Dietetic Internship Certificate

Type of Program

The Russell Sage College School of Health Sciences provides a Dietetic Internship (DI) for students who have successfully completed an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) didactic program in dietetics (DPD) and a master's degree.  Successful candidates for the program qualify to take the registration examination for dietitians to earn Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist (RDN) status. The DI offers two program formats, an on-campus program and a distance/online program.  Classes begin in May of each year, and the experience is typically completed in May of the following year.

Philosophy

Dietetics is a profession undergoing many changes because of the expanding health care industry, emergence of the obesity epidemic, a new era of nutritional genetics, and reimbursement for medical nutrition therapy (MNT). The Dietetic Internship at Russell Sage College prepares nutrition students for the future. In this program, students are exposed to the variety and diversity of dietetic practice through planned experiences in multiple settings.  Drawing upon a variety of resources and professionals, students work with RDs/RDNs in traditional hospital practice, long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics, government food management programs, and other settings.

With an understanding that learning has theoretical underpinnings, the program also requires students to concurrently complete five graduate classes for 24 credits. Students have access to the Albany Medical College library and Russell Sage College library, periodicals and databases, computers and software programs, seminars, and visiting lecturers for further academic development. Thus, the diversity of planned experiences and locations combined with the academic enrichment will serve to position the graduate for a variety of career choices as well as for beginning their graduate education.

Program Mission

Prepare entry-level RDNs who are effective communicators of evidence-based nutrition content in all areas of practice.

Program Goals

1. Program graduates will be competent in a variety of entry-level positions in the field of dietetics.
2. Program graduates will accurately and effectively communicate evidence-based nutrition content in a variety of settings.

ACEND Accreditation Status

Russell Sage College's Dietetic Internship is currently granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).  The Dietetic Internship at the Russell Sage College School of Health Sciences is currently accredited through June 2029. The program may accept up to 24 interns per class in the on-site option and up to 6 interns in the distance.

ACEND is the only accrediting agency for dietetics education recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE).  The address and telephone number of ACEND are: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL. 60606-6995, 312-899-4876.  Russell Sage College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and is chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York.

Program Format

The Dietetic Internship integrates five graduate courses with more than 1,000 hours of supervised practice experience in a variety of settings in the Capital District of New York State.  We have additional options for placements in the Saratoga/Glens Falls and Western Massachusetts areas.  The experience component includes orientation and class days, 10 weeks for clinical, 6 weeks for food service management, and five weeks for community nutrition.

Full Time: Students attend the supervised practice five days per week for a minimum of 40 hours per week in the field. Two graduate courses are taken each during the fall and spring terms. The internship director is available for advisement about graduate coursework.

Part Time: The internship may be completed on a part-time basis. Part-time participants complete a minimum of 24 hours of supervised practice per week plus two graduate courses each during the fall and spring semester. The part-time schedule takes the same length of time as the full-time schedule to complete all requirements. The DI director works with each part-time intern to arrange the practical experience schedule.

Practicum Course Waiver for Professional Learning Experiences

The Russell Sage College School of Health Sciences Dietetic Internship program participates in the "Assessment of Prior Learning" recognized by ACEND.  Dietetic interns may apply for credit towards supervised practice hours gained from a paid full-time position of at least six months after successful completion of a ACEND-accredited didactic program in dietetics (DPD).

Program Expectations

• Food and Wellness Management (one semester- Fall or Spring)
• Clinical Nutrition (one semester- Fall or Spring)
• Community Nutrition (Summer Semester)

Successful completion of the supervised practice experiences includes the ability to demonstrate entry-level competence in each of the areas of practice. Students are evaluated by facility preceptors as well as the DI director. Tools utilized to evaluate entry-level competencies include, but are not limited to: assignments, presentations, quizzes, attendance and participation in orientation peer mentorship and class days, observation during supervised practice experiences, and a final exam. The internship director reserves the right to have students repeat rotations and/or assignments where objectives and competencies have not been met.

The fourth component is the successful completion of five graduate courses, which are integrated with the practical experience, with a“B” grade or better (GPA 3.04 or above on a 4.0 scale).

The final component is the successful completion of a comprehensive online examination, which simulates the registration examination, with a minimum grade of 75 percent correct.

All five components must be successfully completed to receive a verification statement and qualify for the registration examination. For additional details on program expectations, please click here.

Admission Requirements

Students must meet Dietetic Internship requirements and, if appropriate, the requirements for matriculation into Russell Sage College.

Requirements are:

• A baccalaureate degree.
• Completion of an ACEND didactic program in dietetics (DPD) with a verification statement form signed by the undergraduate DPD program director.
• Overall GPA of 3.0.
• Recency of education: Additional coursework in dietetics or a related area is required to update a degree which was completed four or more years prior to applying to the Dietetic Internship. A minimum of three courses, equivalent to the following Russell Sage College nutrition science courses NTR 402, NTR 404, and NTR 417, are required for degrees completed four or more years prior to completing this application.
• Factors considered for admission are recommendation letters, relevant work and/or volunteer experience, extracurricular activities and letter of application. Applicants are considered on the basis of qualifications, without regard to race, color, creed, sex, or national origin.

Application Process

1. RSC participates in the Fall and Spring DICAS Application cycles.
2. Apply electronically via the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Service (DICAS).
3. Complete the following to be considered:
   1. Application Release form
   2. A check for $40.00 payable to Russell Sage College.  This fee is waived for current Russell Sage College students.
   3. Distance Track only:  RSC Dietetic Internship Distance Track Preceptor sign-up form (to be submitted with DICAS application or mailed with check).

Program Tuition and Fees

In addition to tuition for 24 graduate credits, a car and valid driver’s license are required as travel to facilities is necessary. Students have housing, board and transportation expenses, parking fees, AND affiliate and district membership fees, and professional liability and health insurance fees. Professional dress clothes, lab coat, reference books, materials, and supplies for graduate courses are also necessary for the planned experiences.