Program Information
MND/I Program Information
Cox College’s Master of Science in Nutrition Diagnostics & Dietetic Internship (MND/DI) is a full-time, 22-month combined program for individuals who have completed at least a bachelor’s degree, as well as accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) coursework requirements. Coursework is provided via a combo of face-to-face educationat Cox College in Springfield Missouri as well as online education. The MND/DI provides supervised practice experiences in Springfield Missouri and the surrounding area. The program is designed to meet the eligibility requirements for the registration examination for dietitians. The combined program provides students the opportunity to complete a Master of Science in Nutrition Diagnostics in addition to the supervised practice component.
This Dietetic Internship program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and is designed to meet the eligibility requirements for the registration examination for dietitians. Education programs and supervised practice programs must be ACEND-accredited. Registered dietitian exam requirements are set by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) and include:
Completion of an ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)
Completion of an ACEND accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) (minimum of 1200 supervised practice hours)
The MND/DI program has a concentration in nutrition diagnostics and is designed to meet the competencies for entry-level practice as an RD. The program is designed to enhance and expand practice skills in clinical nutrition utilizing Kight’s advanced level practice modeling in nutrition diagnostics. The program requires completion of a 45 credit Master’s Degree, a research project utilizing the nutriokinetic/nutriodynamic modeling, and 1216 hours of supervised practice that span the 22 months of the program.
The first year of the MND/DI program combines supervised practice and graduate coursework. Students complete rotations in foodservice and clinical management, community areas, and in basic medical nutrition therapy in the fall and spring semesters and a 4-week independent practice clinical rotation in the first summer semester. Supervised practice experiences in the second year provide a more in-depth, clinical focus on complex patients and greater experience in utilizing the advanced practice nutrition diagnostics modeling. These experiences incorporate the nutrition-focused physical exam, nutriokinetic/nutriodynamic modeling and are supervised by the college clinical faculty. Both semesters of the second year include coursework, along with the advanced supervised practice rotations.
MND/I as a Cohort Program
The Cox College MND/DI cohort program is designed for students to experience the supervised practice rotations and graduate courses as a community of learners. The support gained by these shared experiences leads to academic success, as well as higher retention/increased likelihood of program completion. The cohort of students will start at the same time and graduate at the same time, completing requirements for supervised practice and the graduate program in a 22-month time frame. At that time, students will receive the AND Verification Statement (indicating eligibility to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians) and the Master’s degree in Nutrition Diagnostics.
All students will take the same courses at the same time, as well as complete the supervised practice rotations in the same time frame. The only exception is the ability to transfer graduate credits for MND 523 and MND/MSN 525. Cohort status will be lost if the student drops out or does not maintain a “B” average. The student may be given the option to restart as a student in the next cohort.
The curriculum, including supervised practice experiences and graduate coursework, is outlined for the entire 22-month time frame, including the first summer. The cost for the program is calculated on a yearly tuition and fee basis.
The student must successfully complete the objectives for each supervised practice experience and meet all requirements for the MND, including writing and presenting a research project. Upon satisfactory completion of both the MND degree and the dietetic internship, students will be provided with an AND Verification Statement indicating their eligibility to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians.
Our Mission
The Cox College Master’s in Nutrition Diagnostics/Dietetic Internship and Nutrition Diagnostics Dietetic Internship is dedicated to excellence in the preparation of competent entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists committed to serving their communities, their profession and to transforming the future of nutrition in healthcare.
Our Philosophy
To structure a learning environment to promote critical thinking and inquiry, self-improvement, self-reliance, collaboration, and lifelong learning.
Goal #1 – Prepare graduates to become competent entry-level dietitians
- The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of the first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%
- 90 % of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion
- 80% of employers will rate graduate preparation for the profession as adequately or well prepared
- At least 90% of program interns complete the program within 2 years and 9 months (the planned program is 22 months). (MND/DI)
Goal #2 – Develop skill in the nutrition diagnostic approach to the practice of clinical nutrition
- 80% of employers will rate graduate practice experiences in nutrition diagnostics as adequate or very adequate
- 80% of graduates will rate preparation in nutrition diagnostics as adequate or well prepared
- Of graduates who seek employment, 70 % are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
Goal #3 – Prepare graduates to effectively utilize current and pertinent scientific literature in practice as a clinical nutrition practitioner
- 80% of employers will agree/strongly agree that graduates are able to incorporate scientific research in their clinical practice
- 80% of graduates will agree/strongly agree that they feel competent to evaluate and incorporate current and relevant literature in their clinical practice
- 25% of graduates will pursue advanced/specialty positions/certifications or further graduate education over a 5 year period
Goal #4 – Support the need for clinical nutrition practitioners in southwest Missouri and the Midwest region.
- 25% of graduates will seek employment in southwest Missouri or the Midwest region
- At least 90% of program interns complete the program within 2 years and 9 months (the planned program is 22 months). (MND/DI)
- The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of the first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%
- 90 % of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion
- Of graduates who seek employment, 70 % are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
Program outcomes data are available on request.
MND/DI Curriculum
Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
MND 502 | Nutrition Counseling & Education Methods | 3 |
MND 521 | Critical Thinking in Nutrition | 3 |
MND 524 | Concepts in Pharmacology & Pathophysiology | 3 |
MND 531 | Supervised Practice I | 2 |
MND 535 | Nutrition Diagnostics & Assessment 1 | 3 |
MND 541 | Nutrition Diagnostics & Assessment 2 | 3 |
MND 551 | Nutrition and Health Enhancement | 3 |
MND 556 | Supervised Practice II | 2 |
MND 557 | Independent Practice | 1 |
MND 560 | Supervised Practice III | 2 |
MND 571 | Supervised Practice IV | 2 |
MND 581 | Integrative Approaches in Nutrition | 3 |
MND 600 | Research Methods in Nutrition | 3 |
MND 611 | Application of Clinical Reasoning to Diagnose Nutrient Imbalances | 3 |
MND 640 | Advanced Nutrition Assessment in Chronic Disease 1 | 3 |
MND 650 | Advanced Nutrition Assessment in Chronic Disease 2 | 3 |
MND 665 | Evidence-Based Practice in Nutrition | 3 |
The MND/DI program starts in August and ends 22 months later in May. All students in their cohort start together and finish together. The first year involves taking classes one day per week and completing supervised the practice hours the other weekdays. Supervised practice hours are also done during the first summer and some evenings and weekends during the first year. Due to the rigorous schedule of the first year, it is recommended that students do not work. The second year of the program involves more advanced supervised practice one day per week and attending classes two days per week. Supervised practice is also done on a few weekends and evenings in the second year.
Course descriptions are available here. A sample weekly supervised practice schedule is available here. Please note that this is only an example and specific rotations cannot be guaranteed.
Year 1
Fall Semester | Credits |
---|---|
MND 521: Critical Thinking in Nutrition | 3 |
MND 535: Nutrition Diagnostics & Assessment 1 | 3 |
MND 524: Concepts in Pharmacology and Pathophysiology | 3 |
MND 531: Supervised Practice I | 2 |
Total | 11 |
Spring Semester | Credits |
---|---|
MND 551: Nutrition and Health Enhancement | 3 |
MND 541: Nutrition Diagnostics & Assessment 2 | 3 |
MND 502: Nutrition Counseling and Education Methods | 3 |
MND 556: Supervised Practice II | 2 |
Total | 11 |
Year 2
Summer Semester | Credits |
---|---|
MND 557 Independent Practice | 1 |
Fall Semester | Credits |
---|---|
MND 600 Research Methods in Nutrition | 3 |
MND 640 Advanced Nutrition Assessment in Chronic Disease I | 3 |
MND 611 Application of Clinical Reasoning to Diagnose Nutrient Imbalances | 3 |
MND 560 Supervised Practice III | 2 |
Total | 11 |
Spring Semester | Credits |
---|---|
MND 665 Evidence-based Practice in Nutrition | 3 |
MND 650 Advanced Nutrition Assessment in Chronic Disease II | 3 |
MND 581 Integrative Approaches in Nutrition | 3 |
MND 571 Supervised Practice IV | 2 |
Total | 11 |
Total Credit Hours: 45
The Nutrition Diagnostics Programs follow the Cox College academic calendar including scheduled breaks for Fall break, Thanksgiving break, Christmas break, and Spring break. The academic calendar is available here.
Supervised Practice Experience | Minimum Practice Hours |
---|---|
Year 1 Fall | |
Supervised Practice Rotations | 320 |
Year 1 Spring | |
Supervised Practice Rotations | 296 |
Year 1 Summer | |
Independent Practice | 160 |
Year 2 Fall | |
Supervised Practice Rotations | 144 |
Year 2 Spring | |
Supervised Practice Rotations | 144 |
Throughout Program | |
Additional supervised practice activities | 80 |
Alternative supervised practice experiences | 72 |
Total | 1216 |
Additional Supervised Practice Experiences are accrued over the length of the program. This allows for students to choose some events and/or rotations in which they have a particular interest. In addition, it includes some required events that do not fit into the typical workday or workweek. The experiences are required by all students and the approximate hours associated with those experiences are listed below. There are a number of optional and unplanned events that occur during the year that the student can participate in and count as community hours.
In addition, students are required to attend/complete 2 continuing education opportunities, including at least one Southwest Missouri Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics meeting and either an online CEU or CoxHealth journal club; Attendance does not count towards supervised practice hours but meets competency CDR 2.9.
Required Community Experience Not Part of a Course | ||
---|---|---|
Supervised Practice Experience | Approximate Practice Hours | Additional Information |
KGBX Women's show | 6-10 supervised practice hours includes food demo preparation and presentation, as well as booth hours | |
National Nutrition Month | 4-8 supervised practice hours includes recipe preparation and booth hours | |
Legislative Day | 6-10 supervised practice hours varies with issues brought forward and seminars attended | Meets Competency CDR 4.3. Write up required for the competency does not count towards supervised practice hours. |
Hy-Vee Cooking School/FFDCooking demonstration | 6-7 supervised practice hours/session, includes recipe development & testing, preparation for and the actual demo & written submission/reflection | Meets Competency CDR 3.3 |
Midwest Dairy Farm Tour/Media Training | 7-8 supervised practice hours |
MND/DI Prerequisites/Corequisites | ||
Course Number | Prerequisite* | Prerequisite/Co-requisite** |
MND 502 | BS in Dietetics or equivalent | |
MND 521 | BS in Dietetics or equivalent | |
MND 524 | BS in Dietetics or equivalent | |
MND 531 | BS in Dietetics or equivalent | |
MND 535 | BS in Dietetics or equivalent | |
MND 541 | MND 531 & MND 535 or DI SP | |
MND 551 | BS in Dietetics or equivalent | |
MND 556 | MND 541 | |
MND 557 | MND 556 | |
MND 560 | MND 557 | |
MND 571 | MND 560 | |
MND 581 | BS in Dietetics or equivalent | |
MND 600 | MND 541 | |
MND 611 | MND 541 | |
MND 640 | MND 541 or instructor approval | |
MND 650 | MND 640 or instructor approval | |
MND 665 | MND 600 |
* A prerequisite is defined as a course that must be completed before acceptance into a higher-level course.
* *A Pre/Co-requisite is defined as a course that may be taken prior to OR simultaneously with the higher-level course.
The ACEND competencies reflect the minimal level of expertise the intern must achieve as stated in the Cox College Masters in Nutrition Diagnostics/Dietetic Internship Student Handbook. In addition to the minimal level of expertise required by ACEND, satisfactory performance is required in the following if a student wishes to receive a verification statement and graduate degree from Cox College (verification statement granted upon completion of all of the criteria listed below):
- Satisfactory completion of all supervised practice rotations, as evaluated by MND/DI program director, college faculty and preceptors
- Attendance at all required internship/program meetings, including, but not limited to, Southwest Missouri Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (SMAND) meetings.
- Satisfactory completion of all courses required in the MND/DI plan of study
- Graduate GPA of 3.0 or greater
- Completion of all other degree requirements
Successful completion of the program should equip the student with the skills and ability to apply the knowledge in nutrition and dietetics as measured by the Registration Examination for Dietitians. The graduate of Cox College’s Master’s in Nutrition Diagnostics/Dietetic Internship program is prepared to practice in multiple areas of dietetics, including food service systems management, therapeutic clinical practice, and normal and preventive nutrition in a variety of settings. The program concentration and Master’s in nutrition diagnostics will prepare the graduate for an emerging area of clinical practice.
This Dietetic Internship program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and is designed to meet the eligibility requirements for the registration examination for dietitians. Education programs and supervised practice programs must be ACEND-accredited. Registered dietitian exam requirements are set by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) and include:
- Completion of an ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)
- Completion of an ACEND accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) (minimum of 1200 supervised practice hours)
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND)
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
Phone: 1-800-877-1600 x5400
Cox College programs are accredited by the North Central Higher Learning Commission