M.S. in Clinical Nutrition with Dietetic Internship

Mission Statement

The mission of the Immaculata Dietetic Internship, as part of the MS+DI program, is to prepare interns to meet the standards of performance for entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists; to promote a spirit of leadership and participation in service to the profession of dietetics and to the community; to encourage them to engage in lifelong learning; and with an emphasis on Cultural Competence and Diversity in Dietetics Practice, to empower them to assume useful and meaningful roles in a diverse world.

The mission of the DI is compatible with the mission of the university in encouraging lifelong learning and service. It is compatible with that of the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science in promoting a spirit of professional leadership.

Program outcomes data are available upon request.

Goals and Objectives

Goal #1: The program graduate will be competent for entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist practice.

• Objective 1a: The program’s first attempt pass rate on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80 percent.
• Objective 1b: The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration examination within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80 percent.
• Objective 1c: 93 percent of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
• Objective 1d: 93 percent of program graduates will obtain a position in the dietetics profession within one year after completion of the internship.
• Objective 1e: 80 percent of program student’s complete internship program and graduate degree requirements within 36 months (150% of the program’s projected length of 24 months).
• Objective 1f: 80 percent of all program graduates’ employers will rank the level of preparation for entry-level practice as satisfactory or above.

Goal #2: The program graduate will promote the spirit of service and continued learning.

• Objective 2a: 20 percent of program graduates will actively participate in a professional organization within one year from program completion.
• Objective 2b: 50 percent of program graduates who do not already possess an advanced degree, will complete Immaculata’s Master’s Degree program within five years after the dietetic internship program completion.
• Objective 2c: 80 percent of program graduates will response “yes” or “yes, but” to feeling better prepared to lived and work in a culturally diverse environment on the annual Post-Dietetic Internship Alumni Survey.

The practice component of the internship is designed to respond to changes in the evolving profession of dietetics, to lead students to become translators of the theories and content of nutrition science to the public and other professionals, and to provide students with the opportunity to develop strong, appropriate entry-level dietetic performance skills through 1,008 hours of supervised practice in clinical dietetics, foodservice management, and community nutrition. The Internship begins in late August and can only be completed full-time.

Following the successful completion of the supervised practice portion of the internship and all graduate courses for the master’s degree, interns will receive verification statements, and their names will be submitted to the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) for eligibility for the RDN registration examination.

The Dietetic Internship is currently granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 800-877-1600, ext. 5400, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.

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 here.

Application Requirements

• Completion or anticipated completion of an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics
• Application and acceptance or pending acceptance to the College of Graduate Studies
• Completion of the Dietetic Internship application via DICAS
• Experience (paid or volunteer) in a foodservice or clinical setting
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall and 3.2 in DPD (on a 4.0 scale)

Suggested Achievements for Application

• 500-plus hours of experience (paid or volunteer) in clinical, foodservice and/or community nutrition setting
• 50+ hours shadowing a clinical or out-patient registered dietitian nutritionist
• Graduate coursework with excellent grades (A or A-)
• Fluency in a foreign language or American sign language

Selection is based on:

• Scholastic achievement
• Work experience
• Recommendations
• Leadership ability
• Written communication skills
• Interview

A selection committee reviews applications and interviews candidates to make the final selections.

Immaculata participates in the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System. Applicants must submit their application via the DICAS portal. Information on GRE scores is not required and is not considered in Immaculata’s intern selection process. Completing the section on Awards, Experience, and Volunteer Activities is not required, but information entered will be used in evaluating applicants.

All applicants to Immaculata University’s M.S.+DI combined program must submit their application via DICAS. The fee is $50 for the first application + $25 for each additional application. The application must be completed by February 1, 2025. Interviews will be conducted in February, and accepted applicants will be notified on or before March 1, 2025. Applicants must notify IU if the spot is accepted on or before March 15, 2025.

The resume and personal statement of candidates who are accepted will be provided to their clinical and foodservice preceptors.

Graduate school admission will be determined through DICAS application materials for M.S.+DI program candidates except early admission IU students. Candidates applying through DICAS do NOT need to submit an Immaculata College of Graduate Studies application separately.

ROTATION DESCRIPTIONS

Clinical (66 days)

During the clinical rotation, interns progress from screening and assessing patients to providing medical nutrition therapy to patients with complex medical conditions. Interns function as members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. The rotation culminates in staff relief when the intern performs as an entry-level dietitian. Major projects include completion of two case studies. The clinical rotation is completed in acute care hospitals or medical centers and includes at least two days of outpatient and four days of clinical pediatrics.

Foodservice (35 days)

The foodservice rotation provides experience in all aspects of foodservice operations and management. The interns participate in all foodservice sub-systems including procurement, production, distribution, service, and sanitation. Interns function as members of the management team through their involvement in employee training programs, human resource functions, quality control and customer satisfaction. Major projects include the development and implementation of a product, program or service plan and the completion of a QI project.

Community (24 days)

The community rotation provides exposure to the role of the dietitian in providing nutrition education, medical nutrition therapy, and management in non-acute care settings. The community rotation includes three six-day rotations based on the intern’s area of community nutrition interest and based on location and placement availability. Common placements include long-term care, retail, community medicine, food insecurity, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clinics and school districts. The final six days are at a setting (with the approval of the internship director) of the intern’s choice.

Interns are usually assigned to one facility for both the clinical and food service rotations. However, occasionally an intern may complete these rotations at different facilities. The following hospitals have been used as supervised practice facilities within the past few years. The sites may change yearly.

Clinical and Foodservice Facilities

• Chester County Hospital
• Cooper Hospital University Medical Center
• Crozer-Chester Medical Center
• Lancaster General Hospital
• Lower Bucks Hospital
• Mercy Philadelphia Hospital
• Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center
• Pennsylvania Hospital
• Phoenixville Hospital
• The Reading Hospital and Medical Center
• Riddle Memorial Hospital
• Temple University Health System
• Veterans Administration Medical Center

Community Rotations

• School districts
• Long-term care facilities
• Retail stores
• Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Clinics
• Intern’s choice

Internship Fee

The internship fee for the fall, spring and full summer semesters is $260 per semester.

Tuition

Tuition is $710 per credit. Check with the College of Graduate Studies for tuition and fee updates.

Other Costs

• Background checks are required for all interns. Cost is approximately $50 to $80.
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics student membership is $58.
• The cost for personal medical insurance will vary.
• Costs for housing may vary from $400 to $1000 per month.
• Costs for transportation, parking, meals, physical examinations, lab coats, etc. will vary according to facility.

Financial Aid and Scholarship

Students in the program are eligible for federal student aid. Please refer to Graduate Financial Aid for detailed information. You may also apply in the spring semester for the Judith Debnam Breen Scholarship of $1200 per year. The selected student must maintain a 3.5 or higher GPA.

Please contact the program director for scholarship criteria and how to apply.