Masters in Clinical Nutrition
Program Overview

The Dietetic Internship (DI) program is offered in conjunction with the graduate program in clinical nutrition leading to the Master of Science degree. The DI is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Internship Facts
  • The Dietetic Internship (DI) is offered in conjunction with the Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition. It is designed to provide in-depth study of clinical nutrition including 1200 hours of supervised practice in a sequence of challenging practicum rotations.
  • The DI program offers excellent and varied opportunities in clinical, community, and management areas.
  • ETSU is located in Johnson City in the heart of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains with easy access to hiking, lakes, and skiing.
  • The MS/DI is a two year program, offering two semesters of graduate coursework and two semesters of supervised practice. The MS degree is a required component of the DI.
  • 100% of graduates seeking jobs in dietetics have obtained positions in the field within 6 months.
  • In the past five years 100% of interns requesting financial assistance have obtained a graduate assistantship or tuition scholarship.
  • The DI is fully accredited by Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)*.
  • Mission, Goals and Outcome Measures
Program Schedule:

Students enrolled in the dietetic internship will abide by the academic calendar of the University for the first two semesters. In the next two semesters, the DI rotation schedules will vary slightly from the University calendar.

Students who are matched to ETSU in the computer matching process and admitted to the dietetic internship program will begin graduate classes in the fall semester. After two semesters of graduate coursework, supervised practice will begin and will continue for two more semesters.

Once rotations begin, the intern will work in the practice setting 32-40 hours per week. Rotations will conclude for fall semester on Friday before commencement and will resume on the Monday following New Year’s holiday for spring semester. Interns will not be granted time off for spring break while in supervised practice rotations. The week following commencement will be devoted to conducting exit interviews and evaluations with each intern, thus program completion is approximately May 9 each year. Holidays that occur during the DI rotations will be honored when feasible and in agreement with the preceptors™ schedules. Please refer to the suggested schedule for specific courses that are offered each semester.

A verification statement will be awarded to each intern who successfully completes all didactic courses of the graduate program as well as all the requirements of the supervised practice portion of the program. Upon successful completion of all supervised practice rotations and requirements the intern will be eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians.

Contact Information

Michelle L. Lee, Ph.D, RD
Asst. Professor & DI Program Director
423-439-7524
mailto: leeml2@etsu.edu

*Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) is located at: American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000 Chicago, IL 60606; 800-877-1600, ext. 5400.