Coordinated MPH/RD v. MPH-Nutrition

[eleanoor]

Hello all!

This year I was accepted into NYU’s MPH-nutrition program, but have decided to wait another year, and apply to other schools. I am thinking the better option is apply to coordinated MPH/RD programs. I know these programs are very selective and take only a few students. Has anybody else applied to these programs? What schools are the best? Also, what made you chose a MPH/RD program over a general MPH with a focus on nutrition?

For the past 2 years, I have worked as an AmeriCorps at a food bank teaching working families how to prepare nutritious meals on a budget. I am hoping to gain research experience this upcoming year, to make my application more competitive; however, I am having trouble finding positions for people without research experience!

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks! 🙂

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[Stories]

The career objectives are obviously very different between a straight MPH and the MPH-RD program (UNC's program jumps off the top of my head). With a MPH you'd be looking a public health practice. The MPH-RD would be similar to going for a MS-RD where the focus is on clinical practice.

 

[mystal]

Hello all!

This year I was accepted into NYU's MPH-nutrition program, but have decided to wait another year, and apply to other schools. I am thinking the better option is apply to coordinated MPH/RD programs. I know these programs are very selective and take only a few students. Has anybody else applied to these programs? What schools are the best? Also, what made you chose a MPH/RD program over a general MPH with a focus on nutrition?

For the past 2 years, I have worked as an AmeriCorps at a food bank teaching working families how to prepare nutritious meals on a budget. I am hoping to gain research experience this upcoming year, to make my application more competitive; however, I am having trouble finding positions for people without research experience!

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks! 🙂

I was accepted this round for MPH/RD programs at UNC, Hopkins, and Michigan. UNC's MPH/RD program is probably the most well-known and has a cohort of about 24 people. The RD component is pretty integrated into curriculum. UNC's program is unique because it's the only department of nutrition that's within a public health school. Hopkins' is a little different: it's an 11-month MSPH in international health and then an 8-month dietetic intership at the hospital there. It's also significantly smaller--they only take 6 people, so it's a very personalized experience. I didn't really look into Michigan since I was deciding between UNC and Hopkins, but I'm sure it's a great program too. If you have any questions about these programs, you can PM me!

 

[PopMart]

The MPH-RD is only worth it if you really are interested in clinical or consulting (giving individualized dietary advice, meal plans, etc.). Check the laws for the states you would like to live/work in; most states only require the RD if you want to do MNT (medical nutrition therapy) or customized individual plans. If that is not your interest, then it might not be worth the grueling internship experience (trust me...been there, done that).

On the other hand...if you fall upon hard times and are desperate for work you can include clinical positions in your job search. That is the power of the RD credential. You can certainly do more with an RD than without it.

1. The most accomplished nutrition researchers (that I can think of) are not dietitians.

2. Do you enjoy talking directly to patients (working directly with the population)? Or are you more of a behind the scenes sort of person? The dietetic internship (and most RD jobs) will require working directly with people, face to face, all day. Some people find this exhausting/draining.

3. Can you handle the politics of the hospital/clinical world? Could you stand to work in a broken system, powerless to help fix it in your day-to-day work?

If I were you, I would just go into the MPH program. If your undergrad was a DPD program, you can always apply directly to stand-alone internships later, and having an MPH will make you more competitive. But I urge you to attend your local dietetic association meetings and get some clinical experience (even if it's just shadowing for a few days) so that you can understand what you would be getting yourself into. It's certainly not for everybody.

 

[mystal]

The MPH-RD is only worth it if you really are interested in clinical or consulting (giving individualized dietary advice, meal plans, etc.). Check the laws for the states you would like to live/work in; most states only require the RD if you want to do MNT (medical nutrition therapy) or customized individual plans. If that is not your interest, then it might not be worth the grueling internship experience (trust me...been there, done that).

On the other hand...if you fall upon hard times and are desperate for work you can include clinical positions in your job search. That is the power of the RD credential. You can certainly do more with an RD than without it.

1. The most accomplished nutrition researchers (that I can think of) are not dietitians.

2. Do you enjoy talking directly to patients (working directly with the population)? Or are you more of a behind the scenes sort of person? The dietetic internship (and most RD jobs) will require working directly with people, face to face, all day. Some people find this exhausting/draining.

3. Can you handle the politics of the hospital/clinical world? Could you stand to work in a broken system, powerless to help fix it in your day-to-day work?

If I were you, I would just go into the MPH program. If your undergrad was a DPD program, you can always apply directly to stand-alone internships later, and having an MPH will make you more competitive. But I urge you to attend your local dietetic association meetings and get some clinical experience (even if it's just shadowing for a few days) so that you can understand what you would be getting yourself into. It's certainly not for everybody.

You don't necessarily need to work in clinical nutrition with the MPH/RD. You still end up with a masters degree in public health, so you can still pursue public health if you want--the RD just opens up more options. Out of the six recent graduates in the program I'm going into this fall, only one is pursuing clinical nutrition.

The professors I talked to at UNC strongly recommended getting the RD with the MPH and said that the only people who applied to just the MPH in nutrition already had an RD or other clinical degree. Of course you can just get the MPH, but I personally think that for nutrition, it's best to get an MPH/RD or PhD, not just an MPH. It certainly depends on your career goals!

 

[Stories]

You don't necessarily need to work in clinical nutrition with the MPH/RD. You still end up with a masters degree in public health, so you can still pursue public health if you want--the RD just opens up more options. Out of the six recent graduates in the program I'm going into this fall, only one is pursuing clinical nutrition.

The professors I talked to at UNC strongly recommended getting the RD with the MPH and said that the only people who applied to just the MPH in nutrition already had an RD or other clinical degree. Of course you can just get the MPH, but I personally think that for nutrition, it's best to get an MPH/RD or PhD, not just an MPH. It certainly depends on your career goals!

This is the way I see it: there's an extra year of the dietic internship, though, which makes sense for people who want to pursue that sort of career. If an individual has no interest in that sort of career, the RD certification provides no clear benefit other than wasting another year of time training which could be spent developing a career.

 

[snowbreeze8]

I applied to 5 schools- UNC, University of Washington, University of Minnesota, University of Utah and Colorado State. The last two are just MS/RD programs, but still include the dietetic internship. I got into all 5 programs, which I wasn't really expecting since I'm just now taking biochemistry and am one or two classes short of the pre-reqs at a few places. 3.9GPA, 1100 GRE, 1 year public health internship at WIC and 1 year AmeriCorps term at a community health clinic. Sounds like you have comparable experience, so I say go for it!

In my opinion, the MPH/RD or MS/RD is the only way to go. Nutrition is now a "hot topic" in healthcare, and there are a lot of quacks out there. I think the RD credential strengthens any thing you would want to do in the field of nutrition. Even if you don't foresee yourself wanting to do clinical nutrition, you would still gain experience in the public nutrition setting- ie WIC, community wellness, diabetes care, etc. Plus, the program really isn't that much longer (although it might be more intense).

I also can't think of that many jobs for someone with a MPH in Nutrition. What are you wanting to do?

 

[mystal]

In my opinion, the MPH/RD or MS/RD is the only way to go. Nutrition is now a "hot topic" in healthcare, and there are a lot of quacks out there. I think the RD credential strengthens any thing you would want to do in the field of nutrition. Even if you don't foresee yourself wanting to do clinical nutrition, you would still gain experience in the public nutrition setting- ie WIC, community wellness, diabetes care, etc. Plus, the program really isn't that much longer (although it might be more intense).

I also can't think of that many jobs for someone with a MPH in Nutrition.

I completely agree. Even if you're not going into clincal nutrition, the RD credential makes you a stronger candidate for most jobs relating to nutrition.

The coordinated programs do take a much shorter amount of time than if you were to do a masters and then an RD internship. The Hopkins program is 18 months total.

 

[Stories]

I applied to 5 schools- UNC, University of Washington, University of Minnesota, University of Utah and Colorado State. The last two are just MS/RD programs, but still include the dietetic internship. I got into all 5 programs, which I wasn't really expecting since I'm just now taking biochemistry and am one or two classes short of the pre-reqs at a few places. 3.9GPA, 1100 GRE, 1 year public health internship at WIC and 1 year AmeriCorps term at a community health clinic. Sounds like you have comparable experience, so I say go for it!

In my opinion, the MPH/RD or MS/RD is the only way to go. Nutrition is now a "hot topic" in healthcare, and there are a lot of quacks out there. I think the RD credential strengthens any thing you would want to do in the field of nutrition. Even if you don't foresee yourself wanting to do clinical nutrition, you would still gain experience in the public nutrition setting- ie WIC, community wellness, diabetes care, etc. Plus, the program really isn't that much longer (although it might be more intense).

I also can't think of that many jobs for someone with a MPH in Nutrition. What are you wanting to do?

I completely agree. Even if you're not going into clincal nutrition, the RD credential makes you a stronger candidate for most jobs relating to nutrition.

The coordinated programs do take a much shorter amount of time than if you were to do a masters and then an RD internship. The Hopkins program is 18 months total.

I disagree because this internship and practicum component is treated as another full-semester/year of coursework in which you pay for tuition. It adds a significant bump to the cost of your program. This dietics portion should be done with the intent of utilizing the skills for a career. If there's no intent to use those skills, why get them? Employers don't care about superfluous skills.

But to each his/her own.

 

[snowbreeze8]

My question is actually similar, so I thought maybe you guys could weigh in. I've been accepted in both MPH/RD programs and MS/RD programs. I am interested in community nutrition and hope to work in nutrition program development/education for non-profit or public organization.

I know the MPH background would be very helpful, however the MS/RD program at the University of Utah is only about $16k a year vs $29-32k a year at University of Washington, UNC and Minnesota. I think the programs at those schools are probably better developed, but is it really worth the extra $10-15k a year?? Any input? Will I regret not getting my MPH?

 

[eleanoor]

Thanks everyone for your insight. It seems the MPH/RD is the way to go. I work with someone with a MPH/RD and also someone with just a MPH. However, it seems the MPH/RD is a better way to go. Someone with just a MPH is capable in working in a public health nutrition setting, but it seems employers prefer someone with a RD. And if they take the same time to complete, why not?

snowbreeze8: That is a tough decision. If you want to work as a public health RD, the MPH is the way to go. Yet that is a big money difference, especially if you don't have $10,000 to throw around. I would consider what courses you can take at Utah. Are they more scientific or can you focus more on community nutrition? Also, look into what the professors research/interests are in. If they are very clinical, you probably won't be as happy because you are not learning what you want to learn or getting the experience you need. Even though, $10,000 is a big difference, go with the program that will allow you to get to where you want to be. You will be wasting 16,000 if you are paying to go to a program that is not right for you. Good Luck!