DICAS Phase II
The Russell Sage College Dietetic Internship will be participating in DICAS Phase II. We are accepting applicants for our onsite and remote program tracks.
For more information about our program please review the following recording: https://russell-
Second round applicants must meet all application criteria for the track in which you are applying to be considered. Please note that our program requires an overall GPA 3.0. For distance applicants, all preceptors must be confirmed.
- Fill out and email the Release Form 2022-2023 to the program director: [email protected]
- Release application to Russell Sage College on DICAS (do not email your application) and;
- If applying to the Distance Program, please be sure to also e-mail a copy of the Russell Sage College Dietetic Internship Distance Track Preceptor Sign-up Form.
- You will only be required to pay a $40 application fee to the program if you are accepted.
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. The program requires you to complete three practicum classes and two graduate coursework classes, totaling 24 credits. 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.
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.
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, Distance 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 Distance dietetic internship tracks are graduate certificate programs; the ISPP track is not.
Communication Concentration
The dietetic internship program offers a unique concentration area in communications — a skill that is vital to those in the field.
As a dietetic intern, you will have extensive practical experience delivering evidence-based nutrition information in a variety of settings and ways to different audiences.
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 Graduate Certificate Dietetic Internship 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 program requires that interns collectively complete three practicum classes and two graduate coursework classes, totaling 24 credits. Interns may choose to apply this graduate coursework to the Applied Nutrition or Health Services Administration graduate degree programs at Sage.
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 2022-2023
Mandatory Pre-orientation (virtual): May and June
Mandatory Orientation in Troy, NY: August 23-25
Practicum I: August 29-November 15
Practicum II: December 5-February 24
Practicum III: March 20-June 5
Exit week: June 12-16
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 five graduate courses that may be applied to a master’s degree in either Applied Nutrition or Health Services Administration
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 distance 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
Our Mission
Prepare entry-level RDNs who are effective communicators of evidence-based nutrition content in all areas of practice.
Program Goals & Outcomes
GOAL 1
Prepare graduates to be competent in a variety of entry-level positions in the field of dietetics.
Objective 1.1
At least 80% of program interns complete program/degree requirements within 15 and 33 months (150% of the program length).*
*Please note, the objective specifies 15 months for full-time and 33 months for part-time interns.
Objective 1.2
Of graduates who seek employment, 80% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
Objective 1.3
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
80% of responses from graduates on Alumni Survey will indicate that they were “adequately prepared” or better for entry-level practice.
Objective 1.6
80% of responses from employers on Employer Survey will indicate that graduates were “adequately prepared” or better for entry-level practice.
GOAL 2
Prepare graduates to accurately and effectively communicate evidence-based nutrition content in a variety of settings.
Objective 2.1
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, 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 | Distance 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% |
Application Requirements
Applications to the Dietetic Internship program are conducted through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS).
Program Format
The dietetic internship incorporates three graduate courses totaling 1,280 hours of supervised experience in a variety of settings with two graduate coursework classes. Activities to achieve competencies for the concentration area, communications, are integrated into all five courses.
Required Courses
Credit Hours | |
---|---|
NTR 525 Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy | 3 |
NTR 530 Dietetic Internship Practicum 1 (fall) | 6 |
NTR 531 Dietetic Internship Practicum 2 (spring) | 6 |
NTR 555 Nutrition Research: Interpretation & Communication | 3 |
NTR 532 Dietetic Internship Practicum 3 (summer) | 6 |
Total Required Credit Hours | 24 |
Those who complete the program will receive a Verification Statement and graduate certificate. Interns have the option of applying the graduate certificate to a master’s degree in Applied Nutrition (a 2-year MS/DI) or Health Services Administration. The Internship Director is available for advisement about graduate course work.
Beginning on January 1, 2024 a minimum requirement of a master’s degree is required to take the registration examination for dietitians. For more information, please visit the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s website.
Required Practicum Hours
CLINICAL ROTATIONS | 15 Weeks | 600 Hours |
Acute Care | 11 weeks | 440 hours |
Long Term Care | 2 weeks | 80 hours |
Outpatient | 2 weeks | 80 hours |
FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT ROTATION college or university, school-based, healthcare and corporate settings | 10 weeks | 400 hours |
COMMUNITY ROTATION various organizations | 7 weeks | 280 hours |
TOTAL | 32 weeks | 1280 hours |
Full-time Interns
Full-time interns are expected to complete the Dietetic Internship program within the standard 10-month timeframe. However, when extenuating circumstances arise, the intern may be granted up to 15 months to complete the program.
Part-time Interns
Part-time interns are expected to complete the Dietetic Internship program within a 20-month timeframe. However, when extenuating circumstances arise, the intern may be granted up to 33 months to complete the program.
Part-time positions have been approved by ACEND. Part-time interns complete the Dietetic Internship program over two academic years rather than one. Part-time schedules can vary and interns must work closely with the Dietetic Internship program director and coordinator for scheduling and registration requirements.
All interns will be actively completing practicum and related coursework during the fall, spring and summer III semesters. Full-time interns are in practicum for 40 hours/week and part-time interns complete 24 hours/week of practicum (excluding holidays and allotted time between practicum rotations). These hours do not include lunch break.
Each semester will include a virtual orientation, advising sessions at minimum of once/semester and end of semester presentations.
In addition to practicum interns will complete NTR-525, Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy (fall or spring semesters — will take concurrent to or before acute care clinical rotation) and NTR-555, Nutrition Research: Interpretation and Communication (fall, spring or summer semesters – will take concurrent with management or community rotation). Both NTR-525 and NTR-555 are offered fully online.
A final DPD related exam will be given during the exit week of the program which a minimum 75% must be achieved. The following materials will also be completed during the last week of the DI: paperwork required by the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) to qualify for the RD exam; exit interviews and any other required business is completed. Completion packets which include Verification Statements are mailed.
Practicum Placements
All rotations are appointed by the Dietetic Internship program director and coordinator. Interns are provided a preference survey upon acceptance into the program. The Dietetic Internship program coordinator works diligently to schedule and secure all onsite interns placements and great effort goes into matching placements with intern preferences. Interns will receive placement roughly a month prior to the start of the program.
Interns are assigned to a variety of facilities and transportation to and from each site is the responsibility of each intern. The director and coordinator will make every effort to arrange placements within close proximity to where the intern will be residing throughout the program, however, there are times when up to one-hour of travel may be required.
Gainful Employment
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.