ADA Dietetic Internship Program

Complete your dietetic internship in one year while earning 18 graduate credits. Stay for two more semesters after you have completed your dietetic internship, and earn your M.S. in Food and Nutrition!

For more information, contact the dietetic internship program director and the graduate program coordinator:

Stephanie Taylor-Davis, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.N.
Phone: 724-357-4440
E-mail: stdavis@iup.edu

Note: All dietetic internship applicant inquiries between January 15 and May 15, 2011, should use the e-mail addressiupfdnt-dieteticinternship@iup.edu.

Note: The M.S. in Food and Nutrition program at IUP is not a route to become a registered dietitian.

If you already have a bachelor’s degree from a program accredited or approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), then the IUP dietetic internship provides the opportunity for you to fulfill the next step toward becoming a registered dietitian. Visit the American Dietetic Association website to learn more about how to become a registered dietitian to include the educational and professional requirements (completing a bachelor’s degree from accredited program, completing supervised practice experience through an accredited program, passing the national registration examination, and continuing professional education to maintain registration).

Mission Statement

The mission of the IUP dietetic internship is to prepare individuals for entry-level dietetic practice by providing quality opportunities to advance food and nutrition knowledge and practice skills in accordance with the requirements established by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education.

Fulfillment of this mission will support the vision of the IUP dietetic internship, whereby our program graduates are committed to becoming highly skilled, lifelong learners who meet or exceed professional competencies. 

The philosophy of the Department of Food and Nutrition’s dietetic internship is based on IUP’s commitment to higher education and our vision of the characteristics of the professional of the future. The professional of the future will shape the food choices and impact the nutritional status of the public. The professional of the future will need to exhibit:

To prepare the professional for the future, the dietetic internship provides students with practice skills in clinical nutrition, management (foodservice and community), nutrition education, and nutrition intervention. The IUP dietetic internship is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE; cade@eatright.org; phone 312-899-0040 or 800-877-1600, ext. 5400) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000 Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995, July 1998, with continued accreditation confirmed in December 2003.

Goals and Objectives of the Program

Program Goal 1: Recruit, retain, and graduate individuals who are prepared to become competent entry-level practitioners in dietetics.

• Ninety percent of full-time students who enroll in the dietetic internship program will complete all program requirements within 150 percent of the time planned for completion (150% = 18 months).
• Over a five-year period:
  • 70 percent of graduates who seek employment in dietetics will be employed within three months of program completion.
  • 80 percent of dietetic internship graduates will successfully complete the registration examination on the first try.
  • 70 percent of dietetic internship graduates who participate in the exit interview survey will rate their preparation as “good” or “excellent” (target score minimum=4.0) for the student competencies/learning outcome areas for dietetic internship programs.
  • 70 percent of employed dietetic internship graduates who respond to the alumni survey will “agree” or “strongly agree” that the program prepared them adequately to perform as an entry-level dietitian.
  • 70 percent of employers who respond will rate graduates as “satisfactory” or “more than satisfactory” in competencies/learning outcome areas for dietetic internship programs.

Program Goal 2: Promote a commitment to the profession of dietetics, professional standards, and lifelong learning.

• Over a five-year period:
  • 70 percent of dietetic internship graduates who participate in the exit interview survey will indicate the program was “satisfactory” or “more than satisfactory” with respect to encouraging professionalism.
  • 70 percent of dietetic internship graduates (collected via alumni survey or DFN M.S. completion records) will complete a graduate degree in nutrition or a related field within three years.
  • 70 percent of dietetic internship graduates who respond to the alumni survey will pursue additional certifications, be active in professional associations, or be active in legislative activities.
  • The dietetic internship program will host (or cosponsor) two continuing education activities for preceptors and dietetic professionals.

Concentration of the IUP Dietetic Internship: Intervention and Community Education (ICE)

The IUP dietetic internship offers a concentration in Intervention and Community Education. All interns meet the required ICE competencies by completing enrollments in the coursework and in the Nutrition Education and Nutrition Intervention rotations. The competencies that this concentration will help interns meet are to:

Features of the Program

• A dietetic internship with a concentration in Intervention and Community Education
• An opportunity to complete both ADA experiential requirements while earning graduate credits, and the opportunity to subsequently complete a Master of Science degree in Nutrition
• Access to the IUP Libraries, with 770,000 book volumes, 100,000 bound periodicals, 1.7 million items of microforms, 3,900 periodic subscriptions, 35,000 media holdings, and in excess of 24,000 volumes of government publication. IUP Libraries are accessible through an online catalog, and online searching is available.
• IUP campus computer laboratories with the latest versions of Microsoft Office, fiber-optic network links to the Internet, nutrient analysis, and statistical analysis programs
• Applied Research Laboratory providing statistical support for graduate student research
• As IUP graduate students, dietetic interns may be eligible for financial aid and/or deferment of existing student loans. Visit the IUP Office of Financial Aid for more information.
• The potential for a graduate assistantship after dietetic internship completion to support the second year of graduate study through a partial/full tuition waiver and stipend
• Located in a semi-rural community within commuting distance of Pittsburgh

Internship Practice Experiences

Our program features four supervised practice experiences of thirty to thirty-five hours per week scheduled over four ten-week rotations for a minimum of 1,200 hours. The student will enroll in eight credits of graduate study (Dietetic Practice I) prior to supervised practice; six to nine credits of graduate internship, of which six can be applied to the Master of Science (M.S.) degree; and four credits of Dietetic Practice II at the completion of supervised practice. The student will earn 18 graduate credits that can be applied to the M.S. degree. The program begins during IUP’s Summer Session II (July) and is completed at the end of Summer Session I (June) the following year, allowing students to be eligible to take the ADA registration examination approximately six weeks following verification of program completion. The remaining M.S. degree requirements (approximately 18 credits) can be completed during a second year of graduate study.

The four supervised practice rotations are:

• Nutrition Intervention

  Individual nutrition counseling practice in programs whose primary focus is wellness, cardiac rehabilitation, and private practice. Needs assessment and practice skills are observed and developed in a variety of agencies, such as the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

• Nutrition Education

  Instructional design, implementation, and evaluation will be observed and practiced in a variety of agencies, schools, and the regional dairy council. Emphasis is on the learning paradigm and is student-, patient-, and client-centered.

• Clinical Nutrition

  Practice of nutrition assessment and implementation of clinical care is included at both acute and extended care facilities.

• Management: Food Service Systems

  Management skills are developed in both acute and extended care facilities and school feeding programs. Included are opportunities to participate in quality assurance and cost control functions.

Internship Schedule (Full-Time, Approximate)

The IUP dietetic internship is completed in twelve months (full-time enrollment); however, one or two additional semesters are usually necessary to complete the M.S. degree requirements.

Enrollment in the internship on a part-time basis is possible under special circumstances. Contact the program director for more information about how to apply for admission as a part-time intern and to obtain a curriculum plan to complete the internship requirements on a part-time basis (24 months completion time).

*In addition to completion of the supervised practice experience/rotation hours, dietetic internship meetings, coursework, an RD exam review course, and attendance at DESSG (Western Pennsylvania Dietetic Education Seminar Study Group) educational seminars, engagement in continuing education contributes to updating and expanding the intern knowledge base. Interns are required to complete professional development hours (15 total) based on their personal learning plan. A log is completed and submitted based on individualized professional goals established by the intern after self-assessment. The goals and the log are submitted to the dietetic internship director at the end of the program.

†There are ten (approximately) business days of vacation built into Block 1: Rotation 2 (Phase II) for the holidays.

Program Costs

1. Dietetic internship application fee: $40
2. Fees

There are two fees associated with the program: dietetic internship fees and graduate tuition fees. Dietetic internship fees are payable to “Nutrition Center”; graduate tuition fees are payable to “Indiana University of Pennsylvania.” Students will be billed for graduate tuition fees by the Accounts Receivable Department of IUP. The Office of the Bursar provides information about IUP’s Refund Policy.

All payments are due on the date set. A $10 per business day late fee will be assessed if deadlines are not met.

*For financial aid purposes, a full-time graduate student is defined as any student taking nine or more credits per semester (Fall and Spring). During the summer, all students, graduate and undergraduate, are charged per credit regardless of the number of credits registered. Students who schedule less than nine credits are considered part-time and charged per credit ($370, in-state students; $593, out-of-state students). For financial aid purposes, graduate students must schedule at least 4.5 credits per semester.

†Activity, educational services/facilities, registration, and technology fees. Specific information on these fees may be found at the Bursar’s Office website. The health fee is optional — $30. Refer to the university’s Health Services website for specific details.

‡Information for 2011–2012 fees are not available at this time.

For international students only:

1. Evacuation and repatriation fee = $30 Fall; $40 for Spring/Summer
2. Immigration fee = $50 per semester
   
   Following the September 11, 2011, tragedies and the implementation of the U.S. Patriot Act, international offices across the USA are required to provide more detailed and frequent immigration information related to all international students, visitors, and their dependents. This fee is assessed each academic semester to all registered international students.

Additional expenses for the student enrolled in the dietetic internship:

• Expenses associated with a physical exam, including a tuberculin test (two-stage required), urinalysis, rubella titer, and Hepatitis B. The cost of the these tests varies. The student will assume the cost of these tests (approximately $300). Students may elect to have the physical performed by their own health care provider or at the Center for Health and Well-Being (the university health facility). A sample form plus instructions are included in the handbook.
• The institutions and agencies that accept interns for supervised practice experience require physical examination and other medical record clearances be maintained on file at IUP. To maintain security and confidentiality of these documents, student medical files are maintained by the Center for Health and Well-Being. The medical records fee is $15.
• All students must carry professional liability insurance—Healthcare Providers Service Organization. You may go directly to the website to apply. Cost of the insurance is $29.50 per year.
• The student will need access to a reliable automobile. The distance from Indiana to the experience site may vary from twenty to sixty miles, one way. Cost for operating the car can range from $2,500 to $3,000. The cost of car expenses is difficult to estimate due to the constant changing of gas prices.
• Clothing required for FDNT 601, Foodservice Management/Theory and Practicum: all-white t-shirts, khaki pants, black or white leather sneakers, white bib aprons, IUP polo shirt, and cap. The aprons, polo shirt, and cap will be purchased at the start of class.
• The IUP dietetic internship uniform costs $120 (three intern shirts and one hat). Payable in cash on the first day of the internship orientation.
• Cost of instructional materials development (photocopying, laminating, supplies, etc.) are extra.
• Housing costs will vary depending on type, location, etc. It is recommended that you begin looking for housing as soon as possible to be able to compare prices. Typical living expenses (residence hall) per semester are on average $1,336 per month (single occupancy). For costs of the various housing options, contact the Office of Housing and Residence Life. Off-campus housing will vary from these costs. Meal plans may also be purchased.
• The cost of textbooks, laboratory coats, and supplies averages $500.
• Students are expected to join the American Dietetic Association as an affiliate member at a cost of $50 per year.
• The National Restaurant Association ServSafe Certification Course will cost $150. This includes the textbook, registration fee, and the comprehensive exam. Upon submission of a current (within five years) certification certificate, this course requirement will be waived.
• Act 34 Request for Criminal Record Check, $10
• Act 151, Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, $10
• As of April 1, 2007, the State of Pennsylvania requires all persons who will be involved in classroom teaching, internships, clinical, and field experience be fingerprinted. This is called Act 114. The cost is $36. Information on the fingerprinting process can be obtained at the Applicant Fingerprint Registration website. You must go to the site to register for fingerprinting.
• Negative urine drug screen, which includes cannaboids, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine, amphetamines, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines within ten days of the first day of the affiliation experience (clinical rotation). Approximate cost: $50
• Other expenses may be required by participating agencies.

Supervised Practice Experiences and Agencies

Clinical Rotation

The clinical rotation is practiced at a variety of both acute and long-term care facilities. These sites include regional hospitals, community hospitals, and long-term care facilities. Students will be scheduled in advance for these sites by the faculty coordinator. Students will be given an individualized plan as to how the objectives will be accomplished for each site.

Facilities include Alle-Kiski Medical Center, Altoona Regional Health System, Armstrong Center for Medicine and Health, Butler Memorial Hospital, Cambria Care Center, the Communities at Indian Haven, Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, DuBois Area Regional Medical Center, Excela Health Latrobe Area Hospital, Excela Health Westmoreland Regional Hospital, Hillsdale Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Indiana Regional Medical Center, Laurel Crest Rehabilitation and Special Services Center, Ohio Valley General Hospital, Punxsutawney Area Hospital/Laurel Crest Manor, St. Andrew’s Village, UPMC Shadyside, and the Western Pennsylvania Hospital.

Management Rotation

The purpose of this rotation is to provide the intern with knowledge about: food production (including but not limited to procurement, food preparation, delivery systems); foodservice management; interpersonal communication skills (including but not limited to interviewing techniques, personnel evaluation, human resource management); food policies and procedures; program funding and budgeting; community-based program management; quality assurance; organizational evaluation; menu development and evaluation; food safety; and kitchen sanitation.

Sites include Armstrong School District, Butler Hospital, Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, DuBois Hospital, Homer-Center School District, Indiana Regional Medical Center, Pittsburgh Companies North, Regency Nursing Home, St. Andrew’s Village, and Somerset Area Agency on Agency.

Nutrition Education Rotation

Instructional design, including lesson content which embraces using a variety of active learning strategies, lesson presentation, and evaluation, will be observed and practiced. Emphasis is on enhancing oral communication skills while incorporating current instructional technology into providing food and nutrition education for a variety of target audiences. Students will:

1. teach IUP non-major introductory lecture and laboratory classes.
2. teach a target audience of their choice other than college students.
3. design an educational brochure/bulletin board for the adult consumer.
4. research and evaluate website/media as assigned.

A variety of community-based sites are used. In addition, interns gain college teaching experience by assisting faculty with FDNT undergraduate courses.

Nutrition Intervention Rotation

Individual and small group nutrition counseling practice will focus on wellness, perinatal care, weight management, cancer, and renal dialysis treatment. During this experience, the student will provide nutrition counseling services through Community Nutrition Services, private physician offices, and Indiana Regional Medical Center Community Service and Perinatal Education. These experiences are completed concurrently for the ten-week rotation, with the student devoting a specific number of hours each week in each facility. Thus, the student participates in the continuing care of diverse clientele. Each student will be the team leader for a service-related project focused on marketing, evaluation, and/or service delivery and will submit a comprehensive project report as a rotation requirement.

Sites include IUP Community Nutrition Service, private physician offices, YMCA, IUP Fitness Center, Diamond Pharmacy Supply, Indiana Regional Medical Center: Perinatal Counseling, OBGyn Care Center, UPMC Center Treatment Program, Dialysis Center, Indiana County Guidance Center, Center for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine, and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

Admissions (Early Decision, Computer Matching, and Post-Match application)

Admission Requirements:

The IUP dietetic internship only admits individuals who have completed Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) requirements (i.e., earned verification statement from a CADE-accredited undergraduate university) and who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree. DPD verification statements and undergraduate transcripts to confirm receipt of a bachelor’s degree are required to be submitted prior to beginning the internship program. Applicants who would like to be considered for part-time enrollment in the dietetic internship must declare this request as part of their application. Contact the program director (Stephanie Taylor-Davis, stdavis@iup.edu, 724-357-4440) for specific information about procedures for applying for admission as a part-time intern. All dietetic interns must also be admitted as graduate students through separate application to the IUP School of Graduate Studies and Research (see instructions and link below).

American Dietetic Association Computer Matching Application Instructions:

Early Decision (available to current IUP undergraduate seniors only, November deadline)

All current IUP undergraduate seniors may submit portfolio applications to the program director for early admission consideration. Specific application instructions are provided as part of the course: FDNT430 Professional Topics or may be obtained from the program director. Applicants are notified of the admission decision by mid-December.

Computer Matching (dietetic internshipCAS, February deadline)

Beginning in Spring 2011, the IUP dietetic internship program will receive applications via dietetic internshipCAS (Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System). dietetic internshipCAS can be accessed after December 8, 2010, for the Spring 2011 Match at the dietetic internshipCAS website. The online application must be completed for our program by February 15, 2011. [Note: The fee to use dietetic internshipCAS is $40 for the first application submitted and $20 for each additional application].

Step 1: Submit your application via dietetic internshipCAS by February 15, 2011.

Step 2: Only those applications that have paid the IUP Dietetic Internship fee will be reviewed. Pay the IUP Dietetic Internship Application Fee ($40) by February 15, 2011.

Step 3: All applicants must participate in computer matching. All applicants must register online, pay the $50 computer match fee by credit card, and enter their contact information and dietetic internship preferences by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on February 15, 2011.

Step 4: Admission to the dietetic internship is contingent upon being admitted to the IUP School of Graduate Studies and Research. We admit students to our dietetic internship that we will support for graduate school admission. You should initiate your application with the IUP Graduate School. This application should be finalized after you learn whether you are matched with the IUP dietetic internship program. You can submit this application electronically at Graduate School Admissions or mail to: School of Graduate Studies and Research, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Stright Hall, 210 S. Tenth Street, Indiana, PA 15705-1048. Application materials include: application for admission to IUP Graduate School, Graduate Record Exam (GRE), two academic letters of reference (your recommender can duplicate his or her internship letter for submission with the graduate application), an official transcript from all schools attended, and application fee ($40). The Graduate School application should be submitted no later than April 30, 2011, if you are matched with the IUP dietetic internship.

Additional Information: We reserve the right to ask you to participate in a telephone interview.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our dietetic internship, please feel free to contact us. We encourage you to visit our campus by calling 724-357-4440 to make arrangements prior to your visit.

Post-Match admissions process (begins after Computer Matching in April until all positions are filled) and instructions:

Thank you for your interest in the IUP dietetic internship program. Our one-year internship program, which runs from Tuesday, July 6, 2011, to Friday, June 29, 2012, includes diverse experiences at a variety of locations in the areas of community nutrition, food service management, clinical nutrition, nutrition education, and nutrition intervention. If you are admitted to the IUP dietetic internship, you must also apply to the IUP Graduate School, and so GRE scores will be an additional application requirement (it is okay if you have not yet taken the GRE). At the completion of the internship, 18 graduate credits will apply toward a master’s degree should you wish to pursue a M.S. degree in Nutrition at IUP. Completion of the remaining 18 credits required for the master’s degree is optional. Approximately 80 percent of our interns choose to complete the master’s degree. Because of its affiliation with an accredited university, interns are eligible for continuing financial aid and deferment of eligible student loans. Many students receive graduate assistantships to support their second year of graduate study. Graduates of our program have achieved an excellent pass rate on the registration examination.

We will review applications as soon as they are received and until our 2011–2012 dietetic internship class is full. Therefore, it is recommended that you submit your application materials as soon as possible. Completion and submission of a post-match application on dietetic internshipCAS is preferred. E-mail with attachments (.doc) sent to are also acceptable.

Only applications that have paid the application fee (use link below) will be considered.

For post-match consideration, the following materials need to be submitted either via dietetic internshipCAS or e-mail for an application to be reviewed:

• $40. Application fee payable online
• ADA-Supervised Practice Program application
• Three letters of recommendation (using ADA form)
• Goal Statement: Include your professional goals and objectives. The statement must include your interest areas, your strengths and weaknesses, why you are interested in the IUP program, and what you can contribute to the program.
• Resume
• “Intent to Complete” or “Verification of Completion of a Didactic Program in Dietetics”
• Official transcripts from all schools attended.
• GRE scores (if available—will be required later if not available now)

Applications may be submitted via dietetic internshipCAS (preferred) or as e-mail attachment (.doc or .pdf formats only) to iupfdnt-dieteticinternship@iup.edu. Applications can also be Express mailed to:

Stephanie Taylor-Davis, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.N.
Dietetic Internship Director
Department of Food and Nutrition
Ackerman Hall, Room 102
911 South Drive
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana, PA 15705

• Food and Nutrition Department
• Ackerman Hall, Room 102
  911 South Drive
  Indiana, PA 15705
• Phone: 724-357-4440
• Fax: 724-357-3007

• Office Hours
• Monday through Friday
• 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.