Dietetic Internship with Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition

1. Academics
   Earn a bachelor’s degree and complete a didactic program in dietetics accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
2. Internship - That's us!
   Complete a supervised internship program accredited by ACEND.
   
3. Registration Examination *
   Pass the entry-level registration (credentialing) examination administered through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

For more information on the requirements and process to become a registered dietitian nutritionist, including education, supervised practice and passage of the credentialing examination, review the registration eligibility requirements for dietitians.

UB’s Dietetic Internship provides 1200 hours of required field experience while completing your Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition.  Interns have the option of 2 tracks to completion: 16-month comprehensive exam or 21-month thesis.  The UB MS/DI trains interns using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics core competencies for dietitians while developing proficiency in our concentration, nutrition and community wellness.

* Licensure is not required in New York State, however other states may require licensure. Please review for details on what states require licensure.

The mission of the Dietetic Internship with MS in Nutrition is to provide a period of supervised practice to students of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited undergraduate programs, so that they achieve the performance requirements necessary to take the registered dietitian examination, while also receiving a master's degree (MS) in nutrition.

The program emphasizes the interaction of interns, faculty and staff who act with integrity and seek personal and professional excellence. The mission further reflects the research, service and training missions of the University at Buffalo, the School of Public Health and Health Professions, and the Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences. It intends to train health practitioners who will provide leadership in research and clinical settings in the region, state and nation. Moreover, the internship’s chosen concentration area, nutrition and community wellness, address the service need in Buffalo and Western New York area. These practitioners will be trained to utilize innovations in research and technology in the prevention and amelioration of illness. 

• Clinical Nutrition in acute care, long term care and rehab
• Institutional Foodservice in clinical, education and community
• Outpatient nutrition counseling and group education
• Research in University settings
• Nutrition and community wellness organizations
• Culinary medicine and inter-professional education micro-credential eligibility

A small number of Supervised Practice slots are available to Rochester, NY based applicants. Interns are responsible for commuting to the UB campus for in-person graduate classes and events each semester.  Please inquire with the Program Director if interested.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration will require a minimum of a Masters Degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.

Supervised Practice (Summer 1)

• NTR 540: Clinical Practice in Nutrition (7 credits)

Graduate Courses (Fall 1)

• NTR 500: Nutrient Metabolism in Health and Disease (3 credits)
• NTR 523: Nutrition Assessment (or pre-approved elective) (3 credits)
• NTR 540: Clinical Practice in Nutrition (6 credits)

Graduate Courses (Spring 1)

• NTR 501: Vitamins and Minerals (or pre-approved elective) (3 credits)
• NTR 540: Clinical Practice in Nutrition (6 credits)
• NTR 600: Pathophysiology of Nutrition-Related Diseases (3 credits)

Graduate Courses (Summer 2)

• NTR 603: Nutrition Interventions (2 credits)
  
• NTR 524: Nutrition Assessment Instruments (1 credit)
  
• NTR 540: Clinical Practice in Nutrition (7 credits)
• NTR 675: Research - Comprehensive Exam Only (2 credits)
• NTR 680: Thesis in Nutrition - Thesis only (2 credits)

Graduate Courses (Fall 2)

• CEP 532 Medical Statistics (3 credits) or STA 527 Medical Statistics (4 credits)
• CHB 550 Public Health Population Well-Being (3 credits)
• NTR 630 Nutrition Seminar (2 credits)
• Elective - (3 credits)

Graduate Courses (Fall 2)

• CEP 532 Medical Statistics (3 credits) or STA 527 Medical Statistics (4 credits)
• CHB 550 Public Health and Population Well-Being (3 credits)
• NTR 630 Nutrition Seminar (2 credits)
• NTR 680 Thesis in Nutrition (2 credits)

Graduate Courses (Spring 2)

• NTR 680 Thesis in Nutrition (2 credits)

Credit for previous, recent graduate coursework will be considered on an individual basis.

You will complete the courses throughout 5 semesters for the comprehensive exam track or 6 semesters for the thesis track. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for graduate coursework.

• 80% of interns complete the program within 24 months and 31 months for the thesis track  (150% of program length)
• 80% of DI graduates pass the RD exam on the first attempt (first time pass rate) over a five year period
• 80% of graduates who sought employment in dietetics are employed within 12 months of program completion 
• 90% of employers who respond to the One Year Employer Survey, rate the graduate as a 4 on a scale of 1-5, on overall performance as an employee
• 90% of interns who respond to the One Year Graduate Survey rate the DI as a 4 on a scale of 1-5, on overall impression of the program
• 90% of interns demonstrate improvement on post-RD practice exam scores, when compared with pre-RD exam scores

• 25% of graduates who respond to the Five Year Graduate Survey demonstrate leadership in the field of nutrition and dietetics as demonstrated by advanced practice certifications, supervisory employment positions or positions in professional organizations, serving as a preceptor or pursuing advanced education (ie-PhD) in academic research settings
• 5% of interns who complete the dietetic internship with an advanced degree, will present to professional groups, publish original research/articles within 5 years

Students who have completed our program and taken the RD exam as of August 2016:

• 96% have passed the RD exam
• 93% have passed the RD exam on the first attempt - 5 year pass rate