Academic Schedule
Students new to nutrition and dietetics typically begin the program in early June (pre-fall semester) and complete the program in mid-December of the following year (19 months). Students with a nutrition and dietetics background typically begin the program in mid-August (fall semester) and complete the program in mid-December of the following year (16 months).
Year 1
Pre-Fall semester – The pre-fall semester for first-year students typically begins in early June and ends mid-August. Classes are held three days per week; students do not complete rotations during this semester.
Orientation – Orientation will typically occur the week prior to the first week of the first fall semester. During this 3-day experience, students prepare for being their SEL rotations.
Fall semester – The fall semester will typically start the last week of August and classes will end in mid-to-late December. Classes are held two days per week; students typically complete two rotations during this semester.
Spring semester – The spring semester typically begins in early January and ends in late April. Classes are held two days per week; students typically complete two rotations during this semester.
Year 2
Pre-Fall semester – The pre-fall semester for second-year students typically begins in mid-May and ends mid-August. Classes are held one day per week; students typically complete two rotations during this semester.
Fall semester – The fall semester will typically start the last week of August and classes will end in mid-to-late December. Classes are held one day per week; students typically complete three rotations during this semester.
Please see the posted academic calendar for each school year for exact dates.
Vacations/Holidays
Vacation is defined as the time between semesters. This typically provides a 3-week break between fall and spring semesters, a 3-week break between spring and pre-fall semesters, and a 2-week break between pre-fall and fall semesters. This time will be utilized to address a student’s remediation plan if appropriate and needed.
Holidays recognized by the University:
- Thanksgiving Break (late November – 4 days)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January – 1 day)
- Spring Break (mid-March – 1 week)
- Memorial Day (May – 1 day)
- Independence Day (July – 1 day)
- Labor Day (September – 1 day)
Students who wish to observe religious or cultural holidays will collaborate with program faculty and preceptors in order to do so.
SEL Rotations
Students complete nine (9) rotations during the program, spending 4 to 8 weeks in each rotation, allowing a wide range of experiences. Jefferson MS/RDN SEL sites include hospitals, private practice businesses, outpatient clinics, non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, professional sports organizations, eating disorder facilities, school district and university dining services, and many additional unique settings. Students have the option of completing certain rotations virtually or in a hybrid format, rather than in person, if that is their preference.
The program secures and schedules preceptors and sites for all rotations. SEL rotation placements are determined based on student input, site availability, and individualized student priorities. Each student will be assigned to a program faculty advisor. Each semester, students will learn about the available SEL sites for the rotations they’re scheduled to complete during the following semester. They will then rank their SEL site preferences and additionally discuss these choices with their advisor, with context related to their learning and career goals.
