marywood Students.

Supervised Experiential Learning Site Guidelines

Students in the onsite version of the program are placed at sites within 120 miles of Marywood’s campus for all rotations.

Students completing the distance version of the program are required to identify their own supervised experiential learning sites. Sites and preceptors must be approved by the Program Director.

The site/preceptor must meet the following criteria:

The preceptor must be willing and able to teach, guide, and provide mentorship to a student and be committed to overseeing the required Supervised Experiential Learning (SEL).
The preceptor must maintain appropriate and current credentials for the profession (i.e., RDN, MD, PharmD, DO, LCSW, etc)
The preceptor must provide experiences that meet the required competencies in SEL.
The site must have adequate staffing to provide learning experiences to students, including proper supervision and instruction by the preceptor(s).
The preceptors must provide supervision for a significant and approved time along with instruction for projects to be complete.
A fully-executed affiliation agreement and preceptor agreement with the site and preceptor must be completed
A preceptor resume or professional development portfolio is submitted to provide proof that the preceptor is an acceptable and appropriate preceptor.
Completion of Preceptor and Competency-Based Education (CBE) Training provided by ACEND
Review of Program Resources including the preceptor handbook
Ability and preparedness to review Program Policies and Procedures with the Program Director by video conference call or by phone to clarify requirements and expectations.

It is the student’s responsibility to locate SEL sites and preceptors in the geographic location in which they desire to complete SEL.

Program Faculty are available for guidance throughout this process, and can aid students in identifying appropriate sites and preceptors. If the immediate area is saturated with other nutrition and dietetics students, students may need to research other nearby sites in locations that are less likely to receive SEL requests. Students may need to consider dividing SEL hours between multiple sites or offer to complete SEL in hours outside of the typical work week.

Admitted students will also have access to a list of sites that were previously used for SEL and their address and contact information. The list of sites is maintained by program faculty

Prior to applying to the program, students do not need to have SEL sites confirmed. It is recommended that at least six months before the SEL begins and students have the entire 1^st year of Phase I of the program to obtain sites. Students are encouraged to start networking early on in the program to make connections that may lead to SEL sites and preceptors.

If a student has challenges securing sites or in the event the site and preceptor can no longer accommodate a student, program faculty can provide alternatives to support the student in completing the required SEL. The following alternatives may be recommended:

Alternate learning experiences that allow for assessment of attainment of the specified competencies can occur with case studies, simulation, role-play, or other activities. This option would adhere to current ACEND guidance regarding alternate SEL experiences, and would not exceed the amount permitted by ACEND.
Approval of off-schedule SEL hours to accommodate unexpected changes to scheduling which include completing hours during the evening or on weekends
Completing hours at telehealth sites or other SEL sites that offer remote options to attain the required competencies
Students may need to consider dividing clinical hours between a few different facilities or offer to complete SEL hours on the weekends or evenings to complete SEL requirements.

If a student encounters a situation where a preceptor or site is unable to accommodate the student, the student must immediately contact the Program Director and, if applicable, the Faculty of their current course. The Program Director, faculty, and student will determine the appropriate course of action for the student which could include any of the above recommendations as well as developing a plan with program faculty to complete the program requirements and make adjustments to their schedule. The student will be notified that they have up to 33 months to complete the program and this will allow for extenuating circumstances to be accommodated.

Distance track

Additional Info - Distance

The dietetic internship program - distance track is a full time program that allows the student to live anywhere, however, they are required to utilize facilities/agencies that are more than 125 miles from Marywood University.

This is an online graduate Master's program which incorporates the internship component. Upon successful completion of all program components of the Distance track, the intern has a Masters degree in Nutrition plus DI verification statement and is eligible to take the RDN exam.

For Marywood University's program it is not required to have preceptors identified as part of the DICAS application process. The distance track is a full-time program. Phase One is completed in the first year with online graduate coursework. Phase two begins in the summer session of that year with continued online graduate coursework combined with supervised practice. The distance track intern will be responsible for locating sites for their supervised practice rotations. This is not required in the DICAS application. The Program Director and Clinical Coordinator do offer guidance throughout the first year to assist students but it is ultimately the responsibility of the intern to locate their sites for the distance track. This allows interns to remain in their preferred location anywhere throughout the United States. The distance track interns are only required to come on campus for the orientation held in the summer between Phase One and Phase Two prior to starting their supervised practice rotations. Onsite orientation is typically held in the last full week of June between the first and second year.

The graduate credits will count as part of the curriculum for the Master of Science (MS). Upon completion of the Master's DI Program - distance track, the intern is eligible to take the RDN exam.

NoteStudents who have completed a minimum of a Bachelor's degree and a Didactic Program approved or accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) are eligible to apply. Acceptance is contingent upon acceptance from Graduate Admissions at Marywood University. Admission to the program is competitive. Up to thirty students are selected for the distance track. Up to fifteen of those thirty can potentially be accepted using the ACEND approved pre-select option available to current Marywood students only. Reach out to the Program Director for the specific application due date and additional details regarding the pre-select option for current Marywood Students.

Distance Education Components

The dietetic experiential learning distance track is a full time program that allows the student to live anywhere, however, they are required to utilize facilities/agencies that are more than 125 miles from Marywood University's campus.

This is an online graduate Master's program which incorporates the supervised experiential learning rotations. Upon successful completion of all program components of the distance track, the student has a Masters degree plus a verification statement and is eligible to take the RDN exam.

For Marywood University's program it is not required to have preceptors identified as part of the DICAS application process. The distance track is a full-time program. Phase One is completed in the first year with online graduate coursework. Phase two begins in the summer session of that year with continued online graduate coursework combined with supervised practice. The distance track student will be responsible for locating sites for their supervised practice rotations. This is not required in the DICAS application. The Program Director can offer guidance throughout the first year to assist students but it is ultimately the responsibility of the student to locate their sites for the distance track. This allows interns to remain in their preferred location anywhere throughout the United States. The distance track students are only required to come on campus for the orientation held in the summer between Phase One and Phase Two prior to starting their supervised experiential learning rotations. Onsite orientation is typically held in the last full week of June between the first and second year.

The graduate credits will count as part of the curriculum for the Master of Science (MS). Upon completion of the MS + DEL Program - distance track, the intern is eligible to take the RDN exam.

Students are able to complete all coursework in their graduate courses asynchronously in the distance program in order to accommodate varying locations, schedules, and time zones. If a course holds a synchronous meeting, distance students are able to join via video conference call. If the student cannot attend a synchronous meeting, students are able to review the recorded meeting time. At the discretion of the instructor, students may need to complete an assignment if they are unable to attend a synchronous course meeting. Instructors will communicate this to students in the respective course syllabus and the learning management system.

Students should have access to the internet and a computer. A camera with a microphone is encouraged but not required.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Nutrition and Dietetics Mission

The mission of the department of nutrition and dietetics is to provide dedicated faculty, quality facilities, and a diverse environment which support nationally recognized undergraduate and graduate education, research and service in the areas of nutrition, dietetics, family/consumer sciences, and sports nutrition/exercise science.

The Nutrition and Dietetics programs offer several options allowing each student to choose the best path to achieving their professional goals. We use an individualized approach to providing a high quality, broad-based educational experience that empowers graduates to develop skills needed for future specializations. We offer a challenging but supportive and nurturing environment that facilitates both professional and personal growth.

The Nutrition and Dietetics programs have identified five goals to guide achievements and student learning outcomes:

To foster a learning environment that leads to quality teaching and learning, original research contributions, and scholarly pursuits.
To prepare students who can think critically in the theoretical and practical areas of nutrition, dietetics, and family/consumer sciences.
To promote student commitment to lifelong learning, professional development, and community service.
To encourage mentoring, teamwork, and collaboration.
To empower students to excel in their knowledge and skill development in order to competitively enter the job market or other nutrition programs.

Dietetic Experiential Track Mission

The philosophy of Marywood University’s Dietetic Experiential Track runs parallel with the mission of the graduate program and the mission of Marywood University. Students will enhance their intellectual perspectives, and promote ethical professional practice based on humanitarian values. Students are encouraged to discover their passions, prepare for their credentialing exam and careers and acquire tools and motivation for a lifelong process of learning following the Code of Ethics, the Scope/Standards of Practice and the Standards of Professional Performance of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Marywood University’s Dietetic Experiential Track is passionate about developing competent practitioners dedicated to service of others and to the profession. Throughout the Graduate Program and the Supervised Experiential Learning Hours, students will be embedded in a professional, academic environment. Students will gain knowledge to develop and apply the skills needed to become competent in the areas of nutrition therapy, community dietetics, and food service management. Students will develop skills to serve as collaborative members of an interdisciplinary team and be leaders in the profession.

The Mission of Marywood University Dietetic Graduate Program and Supervised Experiential Track, is to prepare well-rounded graduates who are competent entry-level Registered dietitian Nutritionists. Graduates are ready to respond to the challenging demands of productive careers in dietetics and nutrition-related fields through a commitment to lifelong learning. They will demonstrate professionalism, self-directedness, evidence-based practice decisions, effective communication, critical thinking, collaboration in their professional community, and active ongoing self-assessment all in the pursuit of meaningful work that makes a positive impact on others.

Vision Statement

Marywood University’s Dietetic Experiential Track aims to produce dietetic professionals who are competent to enter the dietetics profession as registered dietitian nutritionists who strive to commit to leadership and service opportunities and aim to enhance the dietetics profession with innovative ideas.

Total 39 Credits	Cost per credit $824
Course fees	$500
Books	$700-1000
Typhon Subscription	$100
Transportation (Gas, Maintenance, Tolls, Parking, Incurred fees/fines/tickets)	$300-2000
Clothing for Professional Components (lab coat, non-slip shoes, etc.)	$100-300
Transportation to sites greater than 50 miles	$100-900
Hotel/Rental Accommodations for potential sites*	$200-1500
Medical Clearances, Immunizations, Lab work, Drug Screen, Titers, etc.	$350-500
FBI Finger Print Clearance/Criminal Record Check – fees vary by state	$100-300
Child Abuse History Clearance /Record Check – fees vary by state	$25-100
Malpractice insurance – fees vary by state	$40-100
Medical Insurance	varies
Onsite housing and meal plan for orientation prior to Phase II	$400-600
Travel to mandatory orientation prior to Phase II	$100-15000**
School Fees/Activity Fees	$500

Fall following Spring Admissions until July	Begin Phase One of the Program with graduate coursework (See current Marywood Website for Academic Calendar and specific start date)
Spring Semester Year One	Continue with Phase One of the Program & graduate coursework
Last full week of June Year Two	-Mandatory Onsite Orientation -Introduction to Phase Two of the Program -Community Orientation
July and August Year Two	Community Nutrition Supervised Experiential Learning (SEL)
Following Labor Day Year Two	Food Systems Management Orientation
Wednesday following Labor Day through first week of November	Food Systems Management SEL
First week in November Year Two	MNT-LTC Orientation
Second week in November	-MNT SEL -Long Term Care through Winter Break Year Two
Thanksgiving & Winter Break	Dates shared at orientation
Immediately following New Year	-MNT – Acute Care Orientation
First full week in January	MNT SEL - Acute Care through to end of March year two
Spring & Easter Break	See Academic Calendar
Month of April year two	Professional Practice SEL