Students who successfully complete the Dietetic Internship Program will accrue nine graduate credit hours toward a degree Master of Science Degree in Health Sciences with an emphasis in Nutrition. The Dietetic Internship includes the following supervised practice graduate coursework:
ND 681 Practicum in Clinical Dietetics 3 credits
ND 682 Practicum in Administrative Dietetics 3 credits
ND 683 Practicum in Community Dietetics 3 credits
TOTAL 9 credits
Mission for the Dietetic Internship:
The Mission of the WCU Dietetic Internship is to create and maintain a high quality learning environment that fosters critical thinking, the acquisition of knowledge, and appreciation of life-long learning that is necessary for graduates to become superior dietetics health professionals.
The WCU Dietetic Internship has three goals with measurable outcomes to assess goal achievement. Dietetic Internship goals are supported by the overall mission of WCU as well the new program mission and are based upon the 2002 Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards (ERAS).
Goal One: Prepare entry level generalist dietitians who have achieved basic competence in clinical, administrative and community dietetics.
Outcome Measures:
- 80% of graduates seeking employment in dietetics or graduate school placement will be successfully placed within 90 days of internship completion. Evidence: Graduate tracking program.
- Graduates will achieve an 80% pass rate over a 5 year period for first-time takers of the RD Exam. Evidence: CDR RD Exam test results.
- 90% of employers will rate WCU Dietetic Internship graduates as excellent or good when asked about their preparation for the work force. Evidence: Employer survey.
Goal Two: Attract and retain well-qualified dietetic interns.
Outcome Measures:
- 95% of interns accepted into the program will successfully complete the program within the established format. Evidence: Program completion rates.
- 80% of graduates seeking employment in dietetics or graduate school placement will be successfully placed within 90 days of internship completion. Evidence: Graduate tracking program.
- Graduates will achieve an 80% pass rate over a 5 year period for first-time takers of the RD Exam. Evidence: CDR RD Exam test results.
- 90% of employers will rate WCU Dietetic Internship graduates as excellent or good when asked about their preparation for the work force. Evidence: Employer survey.
Goal Three: Instill the value of life-long learning and responsibility for further professional growth and development.
Outcome Measures:
- 80% of graduates will report being current members of the American Dietetic Association when surveyed within 18 months of graduation. Evidence: Graduate survey.
- 90% of graduates will report participating in continuing education activities when surveyed within 18 months of graduation. Evidence: Graduate survey.
Students who successfully complete the internship are eligible to take the national registration examination to become registered dietitians.
The Dietetic Internship currently provides nine credits of graduate coursework comprised of three nine-week (40 hours per week) practicum courses (administrative, clinical, and community dietetics). The length of time of the internship may be lengthened by next year (2009).
The Dietetic Internship is an elective component of the graduate degree requirements for a Master of Health Sciences (M.H.S.) degree with a specialization concentration in nutrition.
Pre-Select Process
Selection Criteria
Faculty
Facilities
University
Costs
Program Calendar
Graduation Requirements
Accreditation Status
Contact Information
Pre-Select Process
The WCU Dietetic Internship (DI) participates in the pre-select option to computer matching. In the pre-select process, the program can select six students per year who have met the admission requirements for the DI. The program has the option to fill the remaining six positions through the computer match.
For those who plan to participate in the pre-select process, January 9, 2009 is the postmark deadline for applications. The applicant will be notified on or before February 1, 2009 confirming her/his acceptance or rejection into the program through the pre-select process.
If pre-selected, the applicant will be required to complete a form including social security number and original signature. The program director must submit this form by February 14, 2009 to D&D Digital Systems, Inc. to ensure that the applicant will not participate in the April 2009 computer match.
If the applicant is not selected through the pre-select process, they may apply to this or any other DI through the computer-matching process.
Applicants participating in computer matching should request instructions and a mark/sense card to prioritize their DI preferences. Applicants should request this material from any CADE-accredited/approved Didactic Program in Dietetics program director or from D&D Digital Systems, Inc.
D&D Digital Systems may be contacted at:
304 Main Street
Suite 301
Ames, IA 50010
Phone: 515-292-0490
Fax: 515-663-9427
E-mail: dnd@netins.net
Web: http://www.dnddigital.com/
This request should be made to allow turnaround time for submitting by a February 14, 2009 postmark deadline. There is no charge for this material. However, there is a $50.00 charge for computer matching that is due with the applicant's prioritized ranking.
To be selected via the pre-select process, applicants must be:
- Graduates of the WCU DPD program
- Current WCU students enrolled in the DPD program who plan to complete the program by May of the following year
- Students already enrolled in the M.H.S. program who have completed or will complete DPD requirements by the following May. Currently enrolled M.H.S. students are not required to be graduates of the WCU DPD program to participate in the pre-select process. Any applicant with a verification statement (completion or intent to complete) from any ADA-accredited DPD program may apply for admission via computer matching. Computer matched applicants are not required to be WCU students.
Selection Criteria
Selection criteria for competitive admission to the Dietetic Internship include:
- Cumulative grade point average/grade point average in DPD coursework - 3.2 minimum
- GRE scores - 900 cumulative minimum
- Volunteer or paid experience in nutrition and dietetics (preferably with registered dietitians in a variety of work settings)
- Recommendations
- Letter of application
- Interview - See latest application guidelines.
- Selection committee rank based on a live interview with the dietetic internship director, nutrition faculty, and some preceptors (conducted in January for pre-select applicants and in early March for computer-matching applicants).
All courses are taught by WCU faculty who hold graduate faculty status and are registered dietitians. During on-site supervised practice experiences, registered dietitians work directly with students in planning, conducting, and evaluating learning activities.
Facilities
Affiliation agreements are held between WCU and 18 regional health care facilities in Western Carolina and several in South Carolina, including hospitals and health departments in Asheville, Black Mountain, Franklin, Hendersonville, Morganton, Murphy, Sylva, and Waynesville. Thus, students are exposed to a variety of learning experiences to prepare them for careers in dietetics.
Cooperating facilities include:
- Angel Medical Center, Franklin, NC
- Asheville Kidney Center, Asheville, NC
- Broughton Hospital, Morganton, NC
- Harris Regional Hospital, Sylva, NC
- Haywood Regional Medical Center, Clyde, NC
- Jackson, Buncombe, Haywood, and Transylvania County Health Departments
- Margaret Pardee Memorial Hospital, Henderson, NC
- Park Ridge Hospital, Fletcher, NC
- Mission+St. Joseph's Hospital, Asheville, NC
- Transylvania Community Hospital, Brevard, NC
- VA Medical Center, Asheville, NC
- Highlands Cashiers Hospital, Highlands, NC
- Cherokee Indian Hospital, Cherokee, NC
- Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, Spartenburg, SC
- Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC
- Black Mountain Center, Black Mountain, NC
University
Western Carolina University’s main campus is located in the high hill country 50 miles west of Asheville, North Carolina. The approximately 600-acre campus lies in the beautiful valley of the Tuckaseigee River between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Approximately 8,665 students are enrolled at WCU, which is one of sixteen constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina. Read more about WCU.
Dietetic Internship Application Instructions(PDF)
Costs
The Dietetic Intern is responsible for paying the stated program fees by the specified dates. The Intern assumes personal responsibility for living expenses throughout the entire program. Opportunities to attend professional meetings with registration fees are identified to the intern class; the intern has the option of not attending if costs are excessive.
Tuition and fees depend upon the total number of hours taken during the semester. The North Carolina legislature set tuition annually. Check the WCU website for updates. Financial aid and scholarship information is available from the WCU Office of Student Aid (phone number 828-227-7290).
Listed below are expenses and approximate costs:
$1,157.00/semester Resident Tuition for 9 graduate hours
$5,950.00/semester Non-Resident Tuition for 9 graduate hours
$1,315.00/semester University Fee for Resident and Non Resident
$ 40.00/year Graduate School Application Fee
$ 53.00/year WCU Campus Parking Permit
$600.00/mth Rent
$ 75.00/mth Utilities
$200.00/mth Transportation/Parking
$200.00/mth Food
$ 60.00/mth Cell phone
$ 43.00/yr ADA Student Membership
$500.00/yr Textbooks/project supplies
$ 40.00/yr Lab Coat
$900.00/yr Health Insurance (varies)
$500.00/yr Auto Insurance (varies)
$ 25.00/yr Liability Insurance
$ 99.00/yr Hepatitis (3 shots)
$ 5.00/yr TB Skin testing
$ 10.00/yr Flu vaccine
$ 25.00/yr Criminal Background Check
$16,734.00 Total Estimated Expenses (NC Resident)
$26,320.00 Total Estimated Expenses (Non-NC Resident)
The length of the dietetic internship is two academic semesters. A new class of dietetic interns begins according to WCU's Fall 2009 Academic calendar. The dietetic internship is completed the following Spring 2010 semester. supervised practice rotations are 40 hour weeks. Additional time is required for rotation preparation and to complete assignments.
Vacation
During the Dietetic Internship interns are provided with three weeks of vacation. Vacation will occur the last week of December, the first week of January, and during the week of Western Carolina University's scheduled Spring Break that occurs in March. At the beginning of the program, the Dietetic Internship Director informs interns of the scheduled weeks of vacation.
Holidays
The intern is entitled to the following holidays, most to be observed on the actual day in which the holiday falls: Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day following Thanksgiving. Interns might be assigned to work no more than one holiday. If so, the intern will be scheduled off on another day. The alternate holiday will be scheduled within thirty days of the missed actual holiday. The Dietetic Internship Director will inform the intern if he/she is scheduled to work the observed holiday.
The intern must meet graduation requirements as stated in the Agreement Form between the Intern and the College of Health and Human Sciences (see the Agreement Form). The intern must sign and date the agreement proceeding internship start date. If the intern refuses to sign the Agreement Form he/she cannot begin the program. The intern must complete all program and self assessments as well as exit interview with the Dietetic Internship Director. The intern must demonstrate no misconduct, academic or non-academic, and must perform ethically in accordance with the values of the American Dietetic Association. The intern will receive a Dietetic Internship Verification Statement, following successful completion of the dietetic internship.The Dietetic Internship Program was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), the accrediting agency for the American Dietetic Association, in 1994. A reaccreditation Site Visit is scheduled to occur March 29-31, 2009.
CADE contact information:
Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE)
120 South Riverside Plaza
Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
(800) 877-1600 Ext. 5400
For further information about the Dietetic Internship, contact Dietetic Internship Director, Sherry Robison at 828-227-2659 or smrobison@email.wcu.edu.