This past week I had New Graduate Student Orientation! I was hoping that all of my questions that I had about the program would be answered; but unfortunately I just became more confused and developed even more questions!
The simplest things such as setting up your new school email address, figuring out parking permits, and getting a U-card made me feel like a freshman all over again! And on top the “newbie confusion”, I have important things to worry about such as registering for classes, setting up internship rotations, and deciding on a thesis!
Speaking of theses, I’d like to explain exactly how this combined program is set up.
The MS in Nutrition is 27 graduate course credits. Since I am specializing in sports nutrition, I have to take more courses. Now I am up to 33 graduate course credits. Next we must do 1 credit hour of supervised teaching and 18 credit hours of internship rotation = A TOTAL OF 52 credits.
That alone is almost 1.5x more than a normal graduate program that is around 30 credits…
So if one wants to complete a thesis, it is an extra 6 credit hours of work that one must commit on top of the 52, which makes a total of 58 hours! Doing a thesis would be a lot of work in a program like this. However there are some great benefits from completing a thesis, including having the opportunity to complete in-depth research in an area of your own interest with the funding and support by the school. One would learn a lot, advance their career, build connections with teachers and researchers, and further the field in scientific research. Additionally if there is any interest or opportunity for obtaining a PhD in the future, then completing a thesis would be highly recommended.
Currently, I am undecided about completing a thesis or not; however I am leading towards not (explained below).
If you are interested in a combined program I wouldn’t worry too much about thesis vs. non-thesis until you get into the program and meet your professors. However, there are a few things that you can think about early on that may influence your decision making in internship choices:
1. Do you have any interest in obtaining a PhD?
- If yes, you should pursue a master’s program and definitely consider completing a thesis.
o If you do this, you may want to consider postponing an internship until after you receive a master’s/PhD. You may not want to complete a combined program but rather obtain your degrees first and then apply them to an internship after, which should be easier to get matched since you would already be so educated!
o OR if you still like the idea of a combined program, you must accept the fact that you may not complete a masters, thesis, and internship in a mere 2 years. You may be in the program for up to 3 years.
- If no, refer to question 2 below:
2. Are your short term goals to be an RD or to publish research?
- A lot of people, including myself, want to get involved in research as much as possible. However my true goal is to be a registered dietitian within the next 2 years. After 6 total years of higher education, I want to receive the degrees and certifications I deserve and move on with my life, get a job, and begin my career! If I chose non-thesis, I could still be involved in research and gain experience and knowledge, but not complete any projects that are fully my own. However, if I stay on track, I will obtain my RD in 2 years.
- If you feel that you want to seize the opportunity to publish your own research, you may be postponing your immediate career opportunities; however, your career may benefit in the long run. Your goal of becoming an RD may be delayed a year or so, however, having published research should most certainly advance your career!
So as you research your future, consider the following questions:
- Is higher education a goal of yours? Is it immediate or can it be postponed?
- Is becoming an RD an immediate goal or one that can be postponed?
- Is obtaining a PhD in your plans at all?
And of course, if none of this is of interest to you, getting a master’s degree may not be for you. You don’t have to have it to become an RD. It is just a plus! J
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