Dietetic Internship

Application Information

A Dietetic Internship (DI) program application packet can be obtained by calling (517) 355-8474, Ext. 183, or (517) 449-2911, or e-mail your request to rogersg3@msu.edu.

Complete the American Dietetic Association (ADA) Supervised Practice Program Application Form (PDF)*, prepare a statement of purpose and include a $40 application fee payable to Michigan State University. Request instructions and a mark/sense card to prioritize your DI preferences from any ADA Didactic Program in Dietetics or from D&D Digital Systems, located at 137 Lynn Ave., Ames, Iowa 50014-7126. There is also a $50 fee for computer-matching that should accompany your application and is payable to D&D Digital Systems. Completed application packages for all components must be postmarked by Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2008 for Fall 2008 dietetic program admission.

Dietetic Internships and Graduate School

Interns who wish to combine the DI with graduate school must apply separately to the Graduate School and will be required to submit GRE scores with the graduate school application. Prospective interns interested in this option should contact the DI director and MSU graduate school faculty to discuss the process prior to completing an application. Interns choosing this option should expect to take approximately 36 months to complete both the DI and a master's degree. Fees will be based on current MSU graduate school tuition fees in addition to the regular DI program fee.

Admission Qualifications

Admission to the MSU DI program is determined by the Internship Selection Committee (ISC). The ISC consists of the Dietetic Internship Director, MSU faculty and preceptors from the internship program. Qualified applicants will have already earned a bachelor's degree from any U.S. regionally accredited college or university (or a foreign degree, if verified as equivalent), and have completed an ADA Didactic Program in Dietetics. For recency of educational requirements, a course in medical nutrition therapy is required to have been taken within the last five years.

A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale) for college work is required. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in professional didactic courses is also required. In addition, work experience and letters of recommendation are taken into consideration.

Pre-Entrance Requirements

Interns will complete a proficiency exam in medical terminology and abbreviations during the MSU DI program orientation.

Application Guidelines

Please type all materials using an easy-to-read sans serif font (e.g. Times New Roman, Courier, Arial, or Helvetica) in a size no smaller than 11 point.

Letter of application (typed) to the program director in no more than two
single-spaced pages using a business format. It should address the following
issues:

Reasons for selecting dietetics as a career;
Statement of career goals, short and long term;
Reasons for applying to the MSU DI program and a statement of how a generalist dietetic internship will help meet career goals;
Description of your strengths and weaknesses; and
Descriptions of a challenging situation in which you needed to apply innovative problem-solving skills.

Completed ADA Supervised Practice Program Application form. This form must be signed.
Application fee to the department: $40 check or money order. Please note that all checks and loans must be made out to Michigan State University Dietetic Internship Program.
Resume
Official copy of all college transcripts. All transcripts must show descriptive titles. If course numbers are shown, a catalogue description must be provided.
Official Verification Statement of Completion of ADA Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) or a Declaration of Intent to complete degree and ADA academic requirements, obtained from your DPD program director. This form must be signed. Upon acceptance to the program, an official verification statement and official transcript with the degree conferral stamp must be submitted.
Three to four letters of reference, at least one from a former employer (paid or volunteer) and at least one from professors in foods, nutrition and/or foodservice management. Please duplicate the ADA recommendation forms in the application packet as needed.
GRE scores are NOT required unless you are concurrently enrolling in a graduate program.
Please include a phone number where you can be reached, if necessary, on appointment day.

All materials should be submitted in a single packet. Keep a copy of your applications for your own records, as application materials submitted to this program will not be returned to applicants.