Dietetic Internship

WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICANTS OUR STAND-ALONE DIETETIC INTERNSHIP WILL CLOSE MAY 31, 2025.

The mission of the University of Michigan School of Public Health Dietetic Internship is to develop diverse, entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists to serve people worldwide by providing a comprehensive training experience, grounded in public health principles. Graduates of the program will be issued a verification statement and are eligible to sit for the registration examination for Registered Dietitians (RD).

The University of Michigan School of Public Health Dietetic Internship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND*) through May 31, 2025 and is a full-time or part-time internship (limited to 4 pre-select interns only).

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
800/877-1600 ext 5400
ACEND@eatright.org

Program Curriculum 

This internship provides 1080 hours of supervised experience, over approximately 6-7 month, with up to 160 hours of prior learning accepted. Most rotation sites are located within Southeast Michigan with community nutrition as the concentration area.

All University of Michigan School of Public Health dietetic interns will complete rotations at inpatient and outpatient clinical settings (through Michigan Medicine and other local hospitals and clinics), long term care, food service, WIC and a variety of community sites. Outpatient clinical sites include areas such as Preventive Cardiology, Dialysis, Diabetes, Eating Disorders, and Gastroenterology. Community sites include areas such as Meals on Wheels, local food programs, local hospital farm, community health programs, and employee wellness (MHealthy) and Extension services. Additional elective rotations are available and encouraged. 

Please see the example schedule for a full-time intern.  

Didactic work is often assigned during various practice rotations as well as specific projects throughout the internship. Interns are invited to attend Michigan Medicine lectures, seminars, and grand rounds. 

Graduation from the UM SPH Dietetic Internship requires the following: 

1. Completion of at least 1000 supervised practice hours
2. Completion of rotations in clinical, food service, and community nutrition and dietetics
3. Competence achieved in all 51 CRDN competencies
4. Completion of program assignments, including presenting in the Dietetic Internship Conference

Program outcomes data are available upon request.

Goals and Objectives

Graduates will be well prepared for careers as entry-level RDNs in a variety of practice settings. 

• At least 80% of program students complete program requirements within 10 months
• Of graduates who seek employment, 90% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation
• At least 90% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
• 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%.
• 25% or more of program graduates who respond to the alumni survey will indicate they are practicing in non-traditional roles (i.e. non-clinical).

Graduates will be competent RDNs who will meet the employment needs of Michigan and contribute positively to the dietetics profession worldwide.

• 50% or more of program graduates who respond to the alumni survey will indicate they are practicing in the Midwest.
• 25% of program graduates who respond to the alumni survey will indicate they are preceptors for a dietetic internship.
• 90% of employers who respond to a survey will rate the performance of alumni at a 4 or 5 on all criteria (1 = far below expectations, 5 = far above expectations).

Admission Requirements

Currently we offer acceptance to 30 interns per year. In order to apply, you must have a DPD verification statement (or Declaration of Intent) from an ACEND accredited program and have or be working towards a graduate degree (with graduation prior to the internship start date).  We will award up to 160 hours  credit for prior learning experiences.

A strong candidate for admission to the Dietetic Internship will meet the following criteria (not required for application and admission):

• Cumulative graduate GPA of 3.5 or higher, and a B or better in all DPD courses.
• Recommendations with "More Than Satisfactory" or higher ratings. 
• Previous employment or volunteer experiences that will enhance your capabilities as a registered dietitian and demonstrate your interest in the field of dietetics.
• A well-written personal statement demonstrating excellent written communication skills and thought process.

NOTE:

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RD). 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 the CDR’s website. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in programs) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship Program at The University of Michigan School of Public Health are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

Fees and Expenses

The current fee for the internship is $8,000.  Additional expenses that may be incurred and should be appropriately budgeted include:

• Living expenses – housing, meals (none included at rotation sites), etc.
• Transportation - We do recommend that interns have cars, but they are not mandatory. Interns are responsible for all costs related to transportation to and from rotation sites (up to 60 miles from campus).
• Medical insurance - Insurance may be purchased through the  Alumni Insurance Program  (formally GradMed). Additionally, University of Michigan Alumni are eligible for the University Health Service (UHS) pre-paid plan.  Please contact UHS directly.
• TB tests, vaccines needed

We provide all dietetic interns with medical professional liability coverage by the University of Michigan, while acting within the scope of their duties. For additional information in regards to expenses, please refer to the Dietetic Internship handbook.

Dietetic interns are not enrolled as students at the University of Michigan, and therefore do not qualify for school-sponsored financial aid or student health services.

Student loans are eligible for deferment while completing a Dietetic Internship. Currently, we do not provide financial aid, but do provide for a select-few scholarships, of varying amounts each year, to alumni only. 

Contact Sarah Ball, MPH, RD, internship director, at sjcball@umich.edu if you have questions.

Ready to Apply?

Additional information

• University of Michigan School of Public Health Dietetic Internship Handbook 
• Frequently Asked Questions

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
1-800-877-1600
Concentration Area-Community Nutrition