Program Format

The dietetic internship integrates five graduate courses with more than 1,200 hours of supervised practice experience in a variety of settings. The five graduate courses constitute the Dietetic Internship certificate. Students have the option of applying the DI Certificate graduate courses to a master's degree in Applied Nutrition, Community Health Education, or Health Services Administration. The Internship Director is available for advisement about graduate course work. The experience component includes two weeks of orientation, 13 weeks for medical nutrition therapy practice, 13 weeks for food and wellness management, and 7 weeks for community nutrition. Field trips and attendance at the New York State Dietetic Association Annual Meeting are also included.

Full Time

To complete the internship in 11 months, 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. Classes are offered in a "web-enhanced and "hybrid" course formats with face-to-face classes as well as some online activities.

Part-Time

The internship may now be completed on a part-time basis. Part-time participants complete a minimum of 24 hours of supervised practice per week plus one or two graduate courses each semester. The part-time program must be completed within two years. The DI Director works with each part-time intern to arrange the practical experience schedule. One graduate course is taken in the fall semester and continued in the spring semester of the first year. One graduate course is taken in Summer Session 3 of the first year. Two graduate courses are taken in the fall semester of the second year. One course is taken in the spring semester of the second year. As with full-time interns, the classes are offered in web-enhanced and hybrid formats.

These courses comprise a certificate that may be applied towards a masters degree at Sage Graduate School.

Overview Schedule-Full Time Interns

June 7, 2010 - One-day pre-orientation session

Summer Prior to Internship Starting A variety of self-study activities, assigned readings, and writing assignments.

Fall Semester
All full time interns & second year part-time interns take:

• NTR525: Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy: This course will meet for 4 days prior to beginning of fall semester.
• NTR 530- Practicum/Clinical Nutrition OR
• NTR 531- Practicum/Food Service Management
• 1 Week: Orientation, The Sage Colleges Troy Campus
• 10 Weeks: Planned Experiences at 3-4 facilities
• 3 weeks: Entry-level Practice/Supervisory Management Practice, at a previously assigned facility
• 1 week: Presentations & Finals
• Semester Break: 2 weeks

Spring Semester
All full time interns take:

• NTR 549- Nutrition and Disease Management for Pediatrics: This course will meet for 5 days prior to beginning the spring semester.
• NTR 530- Practicum/Clinical Nutrition OR
• NTR 531- Practicum/Food Service Management
  *If NTR 530 is taken in the fall semester; then NTR 531 must be taken in the spring semester, or vice versa. The second practicum course may not be started if an intern has an incomplete in the first practicum course from the fall semester.
• 1 Week: Orientation, The Sage Colleges Troy Campus
• 10 Weeks: Planned Experiences, at 3-4 Facilities
• 3 weeks: Entry-level Practice/Supervisory Management Practice, at a previously assigned facility
• 1 week: Presentations, Finals & Attend New York State Dietetic Association Annual Meeting

Summer Session 3
All interns take:

• NTR 532 Practicum in Community Nutrition I
• 1 week: Orientation & WIC training
• 2 weeks: High Risk Maternity/Pre-Natal Nutrition Rotation (WIC)
• 4 weeks: Community Nutrition Education Rotation
• 1 week: Wrap-up Activities

Final Exam and Reception -4th week of June 2011

Clinical Nutrition Rotation Topics (NTR 530)

• Clinical Orientation
• Cardiology
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Geriatrics
• AIDS/HIV+
• Oncology
• Renal Dialysis

• Nutrition Support (3 Weeks)

  • Gastrointestinal Disorders
  • Medical/Surgical
  • Critical Care
  • Respiratory
• Entry-Level Practice (3 weeks)

Food and Wellness Management Rotation Topics (NTR 531)

• The Food System- An overview
• Menu Planning
• Supply & Food Procurement
• Food Production & Service Systems
• Sanitation, Safety, Recycling
• Merchandising & Marketing
• Management Tools, Functions, Skills
• Information & Financial Resources
• Human Resource Management
• Central Office & Project Management
• Clinical Nutrition Management
• Wellness Management

Professional Experience Learning Waiver:

Do you have extensive learning and professional competence acquired outside the academic setting? Based on the ADA's standards of education with corresponding criterion and guidelines, the Sage Graduate School has approved a program which enables interns to waive a portion, from one to six credits, of the dietetic internship. Graduate credit will not be awarded, rather students will be able to complete the program in less time by receiving a waiver for up to two of the three practicum courses; NTR 531, Practicum/Food and Wellness Management and NTR 532, Practicum/Community Nutrition I.

The process offers a creative and flexible advancement opportunity for non-traditional students and those with extensive experience in food service and/or community nutrition to complete the program in a modified format. Applicants must complete the Practicum Course Waiver Application, which may be downloaded from this web site, and submit it with the portfolio(s) and dietetic internship application.

All prospective interns, who are considering a waiver for prior learning experience, are required to meet with the DI director before beginning the waiver process.