The MS-DI Internships Program provides students with the in-depth knowledge and professional skills required to practice dietetics/nutrition. The program fosters and promotes the advancement to leadership roles in the nutrition and dietetic profession. An attempt is made to match the interns to sites and/or experiences to support their interests and career goals. The supervised practice experiences will meet entry level competencies established by the accrediting agency. Each student has the opportunity to gain additional needs, preferences and interests in the self-select rotation . The program assists the students with securing a self-select rotation.
Please Note
Academic Credit:No academic credit from a previous degree will be granted.
Policy Statement on Prior Assessed Learning: The MS-DI Program at Augusta University does not grant supervised practice hours credit for prior learning or competence.
Intern Employment: The Program Director and preceptors are sympathetic to the graduate student interns’ need for employment; however, it is highly discouraged during the supervised practicum (Year 2). The supervised practicum is fast-paced, and the demand and commitment are like a full-time job (32-40 hours a week).
DPD Verification Statements: Graduate student interns must present an original copy of their DPD Verification Statement before or at the program's start (August). These statements are generated by the student’s DPD program director. The DPD Verification Statement is granted after the student has completed the necessary curriculum and standards set forth by the granting institution.
Final Transcripts: All graduate student interns must submit a final official transcript to the Program Director before or at the program's start. The transcripts must indicate the type of degree awarded and the date.
Immunizations and Health Clearance:All interns are required to provide evidence of being current on all the necessary vaccinations and immunizations. Documentation of a physical examination that takes place June-August of the year of the internship start must also be provided. The intern’s most recent tuberculosis (TB) test must be negative and completed within the past year or more recently, according to the partner agency/placement. Required immunizations include MMR, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, and Chicken Pox vaccine or documentation of chicken pox. The intern is required to carry his/her personal health (medical) insurance or student health insurance offered by Augusta University throughout the program.Immunizationsmust be submitted toStudent Healthprior to enrollment.
Transportation:Graduate student interns are responsible for their transportation to and from affiliated facilities, including attending classes, professional meetings, and conferences. Public transportation may be limited in the Augusta area. It is required that graduate student interns have their mode of reliable transportation. The intern must have a valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance, registration, and license.
Background Checks and Drug Screening:Graduate student interns will work in facilities (i.e., hospitals, schools) requiring criminal background checks and/or drug screens. The program will accept the site's policies if an intern is rejected due to criminal background checks and drug screening issues. Once admitted to the program, the graduate student interns will be required to obtain a criminal background check and drug screening. Results must be sent directly to the Program Director by the agency conducting the testing. Rotation sites may request copies or verification of background checks and drug screening results from the Program Director. The graduate student intern is required to sign a consent form to permit the sharing of the intern’s information with affiliated rotation sites. Also, the graduate student interns will disclose their date of birth and social security number to assist facilities with their background checks and clearance to access patient or client information. During the program, all graduate student interns must self-disclose criminal convictions that occur within three business days of the conviction. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the program.
Liability Insurance:Graduate student interns must maintain dietetic practice liability insurance throughout the program at a minimum of $1/$3 million. Augusta University will provide liability insurance to graduate student interns.
Professional Memberships:Graduate student interns are required to maintain and updateAcademy of Nutrition and Dieteticsmembership and theAugusta Area Dietetic Associationmemberships during the program.
Coursework
The MS-DI program consists of a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised practice and 45 credit hours ~190 hours of didactic classroom instruction. Graduate student interns work full time 32-40 hours/week and attend didactic classes (Mondays only) on the University campus during the second year.
The program provides supervised practice in a variety of settings in the Augusta area. The program has a medical nutrition therapy (clinical) concentration. Rotation sites/facilities includes hospitals, bariatric clinics, benign hematological clinic, dialysis centers, school district, public health departments, and long-term care.Interns are randomly assigned to facilities/sites.Augusta University does not pay nor provide a stipend to graduate student interns.
All interns should complete the program within 150% of the initial program length (21 months), equal to 31.5 months. All graduate student interns will be required to successfully complete the MS coursework, Capstone Project, and supervised practice hours to be eligible to receive a verification statement.
International internsare responsible for ensuring they have the appropriate documentation (visa) to allow graduate student interns adequate time to complete the program.
Completion Requirements
In order to complete the program, all graduate student interns must complete 45 credit hours, achieve a letter grade of B or higher on all graduate courses, and complete a capstone project. Graduate students must complete 1152 hours of supervised practice, achieve all ACEND competencies, and score 80% or higher on supervised practice performance evaluations, projects, assignments, and other activities assigned by the preceptors and/or program director.
Students are also required to complete 30 volunteer hours in the first year and 20 volunteer hours in the second year. Graduate student interns meeting the above criteria will also receive an ACEND Verification Statement signed by the director. Graduate student interns (graduates) will then be eligible to take the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Exam.
Intern Resources: Augusta University provides a wide range of resources designed to support and promote academic success and personal health and well-being. The services include academic and career advising, counseling, and disability services. A comprehensive list and description of offered services are available in theUniversity’s Student Manual.
Program Outcomes
Program outcomes are available upon request. The MS-DI Program has an outstanding record. For the past five years:
100% of the graduate student interns completed the program within 150% of the time allotted for completion of supervised practice hours.
100% of the graduate student interns found employment in the field of nutrition and dietetics within one year of completing the program.
97% of the graduate student interns passed the RDN registration exam within one year of their first attempt.
75% of the graduate student interns passed the RDN registration exam within one year of their first attempt.
