Dietetic Internship

Program Description
The California State University, Fresno Dietetic Internship is a 9-month program with a culturally competent health promotion/disease prevention concentration. This internship prepares graduates to serve the diverse needs of the San Joaquin Valley and beyond. Interns complete supervised practice experiences in a variety of facilities in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California, including a veterans' hospital, a state prison, a school district, two private hospitals, an out-patient diabetes program and cooperative extension. Eight units of graduate-level course work are required as part of the dietetic internship.

Mission
The mission of the California State University, Fresno Dietetic Internship is to provide a high-quality post-baccalaureate educational opportunity that prepares competent entry-level generalist dietitians with the knowledge and skills required for providing food and nutrition services to the population of the San Joaquin Valley.

Program Goals

1. To prepare graduates to successfully meet the requirements for dietetic registration.
2. To prepare graduates who will be able to meet the employment requirements for generalist dietitians.
3. To provide a supply of well-trained dietetics practitioners who will serve the population of the San Joaquin Valley.
4. To prepare dietetics professionals who participate in continual professional growth through educational opportunities, including graduate studies, and realize career growth.

Accreditation Status
The California State University, Fresno Dietetic Internship has been granted accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of The American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 800/877-1600.

Length
Students are enrolled in the university for the Fall and Spring semesters. The Fall semester will begin in late August and end the third week in December. The Spring semester begins in late January and ends mid-May. Specific dates follow the academic calendar and are published in the General Catalog. The catalog is available in late spring. In order to complete required hours of field experience, students complete the elective in January before Spring semester starts.

Program Curriculum
Rotations

• Intern Orientation - 1 Week
• Medical Nutrition Therapy - 12 Weeks
• Foodservice Systems Management - 12 Weeks
• Community Nutrition - 6 Weeks
• Elective - 3 Weeks
• Staff Experience - 2 Weeks

Graduate Courses

• Nutrition Counseling - 3 Units
• Food and Nutrition Resource Management - 3 Units
• Graduate Seminars (2) - 2 Units

Number of Interns
The program is accepting a maximum of 10 students.

Minimum Application Requirements

1. Completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
2. Completed an approved DPD within the last 5 years.
3. Earned a minimum 3.0 GPA on last 60 semester/ 90 quarter units.
4. Earned a minimum score of 138V/136Q on the GRE General Test.
5. Earned a minimum of 550 on TOEFL if native language is not English.
6. Accepted interns must successfully complete background checks and fingerprinting before beginning program.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Recommended score of 480V/580Q on the GRE general test.
2. Work experience, paid or volunteer in dietetics.

Application Procedure

Check for updated application procedures using the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System at: http://fsn.jcast.csufresno.edu/

1. The program is using the on-line centralized internship application, DICAS, which may be accessed at https://portal.dicas.org. The on-line application must be completed for our program by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on February 15, 2012.
2. Submit Graduate application on line (available at http://www.csumentor.edu). CSU application fee required.
3. Submit to:
   Elizabeth Ferris, MS, RD
   Dietetic Internship Application Committee
   California State University, Fresno
   Department of Food Science and Nutrition
   5300 N. Campus Drive, M/S FF 17
   Fresno, CA 93740-8019
   • Confirmation page from University Graduate application
   • Copy of scores from the GRE General Test
4. Submit an application on-line to D & D Digital (for computer match)

Application Deadline
Postmarked no later than February 15, 2011.

Documents
Application Procedure (DOC)
Cost Sheet (DOC)

For more information on this program, please contact the Dietetic Internship Director, Elizabeth Ferris, MS, RD. If you do not receive a timely response from this faculty member and it is during the University's summer, winter or spring break, please contact the Department of Food Science and Nutrition Research for more information.