Overview of the Master of Science in Foods & Nutrition (MScFN) and the Diploma in Dietetic Education and Practical Training (DDEPT) Practicum
The dietetic practica for both the MScFN and DDEPT programs offer a comprehensive learning experience designed to provide you with the hands-on dietetic skills essential for a career in dietetics.
Why Choose MScFN or DDEPT Practicum-Based Programs?
Diverse Placement Settings: From hospitals, long-term care, community health centres, and public health to food industry and private practice settings, you will experience a wide range of dietetic practicum placements.
Comprehensive Dietetic Training: Over a span of 40 weeks, you will complete placements in nutrition care, food provision, population health promotion and research. Students usually complete 6-8 unique placements, ensuring a well-rounded experience.
Tailored Experience: You will have a unique placement schedule that considers the your interests and career goals.
Mandatory Education Sessions: Monthly education sessions are provided to enhance your learning, prepare you for placements and entry level dietetic practice.
Canadian Dietetic Registration Exam (CDRE): Successful completion of our practicum-based programs (MScFN and DDEPT) is a key eligibility requirement to register for the CDRE.
Navigating your Practicum Journey
Your Practicum Schedule
You will be assigned to a Dietetic Education Coordinator (DEC), who will coordinate your practicum schedule. Your personalized schedule will be designed to:
- Provide the opportunity to develop the skills needed to achieve the Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice (ICDEP). The ICDEP are the focus of the Canadian Dietetic Registration Exam (CDRE).
- Balance your career aspirations with the realities of placement planning
Access to reliable transportation is essential. You can expect to travel to different communities and regions to complete some placements.
The Practicum Structure:
Each student completes 40 practicum weeks, which includes:
|
|
MScFN |
DDEPT |
|
Nutrition Care: Possible settings include hospitals, long-term care, primary care, and diabetes. |
16 weeks minimum |
16 weeks minimum |
|
Food Provision: Possible settings include food service departments in hospitals, long-term care, and others. |
6 weeks minimum |
6 weeks minimum |
|
Population Health Promotion: Possible settings include public health, community health centres, government, non-profit organizations and private practice. |
6 weeks minimum |
6 weeks minimum |
|
Research: Supervised by Faculty of Health Sciences faculty. |
8-10 weeks |
Not Applicable |
|
Practice-Based Project: Supervised by preceptors in the field or health sciences faculty. |
Not Applicable |
4 weeks minimum |
|
Flex Weeks: Can be applied to areas of interest. |
8 weeks maximum |
8 weeks maximum |
Placement Regions
When you apply to a practicum-based program within the Faculty of Health Sciences, you will get to rank your top three placement regions in Ontario. A placement region will be your home base for the duration of your practicum.
DDEPT: You will be offered a placement region at the time of admission.
MScFN: You will be offered a placement region during your first year of the MScFN program. While choices will be taken into consideration, we cannot guarantee you will be offered your preferred region. In the case of high-demand for specific regions, an additional application process may take place during semester 1 of your MScFN-Practicum-based program.
Practicum Responsibilities:
Success in the program requires proactive engagement. This includes following the Faculty of Health Sciences’ and placement organization’s policies, attending mandatory education and orientation sessions and completing documentation for each placement.
To satisfy the requirements mandated by our placement partners, you will need to meet several health and non-health requirements, including:
- Immunizations, including COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are required
- Police vulnerable sector screening
- N95 Mask fit testing
- Health and Safety Modules
In this program, you must have access to reliable transportation to get to placements, including places where public transit may not be available. You will be expected to manage your own travel arrangements to placement sites at your own cost once the practicum starts and be able to travel independently throughout the practicum. This is something which applicants to our dietetic practicum-based programs should prepare for in advance.
