School Nutrition Specialist Internship

NOTE:  Currently we are accepting applications for M.S. in Food Systems Administration Program but not the School Nutrition Specialist Internship Program.

Coordinated M.S. in Food Systems Administration and
School Nutrition Specialist Internship Program
Texas Woman’s University and Dallas ISD Child Nutrition Services

Students will apply separately to be admitted to the M.S. in Food Systems Administration program and the School Nutrition Specialist Internship Program. 

Internship Application Form [doc]

M.S. in Food Systems Administration Program

Admission requirements include the following:

• B.S. from an accredited university with a minimum 3.25 GPA (on 4.0 scale)
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) with preferred minimum score of 350 on verbal portion and 450 on quantitative portion
• Prerequisite courses:
  • Introduction to Nutrition (3 hrs)
  • Microbiology (4 hrs)
  • Quantity Food Production & Service (4-5 hrs)
  • Upper level Foodservice Management and/or Business courses (6 hrs)
  • Introduction to Accounting (3 hrs)

M.S. in Food Systems Administration course-only option with exit exam requires 42 credit hours of courses.

School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) Internship Program

The SNS Internship will include 900 hours of practice-based experience in administration, operations management, nutrition/nutrition education, communications and marketing at a school site that has been recognized with a District of Excellence award by the School Nutrition Association.  The 900 hours will typically be scheduled 4 days a week during school operating days over the fall and spring semesters.  Each semester students will register for NFS 6173 Professional Practicum in order to receive credit for the internship experience and be covered by professional liability insurance.  Students will work under the direction of an internship director at the school site and a TWU faculty coordinator.

Following completion of the SNS internship, students will be eligible to take the School Nutrition Specialist credentialing exam administered by the School Nutrition Association.  The SNS credential is a valuable asset for employment as a school foodservice administrator.

Before beginning the SNS Internship Program, students are expected to complete 6 or more credit hours of graduate course requirements for the M.S. in Food Systems Administration program. 

Example of Course Sequence for Coordinated Program 2009-2010

	Graduate Courses	Credit Hours
Fall	NFS 5773* Org & Mgmt Foodservice Systems NFS 5713* Human Resource Mgmt NFS 6173 Professional Practicum (SNS Internship) NFS 5793 Cost Analysis for Foodservice Systems MATH 5573 Statistical Methods I (or KINS 5033 or research design) or Business or Nutrition elective	6 to 9
Spring	NFS 5721* Seminar in Food Systems Administration or NFS 5331 Seminar in Nutrition NFS 5763*  Food Safety & Foodborne Illness NFS 5901 Special Topic: Research Methods in Food Systems Admin NFS 6173 Professional Practicum (SNS Internship) NFS 5793 Computer Applications in Food Systems Administration KINS 5033 Applied Statistical Principles Business or Nutrition elective	6 to 9
Summer	Business or Nutrition electives	6 to 9

*Indicates required courses for the M.S. in Food Systems Administration program. 

Optional Minors:

Nutrition:  Students may complete a minor in Nutrition with 9 graduate credit hours.  Some recommended courses are as follows:

NFS 5033 Eating Behaviors & Eating Disorders

NFS 5443 Nutrition & Women’s Health

NFS 5453 Nutrition Education

NFS 5903 Special Topics: Preventive Nutrition

Business: Students may complete a minor in Business with 9 graduate credit hours.  Some recommended courses are as follows:

BUS 5133 Marketing Management

BUS 5453 Leadership

BUS 5333 Advanced Business Policy

BUS 5433 Managerial Accounting

BUS 5663 Managerial Decision Making