Dietetic Internship

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 1000 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. 

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. Upon completion of the MS/DI, you will be eligible to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration's dietetic registration exam. You must pass this exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.

100% of graduates seeking jobs in dietetics have obtained positions in the field within 6 months.

In the past five years, ETSU has been able to provide a graduate assistantship or tuition scholarship to 100% of the interns who requested financial assistance.

*The DI is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

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 the New Year 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.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited [program type] program at [Institution name] are eligible to [apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program/apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN].  In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements click here.  For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN click here.

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. 

*Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) is located at: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190 Chicago, IL 60606; 800-877-1600, ext. 5400. ACEND@eatright.org

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. ETSU may also offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of ETSU may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).