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Diversity of Dietetics
You’ll be exposed to a variety of practice areas within the field of nutrition and dietetics in our accredited dietetic internship program. From health-care facilities to food-service operations and community organizations, there are many areas to explore as you prepare for a career as a registered dietitian nutritionist.
Introduction
In this Dietetic Internship program, you’ll be able to collaborate with area registered dietitian nutritionists and other professionals and benefit from their expertise. The DI program at Russell Sage College prepares future registered dietitian nutritionists for careers in clinical, food-service management and community settings. RSC offers two different options for students to complete the Dietetic Internship Program.
The Dietetic Internship Certificate Program is for candidates who have obtained a DPD Verification Statement and Masters Degree or are close to completing a Master’s Degree. This program requires you to complete three practicum classes and two graduate coursework classes, totaling 24 graduate credits, completed in 3 semesters.
The MS-DI program combines a Master’s Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics with the Dietetic Internship Program. This option is for candidates who have completed a Bachelor’s Degree and obtain a DPD Verification Statement. This program required you to complete 42 graduate credits that are completed either over 4 semesters for the Accelerated track, 5 semesters for the Traditional Full-time track, or 7 semesters for the Traditional Part-time Track.
The combination of practical experiences and academic enrichment will position you for a variety of career choices as well as provide the beginning of your graduate education.
Program Distinctions
This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. The program may be taken along one of three tracks: Onsite, Remote or the Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP).
The ISPP track is a non-matriculated program where interns who meet specific criteria can complete their supervised practice requirements.
The Onsite and Remote dietetic internship tracks are graduate certificate programs; the ISPP track is not.
Faculty
Our top-notch faculty are active in all areas of the field, offering expertise in a variety of practice areas within the field of nutrition and dietetics. They are enthusiastic about all of the learning and practice opportunities our field offers. The faculty are committed to providing an experience where interns feel individually supported and fully prepared to embark on their career journeys as future registered dietitian nutritionists.
Spotlights
Read more from interns, faculty and alumni.
Your Future
The unique combination this program offers of practicum experiences as well as academic ones will allow you to broaden your career choices — and prepare you for graduate school.
Careers
After you complete the program, you’ll be eligible to take the registration exam for dietitians. Interns go on to become registered dietitian nutritionists, working in:
- hospitals and other health-care facilities
- private practice
- corporate wellness programs
- community and public health settings
- school food service
- colleges and university settings
- research
- sports nutrition
Graduate Studies
Take the credits you’ve earned through the Dietetic Internship and apply them to our Applied Nutrition or Health Services Administration master’s programs.
Our Program
The MS-DI and the Dietetic Internship Certificate program at Russell Sage College prepares entry-level dietitian nutritionists who are committed to lifelong learning and leadership within the profession.
Interns are exposed to the diversity of dietetic practice through multiple planned experiences. Drawing upon a variety of resources and professionals, interns will work with registered dietitians and other healthcare professionals in a variety of settings.
The combination of practicum experiences and academic enrichment will position the graduate for a variety of career choices as well as provide the beginning of their graduate education.
The program is available through three tracks:
Tentative Calendar for 2023-2024
Mandatory Pre-orientation (virtual): May and June
Mandatory Orientation in Troy, NY: August 16-18
Fall semester begins: August 22
Practicum I: September 11 – November 17
Fall semester ends: December 11
Spring semester begins: January 16
Practicum II: February 5 – April 12
Spring semester ends: May 6
Summer semester begins: May 13
Practicum III: May 27 – August 5
Exit Days: August 8-9
Summer semester ends: August 9
Competitive Advantages
The RSC Dietetic Internship:
- specializes in preparing future dietitians in clinical, food service management, and community nutrition
- offers a group of top-rated faculty active in all areas of the field
- collaborates with specialized dietitians and other area professionals to bring their wide range of expertise to the program
- provides each intern with individual attention and support
- Offers both an MS-DI track for those seeking to complete a Master’s Degree in combination with the Dietetic Internship and a DI program for those who only need to complete the DI requirement
This program is only for candidates who have successfully 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.
Dietetic Internship Affiliate Institutions and Placements
A variety of facilities in and around the Capital District, as well as Plattsburgh and the Hudson Valley have agreements with the School of Health Sciences’ Dietetic Internship program to host dietetic interns. The Dietetic Internship director and coordinator arranges placement for and schedules interns at facilities based on their prior type and level of work experience, preferences and geographic location. Please note that remote interns are required to set up their own practicum placements.
Applicants who apply for placement in the Hudson Valley or Plattsburgh are primarily placed at facilities in those locations with the expectation that they are/will be living in the geographic area while completing the DI and commute to the Troy campus for orientation, presentations, special activities and some supervised practice rotations.
Selected Onsite Placement Locations (New York State)
- Capital District (Albany, Schenectady & Troy)
- Saratoga Springs
- Plattsburgh
- Hudson Valley
- Other locations as negotiated with the DI Director
Program Mission, Goals & Outcomes
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 1.1d (MS-DI Accelerated)
At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 24 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.
Registration Examination One-Year Pass Rates
| Program Year | Onsite Track | Remote Track |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 100% | 100% |
| 2012 | 100% | 100% |
| 2013 | 100% | 100% |
| 2014 | 100% | 100% |
| 2015 | 100% | 100% |
| 2016 | 100% | 100% |
| 2017 | 100% | 100% |
| 2018 | 96.7% | 92.31% |
| 2019 | 100% | 100% |
| 2020 | 96.15% | 80% |
| 2021 | 80% | 100% |
| 2022 | 90% | 75% |
Application Requirements
Applications to the Dietetic Internship program are conducted through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS).
Gainful Employment
The MS-DI and the Dietetic Internship Certificate Program is subject to Gainful Employment Regulations.
Accreditation Status
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, 312-899-4876. 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.
