Dietetic Internship with Masters

Mission of the Dietetic Internship Program: To prepare dietetic professionals to serve the public through the promotion of optimal nutrition, health and well-being.

Program description
The combined dietetic internship/masters program is a two-year (minimum of 4 semesters), 36-semester hour program of supervised practice and didactic course work. The combined program is for students who have, at the time of entrance into the program, met two specific requirements: (1) completed the coursework required for a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Dietetic Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), and (2) received a Verification Statement making them eligible to apply to Dietetic Internship Programs. (For more information on the DPD requirements visit ( www.eatright.org/Public/7782_13280.cfm). The supervised practice component is a general internship with a general emphasis and is based on the Standards of Education and the Competency Statements for Supervised Practice established by CADE. At the completion of the degree, graduates receive a Master of Science in Health Sciences with a concentration in nutrition and also receive a Verification Statement that makes them eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians to become a Registered Dietitian (RD). The program has been granted initial accreditation by CADE. The accreditation is for 10 years (until 2011).

Goals

To prepare interns to become competent entry level practitioners
- Outcome measures:
  - > 80% of graduates from each class (academic year) will successfully pass the Registration Exam for Dietitians on the first attempt.
  - > 80% of graduates, over a five year period, will successfully pass the Registration Exam for Dietitians.
  - > 90% of employers will indicate that graduates are performing at entry-level competence
  - > 90 % of graduates who complete the 1-year survey will rate their preparation as adequate
  - 100% of interns will receive > 85% on evaluations from practice sites before receiving a verification statement
  - > 80% on interns will demonstrate a minimum of a 25% increase in scores from computerized exam (pre-test to post-test)
To develop critical thinking skills using principles of problem-based learning and portfolio development.
- Outcome measures
  - 100% of interns will receive > 85% on rubrics used to assess completeness and quality of the portfolio
  - > 90 % of interns will indicate on end-of-program evaluation that that they have meet all program learning outcomes and competencies
To promote life long learning and professional growth.
- Outcome measures:
  - 100% of graduates who complete the 1- year survey will indicate that the program encouraged professional growth and life-long learning
  - 100% of graduates who complete the 1- year survey will indicate participation in at least one professional education activity in accordance with their Professional Development Portfolio.
  - 100% of graduates who complete the 3-year survey will document participation in professional education activities in accordance with their Professional Development Portfolio.
  - > 50% of graduates who complete the 3-year survey will document participation in a leadership role in a professional organization, such as committee member, newsletter editor, elected officer.

Curriculum
The curriculum for the thesis/master's project option includes core health science courses, nutrition courses, and either a thesis or master's project. The curriculum for the professional practice option includes an elective, approved by the Faculty Advisor, and a portfolio in lieu of the research project.

Fall - Year 1
HHS 6000: Research Methods for the Health and Human Science Professions (3)
HHS 8000: Trends Affecting Health Policies, Practices, and Laws (3)
NUTR 6002: Supervised Practice I (3)
NUTR 6104: Advanced Normal Nutrition (3)
Total Credits: 12

Spring - Year 1
HHS 7000: Clinical Application of Statistical Methods (3)
NUTR 6101: Nutrition Research Methods (3)
NUTR 6102: Nutrition Intervention (3)
Total Credits: 9

Maymester/Summer - Year 1
NUTR 6003: Supervised Practice II (3)
NUTR 7995 or 7999: Master's Project/Thesis or Elective (3)
Total Credit: 6

Fall - Year 2
NUTR 6004: Supervised Practice III (3)
NUTR 7101: Nutrition Issues (3)
NUTR 7995 or 7999: Master's Project/Thesis or NUTR 7990: Portfolio Seminar (3)
Total Credit: 9

The didactic component of the combined program combines a strong content knowledge base with experience in the research process. The supervised practice component includes NUTR 6002, 6003 and 6004, which provide a minimum of 750 hours of practice experience in the areas of clinical nutrition (acute care, critical care, renal dialysis, and long-term care), food service systems, and community nutrition (senior centers, elementary school, health fairs, health clinic, Project Open Hand, out-patient diabetes center) and approximately 180 hours in an area of interest.

Expenses
The estimated costs of the program are:

Application Fee $50.00
Computer Matching Fee $50.00
ADA Membership (optional) $42.00 a year
Greater Atlanta Dietetic Association Membership (optional) $10 a year

Click here for information on Tuition and Fees

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available which cover tuition costs (not fees) and provide a semester stipend. Financial aid is also available.

Application Requirements
The selection of candidates for the Dietetic Internship/Masters Program is competitive. Applicants must meet the requirements established by CADE of ADA for Didactic Programs in Dietetics (DPD), have acceptable grade point averages and scores on admission tests, and show potential for academic development and professional leadership. Admission is based upon the following:

Verification statement from a Didactic Program in Dietetics or a declaration of intent to complete a DPD program
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all college-level course work
A minimum score of 1000 on the GRE (verbal and quantitative scores)
Three letters of recommendation

Application Forms and Process
The Director of the Dietetic Internship Director appoints a Selection Committee each year to review and rank applicants on the basis of their application packet. Interviews are not required but applicants may arrange an interview with the internship director.

An Open House is held in October and January of each year. Potential applicants have an opportunity to learn more about the program, meet and talk with current interns, tour Georgia State University, and meet some of the preceptors and faculty members. Information about the date, time, and location of the Open Houses will be placed on the website at the beginning of Fall semester.

This program participates in the computer matching process through the:
American Dietetic Association and D&D Digital Systems
Suite 301, 304 Main Street
Ames, IA 50010.
phone: (515) 292-0490
email: dnd@netins.net

The computer matching number for this program is 227.

Application packets and forms are available below. Applications for the program must be postmarked by the February deadline established by CADE. Your application packet must be complete and include all forms listed in the Application Forms section. All application information must be submitted in one envelope. Information should be word processed or typed. Click on each link in the Application Forms section to obtain instructions and the appropriate forms.

Required Application Materials:

There are two ways to apply to the Dietetic Internship Combined with the Masters Program. You may apply online or you may print/download the application materials. Please go to the College of Health and Human Sciences Graduate Admissions Page to either apply online or download application materials.

If you do not apply online, completed application packets should be mailed to:

Office of Academic Assistance
College of Health and Human Sciences
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3995
Atlanta GA 30302-3995

Notification of Appointment

D&D Digital Systems will notify you regarding computer-matching results. These results will be mailed to you before the appointment date in April. You must call the Division of Nutrition at 404.651.3085 to accept your appointment on the date established by CADE.

Comments from Students

“The combined Dietetic Internship/Master’s program well prepared me for a broad spectrum of clinical responsibilities. The Master's component gave me the added knowledge of research studies. I often use my research background to help develop outcome studies, which not only make my work more interesting and worthwhile, but also improve our value as dietitians. I can see first-hand the practicality of how the knowledge I gained from a graduate degree helped to better prepare me for the profession of dietetics.”

Kerry Mueller Newell, MS, RD, LD, Clinical Dietitian, Northside Hospital, Atlanta, GA, Combined Dietetic Internship/M.S. Program, 2002

“I highly recommend Georgia State University’s Combined Master’s/Internship program. I believe the combination of “classroom” and “hands on” education creates a unique and comprehensive learning experience that is anything but monotonous. The program provided a solid foundation from which to build my career and only now, after being a dietitian for over a year, do I realize and appreciate how well it prepared me for this profession.”

Ellen Steinberg, MS, RD, LD, AIDS Treatment Initiatives (ATI), Atlanta, GA, Combined Dietetic Internship/M.S. Program, 2003