Fall Submission Timeline
| Initiate DICAS Application | August 5th |
| Complete application in DICAS | September 10th |
| Interviews for finalists | 3rd - 4th week of September |
| Final decisions | Mid-October |
MS/DI VA track – 16-month program
The Master of Science in Nutritional Science and Dietetic Internship (MS/DI) VA track at Arizona State University is a 16-month, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics-accredited program.
Integrate research into practice
- Graduate education (31 credits) with an applied research project
- Approximately 1,100 hours of supervised practice at VA and affiliated sites
Earn resume-building accolades
- A Master of Science in Nutritional Science
- A verification statement from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Eligibility to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians (RDN Exam)
Learn more
Details on program costs, rotation sites, expectations and policies can be found in the VA-Track Dietetic internship handbook
Program overview
The program begins during the spring semester in January.
Interns complete graduate coursework as well as part-time supervised practice from August through the following April.
Practice settings include VA hospitals in Phoenix and Prescott, AZ, and select non-VA sites (e.g., WIC, AZDHS, school nutrition programs).
Supervised practice covers
Interns work closely with preceptors and complete a faculty-guided applied research project during the program.
- Acute and long-term care
- Foodservice systems
- Community and public health nutrition
- Specialty care services within the VA system
COVID-19 vaccination requirement
The VA is a federal agency and requires participants to have U.S. citizenship when applying for this track of the ASU Dietetic Internship program. As of October 2021, interns must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to complete rotations at all U.S. VA medical centers and affiliated sites.
Steps to apply
Step 1:
Submit your application through the Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application System
Required materials
- Verification statement from an accredited DPD program (within the last five years)
- Resume with relevant nutrition/dietetics experience
- Official transcripts from all universities attended
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal statement (≤ two pages, double-spaced) addressing:
- Significant professional responsibilities held
- Your goals and motivation for applying
- Strengths that support your success in the program
- Cultural competence and communication skills
- Why do you want to work with the veteran population
- Site preference (Phoenix VA only, Prescott VA only or either location)
- $50 DICAS application fee
Selection criteria
| Ranking of importance for acceptance into the MS and DI program |
|---|
| 1. Personal statement |
| 2. Interview (via Zoom) |
| 3. Dietetics-related work experience |
| 4. GPA (DPD-Professional) |
| 5. Volunteer and research experience |
| 6. Letters of recommendation |
| 7. Non-dietetics-related work experience |
Step 2:
After acceptance to the VA program, apply to the MS in Nutritional Science through ASU Graduate Admissions.
Application will include the following
- Official transcript showing a completed bachelor’s degree
- Same resume and personal statement submitted via DICAS
- In the recommendation fields, enter: Robin DeWeese, [email protected] (no additional letters required)
- Do not list DPD prerequisite courses
- $70 ASU Graduate application fee