Dietetic Internship
Curriculum Overview
The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®) Board granted the Food Science and Nutrition Department approval for a combined masters and dietetic internship program July 2021.
Potential candidates who will be applying for the DICAS spring 2023 match – the program designation will provide a 30-unit Master of science degree in Food and Nutritional Sciences and a minimum of 1,000 experiential supervised practice hours combined over a 24-month period.
Program Didactic Curriculum
FN 200 Research Methods in Food and Nutrition – (3units) or AGRI 220 Research Methods and Communication (3units)
FN 223 Food, Nutrition and Health – (3units)
FN 229 Graduate Seminar (1unit) – must take 3 seminars
Graduate level Statistics Course, usually AGRI 200 – (3units)
FN 299/298 Thesis or Project – 6units
Electives (approved by advisor) – 12 units (see below)
FN 230 Advanced Counseling (3units)
FN 250 Food and Nutrition Resource Management (3units)
NUTR 193I or FSM 193I: Supervised Work Experience (cr/nc) – no more than 6 units
For a full class description list please visit the course catalog at: https://www.fresnostate.edu/catalog/courses-by-department/food-science-nutrition/
The Fresno State dietetic internship will accept 11 students into the program cohort annually. Ten placements are available for a main internship pathway, and one specialized placement is available that focuses on consulting dietetics and long-term care careers. Both pathways fulfill the core competencies for the accreditation council for education in nutrition and dietetics (ACEND) current standards. Student placements are determined after being accepted into the program, so it is important for perspective applicants to understand when applying, placements could be in either the main or specialized pathway. Placement into the pathway options is determined after appointment/match day. Following the match in April, the program director will determine the best fit for individuals to the placement options on the needs of the program for the program year as well as the individual’s preferences. Please realize that the program cannot guarantee first choice of pathway option to all matched interns. Acceptance into the program should be based on willingness to complete either of the placement options.
Personal preference will be considered for placements; however, the program director may have to assign pathway placements if there are too many and/or not enough interest in both pathway options. Both placement pathways have locations in and around the Fresno metropolitan area but could have commutes of up to 1½ hours one-way, so reliable transportation will be needed for either pathway.
Rotation Summary
The program curriculum rotation sites are listed below in the table (subject to change)
and offer a minimum of 1,000 supervised practice hours. The supervised practice placements
occur simultaneously whiles student graduates take masters level courses as outlined
in the above infographic.
Main Placement Option
Interns complete supervised practice experiences in a variety of facilities in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California, including a veterans' hospital, a state prison, a school district, two private hospitals, an out-patient diabetes program and county public health department.
Main Track
| Segment | Rotation | Weeks | Facilities |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Medical Nutrition Therapy 9.5 weeks Professional Rotation(s): 304 hours
4.5 weeks alternative/simulation study: 144 hours Total Time: 448 hours |
Acute Care – Small
|
3 |
|
|
Acute Care MNT- Large |
2 |
VACCHCS or CRMC or SAMC | |
| Nutrition Support - Large | 2 | VACCHCS or CRMC or SAMC | |
|
Diabetes |
1 | VACCHCS | |
|
Out-Patient Counseling |
1 | VACCHCS | |
|
Out Pt – Cancer or Health Clinic |
1 | CRMC / Family Healthcare Network | |
|
Simulation Study – MNT/NCP |
1 | Self-Study | |
|
Simulation Study - Renal |
1 | Self-Study | |
|
Advanced Counseling |
1 |
Advanced Counseling Techniques (FN 230) |
|
|
Foodservice Systems Management
7 weeks Professional Rotation(s): 224 hours
alternative/simulation study: 8 hours Total Time: 232 hours |
Hospital-Large |
2 |
VACCHCS |
| Hospital-Small |
1 |
Madera Community Hospital | |
|
Community Food Service |
1 |
Fresno-Madera EOC Kitchen | |
|
School Food Service |
2 |
Kings Canyon Unified or Clovis Unified | |
|
Retail-Bulk Food Preparation |
3 |
Precision Prep – Visalia, CA | |
|
Prison |
1 | CSATF at Corcoran State Prison | |
|
Community Nutrition
5 weeks Professional Rotation(s): 160 hours
Total Time: 160 Hours |
WIC |
2 |
Fresno County EOC or United Health Cntr |
|
Health and Wellness |
2 |
University Health and Psychological Services | |
|
Public Health Department |
3 |
Fresno County Public Health Department | |
|
Community Based Health Org |
1 |
West Fresno Health Care Coalition | |
|
CSUF Student Teaching |
3 |
California Health Sciences University (CHSU) Medical School or Fresno State | |
|
Elective
3 weeks Professional Rotation: 96 Hours Alternative/simulation in Coursework: 96 hours
Total Time: 192 Hours |
|
3 weeks of Elective (M-F) |
Interns Seek/Find their own Elective – FN 230 Adv. Counseling: students will create a culturally appropriate screen assessment tool for a said disease and/or counselling style FN 250 Business Resource Mgt: Business Research/Team Task Assignment and Business Presentation Pitch. |
Specialized Placement Option
One of the eleven students in the cohort will be offered the option to participate
in a specialized pathway option that includes the core competency standards in a rotation
line up that is unique for the career path of consulting dietetics and/or long-term
care career field.
NTE Pathway -Specialized Placement Option
| Segment | Rotation | Weeks | Facilities1 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Medical Nutrition Therapy
14 weeks Professional Rotation(s): 448 hours
2 weeks alternative/simulation study: 64 hours Total Time: 512 hours |
Acute Care – Small Nutrition Support |
4 |
Fresno Heart and Surgical |
| Subacute care/Nutrition Support | 3 | Horizon Health and Subacute Care | |
| Dialysis | 1 | Davita | |
| ALSA Outpatient Bariatric Education | 1 | ALSA | |
| LTC Clinical Nutrition | 4 | Various | |
| MDS, Section K, Nutrition Medication Review | 1 | Nutrition Therapy Essentials | |
| ASPEN Clinical Case Studies | 1 | Self-Study | |
| Advanced Counseling | 1 | Advanced Counseling Techniques (FN 230) | |
|
Foodservice Systems Management
8 weeks Professional Rotation(s): 256 hours
1 week alternative/simulation study: 32 hours
Total Time: 288 hours |
Hospital-Small | 2 | Fresno Heart and Surgical |
| LTC | 3 | Various | |
| Group Homes/Assisted Living
|
1 | Various | |
| Prison Food Service | 1 | Corcoran State Prison | |
| Food Service Policy/Procedures | 1 | Nutrition Therapy Essentials | |
| Food Service Training Videos, Food Service Case studies | 1 | CAHF, Nutrition Therapy Essentials | |
|
Community Nutrition
4 weeks Professional (160 hours)
1 week alternative/simulation study: 32 hours
Total Time: 192 Hours |
Community Nutrition | 2 | California Food Bank |
|
Children’s Nutrition Public Policy, Informatics, Socioeconomics |
1 | Nutrition Therapy Essentials/Quail Lakes Charter School | |
| Student Teaching | 2 | Fresno City College | |
|
Elective
3 weeks Professional Rotation: 96 Hours
Total Time: 96 Hours |
3 weeks of Elective 96 hours |
Interns Seek/Find their own Elective – FN 230 Adv. Counseling: students will create a culturally appropriate screen assessment tool for a said disease and/or counseling style FN 250 Business Resource Mgt: Business Research/Team Task Assignment and Business Presentation Pitch. |
Course Plan
30 units of graduate credit see course catalog
*Some rotations use 2-4 facilities, accommodating 5 interns at each facility. The
facilities are selected and the experiences are planned to be comparable.
Conditions for Program Completion
Requirements for Program Completion & Issuance of Verification Statement:
- Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised practice.
- Satisfactory completion of all rotations assigned by the Dietetic Internship Director.
- Satisfactory completion of all assignments in each rotation.
- Satisfactory completion of all additional assignments made by the Dietetic Internship Director.
- Earn a minimum of 70% (C grade) in all required graduate courses.
- Fulfill program requirements to earn Masters of Science (Food & Nutritional Sciences) 30 unit degree.
Maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA
Complete ALL program requirements mentioned above
Course requirements include: 30 units of graduate credit
- To review more about the Food Science and Nutrition masters degree requirements, student can go to the course catalog: http://www.fresnostate.edu/jcast/fsn/degrees-programs/post-baccalaureate/masters-program.html
Criteria for Issuance of Verification Statement - A verification statement will only be issued with BOTH the Master’s Degree requirement and the supervised practice hours have been completed and conferred.
