Environmental Health Sciences 
Human Nutrition - Dietetics Internship
The mission of the University of Michigan School of Public Health Dietetics Internship (UMSPH DI) is to develop competent entry-level dietitians by providing a quality supervised practice experience incorporating:
- Critical thinking skills
- Current practice skills
- Compassion and cultural competence
- High level of ethical and professional practice
The goals of the dietetic internship are: (1) to provide a professional environment for practice and experience to enable dietetic interns (DI) to develop knowledge and skills in the areas of core competency with a community based emphasis; (2) provide interns with opportunities to practice critical thinking; and (3) remain responsive to the evolving role of dietitians and nutrition practice by providing supervised rotations in areas of emerging practice.
This internship provides a minimum of 1200 hours of supervised experience in the University of Michigan Health System, and other area community sites. Interns may add on additional elective rotations if desired and as availability permits. Rotation sites include: Washtenaw County Women Infant Children Program; Ann Arbor Public Schools; DaVita Ypsilanti Dialysis; and Forest Health Medical Center, Ypsilanti Michigan. Didactic work is often assigned with various practice rotations; UMSPH DI’s are also invited to attend UMHS lectures. A sample rotation schedule is available. The UMSPH DI is an accredited full-time internship; a part-time option is available.
The UMSPH DI program has established a Prior Learning Assessment Policy in which documented supervised hours outside the dietetic internship may be approved toward the UMSPH DI supervised practice hours.
For further information, please review the UM SPH DI Handbook.
Internship Information
The following table outlines the anticipated 2010 dietetic internship costs:
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| Internship Fee |
$7000 |
| Housing (per month rental) |
$750-$800 |
| Transportation (personal automobile is recommended but not mandatory; therefore no fee for automobile insurance is cited) |
$75 |
Meals are not included at any rotation site. Ann Arbor, MI is a moderately priced mid-west city and food/meal costs are priced accordingly. Dietetic interns are provided medical professional liability coverage by the University of Michigan while acting within the scope of their duties for the University. Medical insurance is not provided by the UMSPH DI. Limited medical coverage is available through GradMed.
Application Process
Prospective dietetic interns must complete an internship application process, including the computer matching process. Applications are submitted in February (for April match) or September (for November match) of each year. The date for submitting applications is dependent on the start date for the individual internship.
Applicant responsibilities for the process include:
- Complete current application.
- Submit a letter of application (not to exceed two pages) which addresses:
- Why you are applying to the UM SPH DI for your training.
- How your education and experience have prepared you for this internship.
- Your strengths and weaknesses.
- Your goals for a career in dietetics.
- Why we should select you for this program.
- Obtain the Declaration of Intent to Complete form or a Verification Statement from the Didactic Program Director. Declaration of Intent identifies courses not completed at the time of application; Verification Statement implies that all required courses are complete.
- Request references from advisors/faculty/employers and we recommend that you have a reference from your academic advisor, one from a professor in your major area, and one from a supervisor in an employment or volunteer position.
- Order official transcripts.
- Include payment of $25.00, checks payable to “The University of Michigan” for application processing fee.
- Submit the application, letter of application, Declaration of Intent to Complete or Verification Statement form, references, official transcripts and payment to:
Kelsey Hargesheimer
Department of EHS, Program in Human Nutrition
UM School of Public Health
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029
Pre-Select Process
The UM SPH DI participates in the pre-select option to computer matching. To be selected via the pre-select process, applicants must be:
- Graduates of the University of Michigan School of Public Health DPD program
- Current UM SPH students enrolled in the DPD program who plan to complete the program by May, 2010
In this process, the program will select qualified candidates prior to the computer matching deadline. Once pre-selection has occurred, all remaining internship seats will be determined and filled through the computer match process.
For those who plan to participate in the pre-select process, applications (including application, letter of application, Declaration of Intent to Complete form or a Verification Statement, references, and official transcripts) must be postmarked by
January 8, 2010.
The applicant will be notified on or before January 29, 2010 confirming her/his acceptance or rejection into the program through this process. The $25.00 application processing fee is WAIVED for pre-select applicants. Please note that applicants selected through this process do not participate in computer matching. If the applicant is not accepted through the pre-select process, he/she may apply to any other
dietetic internship through the computer matching process. For more information about computer matching contact D&D
Digital Systems at dnd@sigler.com or (515)292-0490.
Computer Matching
- Applicants participating in computer matching should request instructions and register on-line at: http://www.dnddigital.com/ Paper applications are also available at this website. Applicants may request this material from any CADE-accredited/approved Didactic Program in Dietetics program director or from D&D Digital Systems, Inc.
- Applicant is responsible for telephoning D&D Digital Systems if he/she cannot access the site to view personal matching results on the specified dates. Telephone: 515-292-0490
- Applicants who receive a computer match and a Dietetic Internship appointment are responsible for accepting or rejecting the match by telephone or fax on the designated appointment date
- Applicants who submitted a Declaration of Intent with an internship application must obtain a Verification Statement from the DPD Director prior to beginning the Dietetic Internship.
For additional information on the application and computer matching processes, visit the American Dietetic Association web site. Click on Fact Sheets. Click on Computer Matching Policy and Procedures.
Selection criteria
- Completion of a minimum of 24 hours toward a masters degree
- 3.0 (B) or better grade point average
- GRE combined score (Verbal/Quantitative) of 1000 or greater, if available (GRE is STRONGLY recommended though not required as part of the application process)
- Recommendations with More Than Satisfactory or better ratings
- Past employment or volunteer experiences that will enhance your capabilities as a Registered Dietitian and illustrate your interests in the field of dietetics
If you have further questions, please contact:
Kelsey Hargesheimer
Department of EHS, Program in Human Nutrition
UM School of Public Health
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029
Email: UMSPHDInquiries@umich.edu
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