The mission of the Dietetic Internship is to prepare graduate-level professionals to demonstrate knowledge, skills and values which enhance individuals and community health through dietetics practice.
The Dietetic Internship combines supervised practice experiences with the Master of Science (M.S.) degree program in Nutrition and Dietetics.
The program is designed for simultaneous completion of both the Dietetic Internship and M.S. program. In two years, you can obtain your registration status and graduate degree. The first two semesters are comprised of graduate course work only. Two subsequent semesters consist of both on-site supervised practice experiences and graduate course work. One summer semester is comprised of full-time supervised practice experiences in a community hospital.
The program offers a choice of three program emphases: community, general and food service. Each emphasis requires specific coursework and site placement.
Upon program completion, dietetic interns graduate with a M.S. degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and are eligible to take the American Dietetic Association/Commission on Dietetic Registration (ADA/CDR) examination to become a Registered Dietitian.
Completion of the “Didactic Program in Dietetics” (DPD) from an ADA accredited program is a pre-requisite for admission to the Dietetic Internship.
Admission to the Dietetic Internship is competitive. Admission is limited to twelve interns per year; six interns in spring semester and six in fall. Applications are evaluated on the basis of a cumulative and a calculated “major” grade point average (GPA), Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, work experience, letters of recommendation and interview scores.
A cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale is required. A calculated “major GPA” of 3.0 is required. The calculated “major GPA” is comprised of selected nutrition and science courses. Available on this website is a form that lists those courses that comprise the “major GPA”. You may use the form (.doc) to calculate your own “major GPA” to determine if you meet the eligibility requirements of this program.
Satisfactory GRE scores are required. GRE scores of 900 or greater (verbal plus quantitative) are considered satisfactory.
One-hundred-fifty (150) hours of dietetics-related work experience is also required.
Three letters of recommendation are required on the standardized form which is also available on this website (PDF).
Eligible applicants are required to interview in person or by telephone.
Please consult the current Graduate Catalog for complete information regarding the M.S. degree in Nutrition and Dietetics.
Three separate applications are required:
- Dietetic Internship
- Graduate School and
- D & D Digital for computer matching.
Please note that the application deadlines for Graduate School do not coincide with the DI and D&D Digital deadlines.
We accept applications in both spring and fall semester. Applications to the Dietetic Internship coincide with D & D Digital computer matching deadlines. Application deadlines are listed online.
How much does this program cost?
Detailed information regarding program costs is available on this website. Up-to-date information about tuition, fees and insurance costs can be accessed on-line through the Office of the Bursar.
NIU provides a high level of financial support for dietetic interns in the form of graduate assistantships and tuition waivers. All applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the application form for a graduate assistantship. The application form is available on the Graduate School website.
Graduate assistantships provide a full tuition waiver and monetary stipend. We strongly encourage all applicants to apply for a graduate assistantship during the first two semesters of the program. Of course we can not guarantee that one will be available, but often there are sufficient assistantships for all interns.
During the following three semesters, when interns are engaged in on-site supervised practice, the university usually provides a full tuition waiver so that interns do not pay tuition for graduate and internship courses!
Interns are responsible for the cost of university and course fees. Interns must provide their own housing, food and transportation. More detailed information is available on this website regarding all the financial assistance and other costs associated with this program.
Interns are placed in a variety of sites which provide experiences across the spectrum of dietetics. Since this program is located in northern Illinois, seventy (70) miles west of Chicago, we are fortunate to be located within driving distance of the western suburbs, and the city of Rockford. Although some sites are located in the DeKalb area and on campus, interns must have a reliable car and be willing to drive to sites that are located off campus.
Interns are placed in NIU Residential Dining for the food service management practicum, and at a one community hospital for the Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) practicum. During the community nutrition practicum, interns have the opportunity to work in medical clinics, nursing homes, wellness and health promotion sites, diabetes education and business sites throughout northern Illinois.
A graduate level certificate program in Eating Disorders and Obesity is also available on a competitive basis to dietetic interns while enrolled in the M.S. degree program. For more information, please consult the Graduate Catalog.
The Dietetic Internship has identified the following student learning outcomes for graduates of the DI program: