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The mission of the Dietetic Internship Program is to provide a high quality supervised practicum that prepares entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists and promotes life-long learning, meaningful engagement, and service to the region.

Goal 1 Graduates will become entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists practicing in North Carolina and Appalachia.

Objective 1.1: “At least 80% of responding employers of dietetic internship program graduates will indicate satisfaction with graduates’ preparation for entry-level practice.”

Objective 1.2: At least 80% of program graduates complete program/degree requirements within 36 months (150% of the program length).

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: Of graduates who seek employment, 75% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.

Goal 2 Graduates will pursue individualized professional development activities and engagement in service.

Objective 2.1: At least 80% of program graduates will complete a professional development activity within the first year of program completion.

Objective 2.2: At least 80% of program graduates will pursue service to the profession of dietetics as a preceptor, leader, or through civic engagement within 5 yrs post- graduation.

Program outcome data available upon request.

No. To become an RDN, five steps are required:

1. Complete a bachelor's degree and receive a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited program ().
2. to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice (some dietetic internships are combined with a master's degree, which is optional*). For students who do not match to an internship, applying to an is an option.
3. Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration's dietetic .
4. Gain in your state of practice, if applicable.
5. Maintain .

Steps 1 and 2 must be completed at an ACEND accredited facility.  Western Carolina University has both an accredited undergraduate program in dietetics and an accredited dietetic internship.  If you attend Ģ������Ƶand receive your Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, you will complete step 1.  The MHS-Nutrition concentration includes the accredited Dietetic Internship that will meet the requirements of number 2, and will prepare you for the national registration exam (step 3).

• Official transcript(s) for all schools attended
• Minimum DPD GPA of 3.2
• Resume
• Evidence of volunteer and/or paid experience in nutrition and dietetics
• Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree or DPD Verification Statement
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 in all upper-level undergraduate course work
• GRE scores if GPA is less than 3.5
• 3 letters of recommendation
• A Goal/Personal Statement

• ALL applications should be submitted electronically in DICAS:
• DICAS opens in December and closes in February
• DICAS initial application fee of $45 & $20 per subsequent application
• Ģ������ƵPre-Select Application Due:  January 1

For information on Ģ������Ƶgraduate school application and graduate application deadlines, visit /apply/graduate-school/index.aspx.

Tuition rates are reviewed and set annually by the North Carolina legislature. The University reserves the right to alter any charges without prior notice. Graduate distance learning tuition and fees per credit hour for in-state and out-of-state rates can be found at this website /apply/tuition-and-fees/index.aspx.

The table below lists some examples of costs to expect during the DI program. It includes estimations and may change without prior notice.

Various financial sources, such as grants and loans are available to qualified graduate students in the Dietetic Internship Program. To become eligible, an application for financial assistance can be obtained by contacting Ģ������ƵFinancial Aid Office in Room 230 of the Robinson Administration Building, telephone 828-227-7290. Additional information is located on the following website: /apply/financial- aid/index.aspx. Financial aid recipients are expected to comply with the guidelines established by each specific granting or loaning agency.

There is a scholarship available specifically for MHS-Nutrition students in the Dietetic Internship program. The general scholarship application is required for consideration for these scholarships. Application opens during the Fall semester, and the deadline for submitting the scholarship application online is in early Spring semester. Students also must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by January 1 each year in order to be considered for need-based scholarships.

Graduation degree requirements for Ģ������Ƶcan found in the .

To successfully complete Ģ������Ƶ’s MHS-Nutrition concentration degree and receive a signed program completion Verification Statement, interns must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Pass all courses with a “B” or better
2. Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in order to graduate
3. Complete all competencies/Learning Outcomes for DIs
4. Complete all assignments
5. Work all assigned supervised practice hours
6. Turn in all evaluation forms
7. Attend all field trips
8. The intern must complete the required supervised practice hours and demonstrate satisfactory performance and competence throughout the program rotations as evaluated by site preceptors and Dietetic Internship Director
9. The intern must complete all program and self-assessments with the Dietetic Internship Director
10. The intern must demonstrate no misconduct, academic or non-academic, and must perform ethically in accordance with the values of the Academy and Code of Ethics of the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

The intern will receive a Dietetic Internship Verification Statement in-person or via mail within 2 weeks following successful completion of the MHS- Nutrition concentration.