������ֲ�

Program Overview

This program is offered in-person.

The Nutrition and Dietetics internship program participates in , the Dietetic Inclusive Centralized Application System. Application deadline for WMU, DICAS, and D&D Digital is Wednesday, February 15, 2024. Current WMU seniors may be eligible for the pre-selection process.

• WMU's Dietetic Internship is a post-baccalaureate program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). ACEND is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' accrediting agency for education programs. Recognized by the United States Department of Education, ACEND assures the quality of nutrition and dietetics education programs for students and the public. 
• WMU accepts up to 10 interns each Spring. During the program, interns will complete a series of experiences that will enable them to enter the work force with at least entry-level competence in dietetics. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration's credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.
• WMU’s dietetic internship provides well-rounded supervised practice experiences in clinical and long-term care, community nutrition, food service management, wellness, and school food/nutrition.  The program's concentration area is in sustainable food systems. 
• Individualized learning opportunities are also provided through independent projects and an elective two-week rotation.
• Graduate courses start in Summer II. The internship practicum begins in late August and finishes in late May of the following year. The remaining graduate courses must be taken and can be completed within 18-24 months of starting the master's degree. These courses can be taken online and can be taken anywhere there is internet access.
• Upon completion of the internship, interns will have earned 18 hours of graduate credit toward the completion of a Master's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics as shown below.

Application Process PRE-SELECTION

Why the Dietetics Internship Program at ������ֲ�

• Program completion rate of 100% over five years
• Average pass rate of 95.7% on Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam within one year of first attempt (2017-2021) 
• 80% of graduates employed in dietetics or related field within 12 months of graduation
• Graduate satisfaction rating of 4.4/5 of “met expectations" or "satisfied with match” (2017-2021) 

Note: other program outcome data is available per request.

 

Mission, goals and philosophy

The mission of the ������ֲ� Dietetic Internship Program is to prepare self-directed entry-level nutrition professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to practice as competent registered dietitian nutritionists in diverse and changing health care, community, and food service environments. 

WMU DI program goals are that upon successful completion of the ������ֲ� dietetic internship program, graduates:

1. Are competent for entry-level practice as registered dietitian nutritionists in all core performance areas; 
2. meet employment needs and opportunities in dietetics, nutrition, health, and food in Michigan and beyond.

The WMU Dietetic Internship Program seeks to: help students build on the knowledge already gained in meeting the academic requirements of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, provide opportunities for the application of that knowledge in a variety of settings, and develop the clinical and management skills essential for quality dietetics practice. The program includes both supervised practice and didactic opportunities in clinical nutrition (acute care and long-term and-community care), community nutrition, food service management, wellness, and school food and nutrition. A one-to-one preceptor-student ratio enables interns to build skills and achieve core competencies for the RDN required by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). 

WMU’s internship provides a concentration in Sustainable Food Systems. This is integrated into the current core curriculum where possible.  More information on this is located later in this manual. 

Program objectives

The WMU Dietetic Internship Program objectives are:

• At least 80% of the interns complete program requirements within 16.5 month (150% of planned program length) (DIonly).
• Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80% are employed in nutrition and dietetics orrelated fields within 12 months of graduation
• At least 80% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionist within 12 months of program completion
• The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of the first attempt on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
• At least 90% of 1st employers following program completion will rate graduates competent or better in professional areas measured (3 out of 5).
• ����&�Բ�����;���𲹲���&�Բ�����;90%&�Բ�����;�Ǵ�&�Բ�����;�����ܳ��Ծ�&�Բ�����;(�ٳ�Dz���&�Բ�����;�ɳ��&�Բ�����;��������ܲ��ٱ��&�Բ�����;&����;&�Բ�����;1&�Բ�����;��𲹰�&�Բ�����;������ǰ�&�Բ�����;�ٴ�&�Բ�����;���ܰ������)&�Բ�����;�ɾ�����&�Բ�����;�����ٱ�&�Բ�����;�²ѱ�’s&�Բ�����;�����������ٲ�&�Բ�����;�ٴ�&�Բ�����;������&�Բ�����;�ҴDz���&�Բ�����;1&�Բ�����;&����;&�Բ�����;3&�Բ�����;�dzܳ�&�Բ�����;�Ǵ�&�Բ�����;5.
• At least 80% of recent graduates (< 1 month post completion) will rate WMU’s program as having atleast “met expectations, am satisfied with the match” (>4 of 5)
• Of those who found employment within 12 months of graduation, > 60% will be employed in Michigan
• At least 90% of alumni (those who graduated > 1 year prior to survey) will rate WMU’s ability to meet Goal 2 as > 3 out of 5.

**Program outcomes data available upon request

Academic credit is earned during the internship. Graduate classes:

Summer II

FCS 6010 Basic Research Methods and Design, three credit hours

Fall semester

FCS 6140 Nutrient Metabolism I, three credit hours
FCS 6230 Practicum (Internship), three credit hours

Spring semester

FCS 6150 Nutrient Metabolism II, three credit hours
FCS 6230 Practicum (internship), three credit hours

Summer I

FCS 6900, Seminar in FCS, three credit hours

Those who complete the internship and above 18 graduate credits have an additional five years to complete the master’s.  However, they must take and pass the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist before January 1, 2024 if they have not yet earned their master’s by then. After January 1, 2024, students will be required to complete the master’s degree in order to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. This can be done at ������ֲ�. 

120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6695
(800) 877-1600 (ext. 5400)

Handbook

• Handbook for dietetic internship 2022-2023

Questions? Please contact:

Meghan Wilkinson, MS, RDN, CNSC
Dietetic Internship Program Coordinator