Dietetic Internship
The goal of the Dietetic Internship (DI) is to train students who are on track to becoming registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). Before admission to the program, students must complete required didactic (classroom) education requirements, including a DPD verification statement and a master's degree in any field of study. The DI's purpose is to provide the supervised practice (work training) component of the RDN career pathway. After completing the program, students are eligible to sit for the CDR credentialing exam and may become entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists. The mission of the DI is to create agents of change in bringing the perspective of whole foods, environmental awareness of food choices, and integrative medicine into their dietetic and nutrition-related practices.
Expected Program Outcomes
The DI curriculum is designed to meet all the learning competencies set forth by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The curriculum prepares students for success in the CDR credentialling exam and for success as entry-level RDNs in community, clinical, and food service settings.
Admissions
For general information on the admissions process for the DI program, refer to the program's webpage.
Prerequisites
To be eligible for this internship, prior to the start of the program, applicants must obtain:
- a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited Nutrition and Dietetics Didactic Program (DPD) or Foreign Dietitian Education program (FDE)
- an official transcript showing a minimum master's degree in nutrition, dietetics or an equivalent program granted by a U.S. regionally accredited college/university or foreign equivalent
For applicants from foreign institutions, documentation must be provided that their academic degree has been validated as equivalent to the master's degree conferred by a U.S. regionally accredited college or university. Applicants from foreign institutions should visit the ACEND site for more information including links to independent foreign degree evaluation agencies.
Graduation Requirements
The internship program has adopted the Achieved Competency System of grading used at Bastyr University. To complete this program and receive a dietetic internship verification statement, interns must obtain the following:
- Achieve competence (AC grade) in all internship graduate classes
- Successfully complete/achieve competence in all rotations
- Successfully complete/achieve competence in all projects, assignments, and enrichment classes
- Successfully complete any corrective actions or remediation plans
- Complete 1,200 hours of supervised practice
- Achieve a minimum score of 75% on the final exit exam
Accreditation
The Dietetic Internship at Bastyr University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL, 60606-6995, (800) 877-1600, ext. 5400, email: acend@eatright.org, website: www.eatright.org/acend. ACEND is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Program outcomes data are available upon request from the program director.