Authors

  1. Arts, Jennifer PhD, RDN, LDN
  2. Paulin, Chelsea MS, RDN, LDN
  3. Lofgren, Ingrid E. PhD, MPH, RDN
  4. Woodland, Barbara EdD, RD, LD
  5. English, Catherine PhD, RD, LDN

Abstract

Research is the foundation of dietetics. As programs are designed to meet the 2024 entry-level education requirement, innovative approaches are needed to ensure that master's level registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) have strong research skills. The MS Dietetics Program is a new, 14-month, online, non-thesis program completed during the Sodexo Dietetic Internship. The objective was to determine whether an online research curriculum impacted research skills. Students evaluated their skills using a 22-question survey and reported significant improvements from baseline in 8 of the 11 research skills. A future investigation should examine whether increased research involvement among master's level RDNs continues after graduation.