Combined Master’s Degree and Dietetic Internship with the University of Central Arkansas and KADDI
The Keith & Associates Distance Dietetic Internship (KADDI), in collaboration with the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), offers a fully online, accredited Master of Science in Nutrition + Dietetic Internship program (MSDI). This program allows qualified interns to fulfill both graduate coursework and supervised practice hours concurrently, preparing them for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential.
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Program Overview:
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Fully online, 36 credit-hour MS in Nutrition
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No GRE or additional letters of recommendation required
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Out-of-state tuition fees are waived
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Financial aid available to qualifying students for tuition and living expenses
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Curriculum Highlights: The program offers foundational graduate coursework in:
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Applied research and statistics
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Clinical diet therapy
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Trends in nutrition science
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Business and entrepreneurship in dietetics
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KADDI interns earn 9 graduate credit hours through their supervised practice experience, which are counted toward the MS degree. The remaining 27 credit hours are completed online through UCA faculty. Interns are not required to take other courses during their internship period.
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APPLICATION STEPS FOR MSDI
Step 1:
Apply to the KADDI Dietetic Internship using the centralized DICAS application system.
Follow application instructions on the How to Apply page.
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Step 2:
Apply to the UCA Graduate School for the MS in Nutrition:
Apply to UCA Graduate School
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Eligibility:
Students without an existing graduate degree must apply to UCA’s MS program after being accepted into KADDI.
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Academic Track Options:
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18-Month Summer Start
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18-Month Winter Start
Both academic tracks are coordinated to integrate online coursework with supervised experiential learning, ensuring an efficient and practical timeline for completing RDN eligibility.
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Graduation Requirements:
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Completion of the full 36-credit MS in Nutrition from UCA
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Fulfillment of 1,000+ supervised practice hours through KADDI
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Successful passing of final assessments and assignments
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A graduate degree is required to receive a verification statement
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Graduates are eligible to sit for the RDN exam through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
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Program Contact: Dr. Kathryn Carroll
Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director
University of Central Arkansas
Email: kcarroll5@uca.edu
ACADEMIC COURSE CURRICULUM
Master of Science in Nutrition Non-Thesis Option (36 hours)
Required Core Classes
The following 9 hours are required for all students enrolled in the Master of Science in Nutrition.
NUTR 6308 Trends in Nutrition
FACS 6335 Evidence-Based Research in Nutrition
FACS 6350 Statistical Methods in Family and Consumer Sciences
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Dietetic Internship Practicum Hours
The following hours will be provided to students for their Dietetic Internship Practicum
NUTR 5V20 Dietetic INternship Practicum (9 hours)
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Selected Classes (18 hours)
NUTR 5V30 Special Topics (variable credit 1-3 hours)
NUTR 5321 Nutrition Services Administration
NUTR 5324 Nutrition Assessment
NUTR 5340 Geriatric Nutrition
NUTR 5375 Nutrition in Exercise and Sports
NUTR 6307 Current Findings in Foods
NUTR 6313 Diet Therapy
NUTR 6314 Business and Entrepreneurship in the Nutrition Profession
NUTR 6330 Metabolic Nutrition
NUTR 6335 Nutrition Counseling
NUTR 6340 Diabetes Medical Nutrition Therapy
NUTR 6345 Pediatric Nutrition
NUTR 6346 Global Nutrition
NUTR 6347 Nutrition Public Policy
FACS 5310 Program Development
FACS 6310 Advanced Resource Management
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Example of MSDI Coordination (Summer/ Winter start) between KADDI Dietetic Internship Practicum and University of Central Arkansas Academic Requirements
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR MSDI
Students who have already completed a graduate degree or started a graduate degree prior to applying to the dietetic internship should contact the director of the internship for options to complete the program
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Successful completion of the dietetic internship and the master's degree allow the student to meet the requirement to sit for the registration examination for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
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Students must complete all requirements of the dietetic internship and possess a graduate degree to receive a verification statement.
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