https://alliedhealth.ouhsc.edu/Prospective-Students Parent Page: Prospective Students id: 35979 Active Page: Dietetic Internship id: 35989

The Dietetic Internship (DI) program provides a post-baccalaureate supervised practice experience designed to help candidates meet the competencies required for registration with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Completion of the program leads to a Verification Statement, which qualifies graduates to apply for the National Registration Exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

Our program offers two pathways to obtain the Verification Statement:

  • Standalone Dietetic Internship
    Designed for applicants who already hold (or will hold) a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) or Foreign Dietitian Education (FDE) Verification Statement and a graduate degree in any academic discipline at the time of admission.
  • Combined Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences with Dietetic Internship (MS/DI)
    Prospective students who do not possess a graduate degree may apply to the integrated Dietetic Internship and Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences pathway. 
     
    This integrated pathway combines the didactic MS coursework with the supervised practice experience of the Dietetic Internship in preparation to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). Students can apply with a DPD Verification Statement and must be accepted into both the MS and DI programs separately. See MS Program Page for more details on admission requirements. 
     
    The pathway begins each August and lasts 22 months. Upon graduation from the program, students are ready to take the national registration exam with recent experience in both the field and the classroom. 

How Long to Complete the Program?

6 Months

Median Salary

$65,990

Number of Rotations

4

Curriculum

The Dietetic Internship consists of a single 6 credit hours course that takes place over 6 months of supervised practice. There are four rotation modules (food service management, clinical, community, and elective):

  • Eight-week food service management rotation 
  • Eight-week community rotation (experiences in wellness, public schools, renal disease, WIC, outpatient counseling, weight management, etc.)
  • Eight-week clinical rotation
  • Four-week elective rotation (nutrition-focused outcome concentration)
  • The first three rotation modules can be completed in any order, based on site availability and Program Director discretion.  Each intern will complete the elective rotation module during the last 4 weeks of the internship program.

Combined Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences with Dietetic Internship (MS/DI)

The Integrated DI/MS curriculum starts with the MS core classes and supervised practice hours as the foundation and incorporates electives to fit the professional interests of the students. Internship hours will count for six hours of MS electives, streamlining the journey to graduation. Some rotation blocks may be part-time at 20 hours/week throughout a 16-week semester, while other semesters may allow for eight weeks of full-time classes and eight weeks of full-time rotations. While the selection of credit hours and elective classes are individualized, here is a general outline of what your curriculum could entail. 
 
1st Fall
Research Methods (3)
Biostatistics Methods 1 (3)
Non-Energy Nutrients (3)
 
1st Spring
Energy Nutrients (3)
Electives (5 credit hours total)
Rotation 1 (20 hrs/wk)
 
1st Summer
Rotation 2 (40 hours/wk)
 
2nd Fall
Seminar (1)
Electives (2-5 credit hours total)
Thesis (3, if applicable)
Rotation 3 (20 or 40 hrs/wk)
 
2nd Spring
Elective (3)
Thesis or Applied Project (3)
Rotation, Elective (20 hrs/wk x8 weeks)

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the Dietetic Internship program, applicants must have met the following requirements: 

  • Complete a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university prior to enrollment in the program
  • Provide an original, signed verification statement or declaration of intent to complete degree. If verification statement is older than five years, applicants must show evidence of continuing education and competence in dietetics-related domain knowledge 
  • Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of academic work taken including undergraduate and graduate hours and a minimum 3.0 GPA in DICAS-calculated DPD science coursework. Note that the university does not recognize academic forgiveness nor reprieve policies. All attempts of a course are included in the calculation of GPAs

Applicants to the DI program will need to complete an application through the Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application Service (DICAS) and the OU Health Campus to be considered. Students selecting the MS/DI track will also need to complete an additional OU Health Campus application towards the MS program. 

If after reviewing the qualifications for the program you are unsure of whether you meet them, please contact ahinfo@ouhsc.edu. We are here to help and support you as you pursue a career in the health sciences. 

Accreditation

The OUHSC Internship was granted full accreditation in 2019 for 7 years through December 31, 2026 by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR’s Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR’s website. In addition, CDR requires that individual's complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Coordinated Program for Master of Arts in Dietetics at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements click here.

Further information about accredited dietetic education programs may be obtained from:

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995
Phone: 800/877-1600, ext. 5400
Website - Email

Program Details

Location Offered

Oklahoma City

Application Window

OU Health: Opens: July 15th
DICAS: Opens: August 6th
Rolling Decisions Review Start: October 1st
Standalone DI Closes: February 15th
Combined MS/DI Closes: April 15th

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