MS/DI overview
Mission Statement
The mission of the Dietetic Internship is to prepare entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists through engagement in methods, implementation and interpretation of nutrition science, and to apply and advance the field of nutrition through research, clinical, management or community areas of practice.
Overview
The University of Delaware combined MS/DI is approved to accept up to 9 interns annually.
Students accepted into the MS/DI track will complete 27 graduate credits towards their Master’s degree during the first year of the program. The first year includes fall semester, winter session, spring semester and summer session. Students must be able to travel to the University of Delaware campus in Newark, Delaware to complete this coursework.
Before beginning their supervised practice experiences during the second year, students in the MS/DI track will attend the mandatory one-week orientation program in mid-August on the campus of the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware. The purpose of this experience is to help students make the transition between graduate education and the professional practice environment.
Students in the MS/DI track will be placed in supervised practice sites in and near Delaware. MS/DI students do not plan their own schedules; all rotation schedules are planned by internship faculty.
In addition to the supervised practice experience, MS/DI students take an online graduate course in fall and spring semester of the second year. Various faculty and practitioners serve as guest speakers on current topics relevant to the practice of nutrition and dietetics.
Goal #1: Graduates will earn the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential.
- At least 80% of program interns will complete the program/degree requirements within 29 months (150% of the program length).
- At least 90 percent 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%.
Goal #2: Graduates will possess the knowledge and skills in medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition, and foodservice management for successful employment in a variety of settings.
- Of graduates who seek employment, at least 75 percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
- At least 80% of graduates will receive a minimum overall rating of “satisfactory” by employers who respond to a survey evaluating preparedness for entry-level practice.
Goal #3: Graduates will be leaders in the dietetics profession.
- At least 50% of graduate survey respondents will report participating in at least 1 leadership activity within 12 months of program completion.
- At least 50% of employers who respond to a survey will “agree” or “strongly agree” that the graduate demonstrates leadership.
*Outcomes data available upon request