About the Dietetic Internship with Master of Science (MS) in Nutrition

The mission of the Dietetic Internship with MS in Nutrition is to provide a period of supervised practice to students of 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, addresses 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. 

• 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