Graduate Certificate, Montana Dietetic Internship

https://www.montana.edu/academics/dietetics-graduate/

The Montana Dietetic Internship Non-Degree Certificate is designed for applicants who already hold a master's degree and a Didactic Program in dietetics (DPD) verification statement. The two-semester internship emphasizes in sustainable food systems and prepares graduates for entry-level dietetics practice.

The internship begins with orientation at MSU-Bozeman, followed by an immersive sustainable food systems rotation. During this rotation, interns work at Towne's Harvest Garden, an experiential learning laboratory for MSU students, and participate in tours of local farms and ranches, food production facilities, food banks and waste management systems. Interns also facilitate a cohort “lunch and learn” session and examine the role of policy in systems change by drafting a brief and leading a group discussion. In addition, interns complete an interprofessional Food as Medicine project alongside medical and nursing students, researching and teaching the healthcare about the connections among food, agriculture, and health systems, with an emphasis on nutrition security and planetary health.

Following the sustainable food systems rotation, interns relocate once from Bozeman to a major rotation site in Kalispell, Missoula, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, or Billings, MT or Sheridan, WY. There, they complete the remainder of the internship through fall and spring semesters, totaling 1,085 hours of supervised practice across clinical, community, and food service management affiliate locations.

Upon successful completion of all coursework and supervised practice requirements, interns are awarded a Dietetic Internship (DI) verification statement. Graduates who hold a masters degree and DI verification statement are eligible to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians.

MSU also offers a two-year combined Master of Science degree in Dietetic Systems Leadership and Dietetic Internship (MSDI) for students who hold a bachelor’s degree and Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) verification statement. The Master of Science degree and DI verification statement upon successful completion of required coursework, the professional project, and supervised practice experience. In addition, MSU offers an Accelerated 4+1 Program that allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition and a DPD verification statement in four years, followed by completion of the Master of Science in Dietetic Systems Leadership and dietetic internship in the fifth year.

Graduates of the MSDI and Accelerated Program are eligible to sit for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credentialing examination. For more information about the Montana Dietetic Internship and Graduate Program, visit the Department of Food Systems, Nutrition, and Kinesiology program page.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Through readings, activities, internship assignments and supervised practice experiences interns will demonstrate entry level competency in dietetics practice.
  • Domain 1. Interns will Integrate scientific information and translation of research into evidence-based practice.
  • Domain 2. Interns will practice in compliance with current federal regulations and state statutes and rules, as applicable, and in accordance with accreditation standards and the Scope of Practice for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Standards of Practice, Standards of Professional Performance, and Code of Ethics for the Profession of Nutrition and Dietetics.
  • Domain 3: Interns will perform Medical Nutrition Therapy by utilizing the Nutrition Care Process including use of standardized nutrition terminology as a part of the clinical workflow elements for individuals, groups and populations of differing ages and health status, in a variety of settings.
  • Domain 4: Interns will strategically apply principles of management and systems in the provision of services to individuals and organizations.
  • Domain 5: Interns will demonstrate skills, knowledge and experience relevant to leadership potential and professional growth for the nutrition and dietetics practitioner.
  • Interns will develop literacy in critical and systems thinking applied to sustainable food, agriculture and healthcare system topics.
  • Interns will interface with the diversity of stakeholders in the local food system.
  • Interns will demonstrate farm to fork, food preservation, and food as medicine culinary skills.