Benedictine University is a liberal arts institution, located in the research corridor of metropolitan Chicago, with nationally recognized programs. U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in education rankings, ranked Benedictine University among its 2019 Best Colleges. Benedictine University has a 38-year history of excellence in nutrition. Our online MS in Nutrition and Wellness was ranked 3rd in the country byGraduateprograms.com. In addition, we offer an accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) program combined with online MS in Nutrition and Dietetics. We made several important curricular updates to our MS in Nutrition and Dietetics to begin in the 2020-2021 academic year. Can you please share the following information with your students and graduates of your DPD program?
  1. We now have 3 tracks in our MS in Nutrition and Dietetics: 
  1. Track A is a 35-semester hour program. In keeping with our Benedictine heritage, our DI program has a general emphasis with a focus in Public Health and Community Nutrition. New this year – Benedictine University (Lisle, IL) is now participating in the FALL DICAS and D&D Digital match,in addition to the spring match. Dietetic interns normally complete thiscombined MS/DI program in 16 months. 
  2. Track B offers the convenience of an online MS in Nutrition and Dietetics for students in concurrent pursuit of a DI elsewhere. This track has anentrepreneurial focus, choice of electives, and the option to count their DI experience earned elsewhere towards six semester hours of the 36 semester hours required for the degree. These students can complete the degree in under two years, or do a fast track option in which the program of courses can be completed in about one year. 
  3. Track C is designed for USA CDR credentialed Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) who seek a graduate nutrition program with anentrepreneurial focus and elective choices. RDNs have the option to count their DI experience, combined with RDN credential, towards nine semester hours of the 36 semester hours required for the degree.  
  1. We moved to the semester system (from quarter hours). We have two 8-week terms within each semester, for students who elect to take only one course at a time.  
  2. We continue to keep our class sizes smaller for optimal experiences in discussions and teams. 
  3. We continue to use a cohort model so students develop deeper connections with each other and build their professional network. 
  4. Although non-thesis, our program allows a student to complete a research experience elective. 
  5. Perhaps the biggest change is a reduction in our tuition rate for the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics to $700/credit hour for tuition; the semester rate is lower than what the quarter rate was. For example, students in Track B of the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics pay only $21,000 for tuition at our private university.  

    Qualified students who are not currently pursuing a Dietetic Internship can begin in our online MS in Nutrition and Wellness. These students have the opportunity to pre-match to our DI and switch to the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics program (Track A), or if pursuing a DI elsewhere, switch to Track B of the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics. For more information, students are encouraged to visit our website at www.ben.edu/nutrition and/or contact me, the Nutrition Department Chair, at carnold@ben.edu. or Ms.  Nikki DeWalt, our Dietetic Internship Director, at ndewalt@ben.edu. 

      
Catherine Arnold, EdD, MS, RDN, LDN 
Professor, Department Chairperson
Department of Nutrition
Benedictine University

 

5700 College Rd.   l   Lisle, IL 60532
office: (630) 829-6534  l   mobile: (630) 913-0225
email: carnold@ben.edu