Admission & Completion Requirements

For admission:

• Graduate Degree Requirement (Two Options)
  • Option 1: Completion of a Graduate Degree by the first day of the internship program.
  • Option 2: Graduate degree in progress
    • Must submit proof of enrollment in graduate degree program with application materials.
    • Students must submit a coursework plan and agreement to complete remaining coursework during the dietetic internship or within 5.5 months after completing the competency and supervised practice hour requirements of the internship (i.e., students must complete their graduate degree within 5.5 months following the internship graduation) with application materials.
    • If completing master’s degree coursework during internship program, coursework shall be asynchronous or otherwise able to be scheduled around the internship schedule (i.e., interns must be available to attend complete supervised practice hours at internship rotation sites Monday-Friday).

• An original verification statement or “declaration of intent to complete degree” must be provided by the didactic program director prior to admission to the program. If the date on the DPD Verification Statement is more than 5 years prior to the start date of the internship, the applicant must take or have taken 9 credits in upper-division or graduate level dietetics-related coursework within the last 5 years at a university with an approved DPD or coordinated program. At least one course in medical nutrition therapy is required.

• Prior learning, including coursework and/or experience, is not assessed for credit toward program requirements.

• A G.P.A. of at least 2.7 in DPD professional courses is mandatory.

• The program conducts video interviews with its top candidates prior to the matching deadline.

• Foreign students should contact the program for eligibility requirements.

Once selected:

• Interns must pass a physical exam and background check prior to starting the program. This service is provided by the hospital, free of charge, but will not be reimbursed to the intern if services are provided elsewhere.

• Interns must have vaccinations or blood titers for Mumps, Rubeola, Rubella, Varicella, Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap), Hepatitis B, COVID-19 and boosters, and Influenza (or declination), as well as a 2-step tuberculin skin test. These immunizations and titers are provided by the hospital, if needed, free of charge, but will not be reimbursed to the intern if services are provided elsewhere.

• Drug screening is required for participation in some rotations. The intern is responsible for costs associated with drug screening.

• The student must be ServSafe certified or equivalent during the length of the program.

For completion:

• The intern must successfully complete all planned supervised practice components, and assignments and graduate degree (if in progress) within 16.5 months.
• The intern must receive written performance appraisals that reflect at least the level of "meets standard" in all core competencies.