FSU Dietetics

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To become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

For a student to become a credentialed RDN, they must:

  1. Earn a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) verification statement from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
  2. Complete a post-baccalaureate degree.
  3. Complete an ACEND accredited post-baccalaureate dietetic internship (DI).
  4. Pass the national registration examination for Dietitians.

Withdrawal from Program

For withdrawal and refund of tuition and fees information, please click here to refer to the FSU policy.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Florida State University’s Dietetic Internship (DI), which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), is to provide a post-baccalaureate route for students to complete the experiential requirements needed to write the national registry examination for certification as Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). The program is designed for the preparation of entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) through supervised practice in medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition, and food service systems management to enhance their understanding of, and ability to apply principles of nutrition science and dietetics beyond the baccalaureate or DPD level.

The mission of the Dietetic Internship (DI) is consistent with the mission of the University, which is to preserve, expand, and disseminate knowledge in the sciences, technology, arts, humanities, and professions while embracing a philosophy of learning strongly rooted in the traditions of the liberal arts. It is also consistent with the mission of the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences, which is to enhance the well-being of individuals and families through educational activities focused on research, health, the environment, and technology. The philosophy of the program is to prepare graduate students who desire advanced academic and professional training to meet the need for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), and to become professionals who can seek innovative solutions to the challenges of contemporary society.

Goals and Objectives

Goal 1: Graduates will become successful, competent registered dietitians in a timely manner.

  • Objective 1: 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 Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) is least 80%.
  • Objective 2: At least 90% of employers/supervisors who responded to the survey will express satisfaction with the performance of the FSU DI program graduates.
  • Objective 3: At least 80% of program dietetic interns complete the program/degree requirements within thirty-six months (150% of the program length).
  • Objective 4: Objective 4: At least 80% of the program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) within 12 months of the program completion.
  • Objective 5: At least 80% of program dietetic interns will agree that their Dietetic Internship (DI) experiences provided opportunities to practice core competencies expected of the entry level registered dietitian.

Goal 2: Graduates will advance the dietetics profession through professional participation.

  • Objective 1: Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
  • Objective 2: Of graduates in the dietetics profession, at least 80% will participate in a professional organization at the local, state, or national level.

Outcome data available upon request to the director of the dietetic internship.

Accreditation

The Florida State University DI Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995

1-800-877-1600 (ext. 5500)
eatrightpro.org/acend

Dietetic Internship

The Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences offers an M.S. degree Dietetic Internship (DI) program. The Dietetic Internship (DI) can be completed with the M.S. in Exercise Physiology (sports nutrition major) or M.S. in Nutrition and Food Science (clinical nutrition major). Specializations are available in either sports nutrition or clinical nutrition, depending on the respective degree which is sought.

Successfully completing a post-baccalaureate degree and an accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) is required in order to take the examination for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential with the Commission for Dietetics Registration.

FSU participates in DICAS. Please go to: https://dicas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login and add Florida State University to the programs you are applying to.

How to Apply

1. Apply to FSU Graduate Program

Deadline: November 1

In order for your dietetic internship application to be considered, you must first be admitted to one of the eligible graduate programs offered by the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences at Florida State University:

You can apply online through admissions.fsu.edu/gradapp.

Only complete applications will be reviewed.

If applying for the Dietetic Internship to start in the fall semester, all admissions application materials must be received for the master’s program by November 1 in the preceding year.

2. Apply to the Dietetic Internship Program

Deadline: January 15

The deadline is January 15 (of the spring semester that falls in the same calendar year as the first fall semester you intend to begin dietetics internship program).

Apply Here

Areas of Concentration

Clinical Nutrition

Eight (8) weeks in specialized clinical facilities

Facilities include:
Metabolic Centers, Cancer Centers, Pediatric Hospitals, Eating Disorder Clinics, Dialysis Centers

Sports Nutrition

Eight (8) to twelve (12) week specialized experience at a sports nutrition facility

Facilities include:
Professional Teams, Collegiate Teams, and Training Centers

Please note:

Students may not participate in more than one concentration.
Weeks are based on a 40 hour work week, if less than 40 hours are completed per week, additional days will be necessary to complete the required number of hours.

Students are expected to participate in other professionally related activities during the academic year and are encouraged to participate in local, state, and national dietetic association activities. Service activities are highly recommended. Student membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Graduate Dietetics Association is required.

Clinical rotations are conducted in several facilities:

Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Capital Regional Medical Center, and Archbold Hospital are within a 50-mile radius of Tallahassee. Many other practice sites are located around the state of Florida including Ft. Walton Beach, Panama City, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Orlando, and Tampa.

Sports Nutrition Rotations are conducted at multiple facilities across the United States.

Completion Requirements

The following are required for graduation and completion of the internship:

  • Minimum overall GPA of 3.0
  • Grade of C or better in all required courses and courses applied towards graduation
  • Completion of HUN 8945 – Supervised Practice with a grade of “S”
  • Completion of all ACEND required competencies with a satisfactory score
  • Attendance at all internship meetings
  • Completion of all other degree requirements

Failure to complete supervised practice experiences satisfactorily and/or class courses as evaluated by the course instructors, DI director, and appropriate preceptor(s) during the assigned time frames could result in the removal of a student from the internship.

Handbook

Selection Process

Applicants are selected by a committee composed of the Internship Director, the Didactic Program in Dietetics Director, and faculty members who are registered dietitians (RD). Selection is based on the committee’s assessment of some or all of the following criteria, GPA, a statement of purpose, previous work/volunteer experiences, letters of reference, and interview are used by the committee to assess each applicant. 

Note: Admission to the graduate program in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences does not grant a student admission to the Dietetic Internship. Internship applications are reviewed by a department selection committee after admission to the graduate program in HNFS. Internship appointments are awarded on a competitive basis through DICAS.

Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway

An ISPP is an alternate ACEND-accredited distance pathway designed for individuals that currently have a nutrition-related doctoral degree.  Upon completion of the ISPP, interns will be qualified to sit for the national board registration examination. Interns in an ISPP are required to contact their own preceptors to set up their supervised practice experience. Previous Learning experiences will be considered once a Previous Learning Application (PLA) is completed and submitted. The DI Director reserves the right to award hours and completion of competencies as determined by the PLA.

How to Apply

Apply to the ISPP Internship Program

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis year-round until all spots are filled.

Apply Here

Assessment of Prior Learning and Credit toward Program Requirements

Coursework older than six years will not be accepted for transfer credit. The university’s policy for acceptance of prior coursework is followed. Requests are reviewed on a case to case basis. Accepting prior experiences as it relates to supervised practice such as employment in areas such as WIC or Research is considered on a case to case basis depending on the intern’s job description and formal written acknowledgement from the work supervisor. Thus, work history is considered on an individual basis.

Application of Prior Leaning must be filled out in entirety to be evaluated by the DI Director.

Completion Requirements

Handbook

Selection Process

  1. Applicants are accepted on a rolling basis annually until the allotted amount of seven (7) spots are filled
  2. Applicants are selected by the DI Director based on some or all of the following:
    1. GPA, a statement of purpose, previous work/volunteer experience and letters of reference (as well as the possibility of phone or face-to-face interview)
    2. Transcripts of Nutrition related Doctoral Degree
    3. Applicants can apply for Prior Learning Credit towards Program Requirements

“Florida State ISPP program gave me the opportunity to continue my path towards becoming an RD in a completely individualized dietetic internship while still having the guidance and resources that FSU offers. It allowed me to really focus on the areas of nutrition I am interested in while still gaining well rounded experiences”

-Erika Collette, Class of 2021