Dietetic Internship Program and Graduate Certificate

• Dietetic interns leave the internship well-prepared to enter the field of dietetics and the 100% job placement reflects the caliber of our graduates. Program highlights include the following:
• The first entire semester focuses on clinical supervised practice experiences in extended care (3 weeks) and acute care (12 weeks).
• All Rotations (CT and some MA) are planned and organized by the Director, including all affiliation agreements and preceptor assignments.
• Literature Review project (with faculty advisement) based upon intern interests throughout both semesters with poster presentation.
• Interprofessional education (IPE) and simulation to fulfill ACEND competencies surrounding diabetes management and blood pressure as well as naso-gastric tube placement.
• 3–5-week optional Sports Nutrition rotation working 1:1 with NCAA athletes under CSSD preceptor guidance
• Intern-selected enrichment rotations in areas such as disordered eating, private practice, weight management, renal, oncology and more!
• Transfer of eighteen credits from the dietetic internship toward USJ’s online master’s degree, providing significant cost savings.
• Small faculty with individualized guidance and mentorship.
• Class Days on campus with expert speakers

Please see DI handbook for more information.

USJ Mission Statement 

The University of Saint Joseph, founded by the Sisters of Mercy in the Catholic tradition, provides a rigorous liberal arts and professional education for a diverse student population in an inclusive environment that encourages strong ethical values, personal integrity, and a sense of responsibility to the needs of society.

Nutrition and Public Health Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Nutrition and Public Health is to provide students with a broad foundation in their chosen area of study that focuses on improving the health and well-being of individuals, communities, and populations by addressing the diverse needs of a changing society.

Mission of the USJ Dietetic Internship

The mission of the University of Saint Joseph Dietetic Internship Program is to prepare dietetic interns to become competent entry-level registered dietitians. The program is composed of dietetic interns, university faculty, administrators, staff, and facility professionals, working in concert to accomplish this goal. The program aims to allow dietetic interns to discover and strive to achieve their full potential, both personally and professionally, and to learn to ethically serve individuals, communities, and society.

Program Specific Goals and Objectives:

Goal 1: Program graduates will successfully enter into the field of dietetics.

• Objective 1: At least 80% of interns will complete the program within 22.5 months (150% of program length).
• Objective 2: Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
• Objective 3: At least 80% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionist within 12 months of program completion*.
• Objective 4: The program’s one –year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.

Goal 2: Program graduates will successfully meet the employment requirements of the entry-level registered dietitian nutritionist.

• Objective 1: When the employers of USJ Dietetic Internship Graduates are surveyed, the mean rating that employers will give the program graduates in their employment will be ≥ 3 (on a 5-point Likert scale: 1 lowest rating, 5 highest rating) a “satisfactory’ rating on surveys.
• Objective 2:  When USJ dietetic internship alumni are surveyed, 80% or greater of respondents will rate their preparation for entry level employment as “agree” or “strongly agree”.

Outcomes data is available upon request by emailing [email protected].

Please see DI handbook for more information on mission, goals and objectives as well as clinical concentration.

Applicants will apply through DICAS (Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application Service) at this link: https://dicas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login by February 15.

1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and completion of an ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). DPD verification statements need to be provided as soon as available from the undergraduate institution. Intent to complete forms must be uploaded to DICAS application by DPD Director if Verification statement is not yet available.
2. Three letters of reference submitted to DICAS.
3. Personal statement
4. All transcripts uploaded to DICAS
5. Completion of Supplemental application and fee of $60 (located on DICAS platform).
6. Recency of education requirements: An applicant with a DPD Verification Statement more than 5 years old will be assessed by the DI admission team on an individual basis. The student may be required to retake a nutrition course to ensure knowledge is current in the field of nutrition and dietetics.
7. Students should have maintained a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 with a preferred minimum GPA of 3.0 in DPD Professional courses and a 2.8 in DPD science courses.
8. The Commission on Dietetic Registration mandates that a master’s degree must be completed prior to an applicant registering for the CDR exam to become a Registered Dietitian as of 01/01/2024. Applicants must have a master’s degree from a college or University recognized by the US Department of Education (USDE) or have a letter of intent from their graduate program director indicating expected completion of the master’s degree by August following completion of the DI in May. If the applicant does not possess a graduate degree and is not enrolled in a master’s program, they will be required to enroll in the USJ online Master’s Nutrition program with or without a concentration in Sports Nutrition at the time the intern accepts admittance to the USJ DI program. Applicants wishing to complete the DI only must be currently enrolled in the USJ master’s program, have a letter of intent to complete an outside approved graduate degree by August following the DI completion in May, or have a completed graduate degree at the time of acceptance.

Please see DI handbook for more information.

The Dietetic Internship with Nutrition, M.S. provides in-depth knowledge and skills in areas required to meet current health and wellness needs while allowing the students to enroll in the Master’s in Nutrition program and Dietetic Internship simultaneously.

This program is open to students with a bachelor’s from an accredited university who meet the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) requirements and have already been accepted into the USJ dietetic internship program. Accepted dietetic interns may simultaneously complete our online M.S. in Nutrition during the dietetic internship.

This would entail starting coursework the summer before the internship starts, taking one course during the fall and one or two courses during the spring semester of the internship and completing the degree during the next summer. If you already have a master’s level graduate degree, earning the dietetic internship verification does not require that you enroll in any classes other than those for the Dietetic Internship (NUTR550 and NUTR551). An intern would earn the DI Verification Statement once all aspects of the internship were successfully fulfilled and documentation of having earned a graduate degree conferred is provided.
Students who are accepted to the USJ dietetic internship automatically meet the requirements for admission to the USJ Masters in Nutrition and receive an acceptance letter. At this point, if you do not have a graduate degree or one in process, you will complete the dietetic internship and the M.S. together to meet CDR guidelines of having a graduate degree in order to sit for the CDR exam, effective January 1, 2024.

If you wish to enroll into the Dietetic Internship with Nutrition, MS option, as soon as you hear you are accepted to the USJ Dietetic Internship and confirm that USJ is your program choice, you will need to fill out the paperwork necessary to enroll in the MS in Nutrition courses. Classes for this option begin in May.
To inquire about the online M.S. Nutrition, please reach out to the Chair of Nutrition and Public Health and Director of Graduate Programs in Nutrition: Dr. Melissa Brown, RD, CSSD, CCD, LD at [email protected].

Please see DI handbook for more information.

It is the policy of the DI program not to provide credit toward program requirements based on prior learning. Competencies will not be assessed based on any prior learning or dietetics experiences.

*Fees are subject to change. Please see USJ.edu website for most current tuition information: https://www.usj.edu/admissions/tuition-financial-aid/ .

Please see DI handbook pages 14-15 for additional information.

USJ Dietetic interns can apply for federal financial aid via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov . Graduate students may qualify for up to $20,500.00 in a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan per academic year, if enrollment per semester is at least half-time (6 credits) and other federal eligibility requirements are met. For any questions on loan deferments and other monetary support, please contact [email protected].

Scholarship Information

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation is the largest provider of scholarships for nutrition and dietetics programs https://www.eatrightfoundation.org/foundation/apply-for-funding/scholarships.  Individual scholarships range in value from $500 to $25,000 each.

Values & Vision Scholarship

Students admitted for the fall 2026 semester may be awarded a Values & Vision scholarship of up to $2,000 annually for up to 2 consecutive years (up to $4,000 total). Scholarship is awarded based on a holistic review of application for admission. Recipients of this scholarship must remain enrolled in at least 6 credits and maintain satisfactory academic progress within their program.

• Students must take at least 6 credits per semester to receive the scholarship
• The scholarship does not include summer classes
• Students taking as few as one course prior to the fall 2026 semester will not receive the scholarship
• If the length of time it takes to complete the program goes beyond the planned program length, there will be no extension on the scholarship

Please see DI handbook for more information.

The program follows the university academic calendar with some exceptions which are noted on the course schedule. https://www.usj.edu/academics/registrar/academic-calendar/.

Semester Schedules including class day topics as well as Dietetic Intern Rotation Schedules will be posted on Blackboard. See DI Handbook for sample course schedules.

Please see DI handbook for more information.

See here for program curriculum.

The Verification Statements from both the DPD undergraduate program in dietetics and USJ DI as well as a degree conferred transcript for a completed master’s degree are necessary for eligibility to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) examination. These documents are uploaded to the Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) by the Director once all intern documents are submitted.

The DI Verification Statement to CDR may be delayed or withheld if a dietetic intern in the opinion of the DI Director, DI Instructors or facility supervised practicum preceptor(s) does not demonstrate entry level competence of all program requirements (including all financial obligations to the University of Saint Joseph).

Dietetic Internship Verification Statement Requirements (RE 8.2n):

• Documented Time and Attendance log verifying 1000 hours or more of supervised practice experience with a minimum of 700 hours in professional work settings. A maximum of 300 hours may be in alternative supervised experiences such as simulation, case studies and role playing.
• Completion and submission of all time and attendance sheets, competencies, projects, and assignments (all assignments must receive 80% or greater).
• Submission of all preceptor evaluations of intern, and intern site evaluations.
• Submission of all internship feedback
• Earned a minimum average of 3 “meets expectations” on all practicum evaluations.
• Degree conferred Graduate transcript

The program completion objective provides a benchmark that 80% of enrolled dietetic interns will complete the program within 22.5 months which is 150% of program length.  The maximum time to completion (Standard 8.2m) of the master’s degree with dietetic internship is six years from the date of matriculation.  If the student has been inactive for 3 major terms, USJ will administratively withdraw them and close their record unless they have contacted the registrar’s office and both the program director and registrar are aware they are still pursuing and are stepping out for an added semester. This is decided on an individual basis.

Please see DI handbook for more information.

The USJ Dietetic Internship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) with current term ending 12/31/27 and scheduled site visit Fall of 2026. To learn more about ACEND, please visit: ACEND

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190

Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995

1-800-877-1600 ext: 5400

Email: [email protected]

Please see DI handbook for more information.

“While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND’s considered opinion that the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics
licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND-accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state’s licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations needed to obtain a dietetics license. More information about state licensure and certification can be found at this link: State Licensure.”

Please see DI handbook for more information.

To request more information or schedule a visit, please contact Michelle MacKenzie, MS, RDN, CDN, Director at [email protected].

Please see DI handbook for more information.

https://www.usj.edu/dietetichandbook