Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

You’ll experience a variety of practice areas within the field of nutrition and dietetics in this accredited dietetic internship program. From healthcare facilities to food service operations and community organizations, there are many areas to explore as you prepare for a career as an RDN.

Tuition & Fees

24 credits

We also offer a 42-credit Applied Nutrition master’s and Dietetic Internship option.

$670 per credit

Length & Format

1 year
to complete DI certificate

Local or Distance Learning Options

About The School of Health Sciences

Russell Sage College is the region’s premier institution for health professions, offering the most comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs.

Explore the School of Health Sciences
Apply Now

About the Dietetic Internship

This program provides the supervised practice that is required to sit for the RDN exam.

Dietetic interns spend 14 weeks in clinical settings where they provide medical nutrition therapy to a variety of populations under the supervision of an RDN. Six weeks are spent in food-service management operations, where interns apply their knowledge of menu planning, food science principles, food service systems management, and quantity food production.

Interns also work with community organizations or government agencies for five weeks to help improve nutrition access, education, and overall nutrition status to communities at large.

The Dietetic Internship program at Russell Sage’s School of Health Sciences is currently granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 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 2190, Chicago, IL. 60606-6995, 1-(800)-877-1600, ext. 5400. Website: www.eatrightpro.org/acend

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.

For the local option, Russell Sage arranges all sites and preceptors.

For the distance delivery option, students find their own sites and must be more than 100 miles away from the Russell Sage campus. Distance interns may be required to attend orientation, presentations, special activities, and some supervised practice rotations on and around Sage’s Troy, New York, campus.

Russell Sage faculty are active in all areas of nutrition and dietetics and committed to providing an experience where interns feel supported and prepared to embark on careers as registered dietitian nutritionists.

Specialized dietitians serve as preceptors and bring their wide range of expertise to the program.

Facilities around New York’s Capital District and Hudson Valley host Russell Sage’s dietetic interns. The Dietetic Internship director and coordinator arranges placements and schedules for local interns based on their work experience, preferences, and geographic location. Distance interns are required to set up their own practicum placements.

Recent interns have completed acute clinical placements at at Ellis Medicine, Albany Medical Center, St. Peter’s Health Partners, and Saratoga Hospital; food service management placements with school districts and college campuses; and community placements at the Sylvia Center, Food Pantries of the Capital District, WIC and Brightside Up.

  • Sage is a top-three producer of nutrition degrees and certificates in New York state. 
  • Sage is the ONLY accredited nutrition program in New York’s greater Capital Region. 
  • Many employers look for a Sage-educated RDN above all others.

Dietetic Internship Program Options 

The Dietetic Internship Certificate Program, for candidates who have obtained a DPD Verification Statement and are completing or have completed a master’s degree, requires you to complete three practicum classes and two graduate classes, totaling 24 graduate credits, completed in 3 semesters.

The MS-DI program, for candidates who have completed a bachelor’s degree and obtained a DPD Verification Statement, combines a master’s degree in Applied Nutrition with a Dietetic Internship. This program requires you to complete 42 graduate credits over four semesters for the accelerated track, five semesters for the traditional full-time track, or seven semesters for the traditional part-time track.

The Dietetic Internship program is only for candidates who have completed at least a baccalaureate degree and minimum academic requirements established by The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics – a didactic program in dietetics (DPD). Successful graduates of the program are eligible to take the registration examination for dietitians.

The ISPP track is a non-matriculated program where those who have a Ph.D. who meet specific criteria can complete their supervised practice requirement.

The Onsite and Distance Delivery dietetic internship tracks are graduate certificate programs; the ISPP track is not.

Easily Apply

Apply by February 1 and start in May.

Applications to the Dietetic Internship program are conducted through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services. See Admission Requirements and Application Instructions.

Applicants should meet the following criteria:

  • Have completed at least a baccalaureate degree
  • Earned a minimum overall GPA of 3.0
  • Completed all DPD requirements from an ACEND-accredited program within the past four years
Apply Now

Course Requirements

Credits and Completion

The DI offers two program formats, an on-campus program and a distance delivery program. The supervised practice portion of the internship may be completed on either a full-time (40 hours/week) or part-time (24 hours/week) basis. Classes begin in May of each year.

View Program Catalog

Program Mission

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

Program Goals

Goal 1. Program graduates will be competent in a variety of entry-level positions in the field of dietetics.

Goal 2. Program graduates will accurately and effectively communicate evidence-based nutrition content in a variety of settings.

Objectives

Objective 1.1a (Graduate Certificate and ISPP-PhD full-time and part-time)

At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 18 months (150% of the program length).

Objective 1.1b (MS-DI Traditional full-time)

At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 32 months (150% of the program length).

Objective 1.1c (MS-DI Traditional part-time)

At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 42 months (150% of the program length).

Objective 1.2
Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.

Objective 1.3
At least 80% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.

Objective 1.4
The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.

Objective 1.5
At least 80% of responses from employers on Employer Survey will indicate that graduates were “adequately prepared” or better for entry-level practice.

Objective 1.6
At least 80% of responses from graduates on Alumni Survey will indicate that they were “adequately prepared” or better for entry-level practice.  

Objective 2.1 At least 80% of responses from graduates on Alumni Survey will indicate that graduates are able to accurately and effectively communicate evidence-based nutrition content.

Objective 2.2 Over a five-year period, at least 50% of graduates will pursue a specialty certification in nutrition and dietetics.

Program outcomes data are available upon request.

The MS-DI and the Dietetic Internship Certificate Program is subject to Gainful Employment Regulations.

Program YearOnsite TrackRemote Track
2011100%100%
2012100%100%
2013100%100%
2014100%100%
2015100%100%
2016100%100%
2017100%100%
201896.7%92.31%
2019100%100%
202096.15%80%
202180%100%
202290%75%

  • Mandatory Orientation in Troy, NY: May 19-21
  • Summer semester begins: May 19
  • Summer Practicum: May 26-August 12
  • Summer semester ends: August 8
  • Fall semester starts: August 25
  • Fall Practicum: August 25-December 12
  • Fall Semester ends: December 8
  • Spring semester begins: May 5*
  • Spring practicum: January 12-May 11
  • Spring semester ends: May 11
  • Exit Days: May 12-13

*in accordance with the RSC Graduate Program Calendar

Quick Links

DIETETIC INTERNSHIP CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
Dietetic Internship Program Policy and Procedure Handbook 2024-2025
Professional Licensure Information
Distance Delivery Track Applicant Guide
Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
Academic Calendar

Dietetic Internship Information Session

View an information session for our program on YouTube.

Best Class Ever: Nutrition and Dietetics: Farm to Family Wheels

Leah Waldron ’25
Nutrition & Dietetics, M.S.

Related Resources

A dietitian holds a pen over a printout of charts on a white table; next to the charts are trays of fresh food, including raw meat, fish, lettuce, vegetables, and fruits

Nutritionist vs. Dietitian Career Paths — What’s the Difference?

When considering a career in nutrition and dietetics, it’s important to understand the key differences between registered dietitians and nutritionists. While both professions focus on promoting health through diet and nutrition, their education, certification requirements, and scope of practice differ. Whether you pursue a registered dietitian nutritionist career or a nutritionist career, both paths offer […]

Take the Next Step

It's time to take the next step. Choose yours below.
Request More Info
Apply
Visit
Financial Aid