Dietetic Internship

All dietetic interns must be admitted to the Doisy College of Health Sciences graduate education program and are considered full-time graduate students with all rights and privileges. Interns must maintain a minimal grade point average of a "B-" in each graduate course with a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 to remain in the graduate program. The courses are taught on SLU’s campus in the evening following the assigned clinical rotations.

• Rabia Rahman, Ph.D., RD, LD, Dietetic Internship Director, Interim Chair
• Daniel Brewer, M.S., RDN
• Lori Jones, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S., RD, LD
• Lauren Landfried, Ph.D., RD, LD, FAND
• Whitney Linsenmeyer, Ph.D., RD, LD
• Maria J. Romo-Palafox, Ph.D., RD
• Martha Blaess, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, RD, LD

Registered dietitian/nutritionists frequently work in hospitals or other health care facilities, as well as in food and nutrition-related businesses and industries. You may also work in a school, hospital or commercial kitchen, catering, or in nutrition and culinary services.

Applicants are expected to meet the following requirements for entrance into the dietetic internship:

• A bachelor's degree in dietetics, nutrition or related area with verification of completion the didactic program requirements (DPD) by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.
• Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Minimum GPA in major of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Minimum science GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test results are optional to submit. If submitted, desirable scores of 150 in both verbal and quantitative sections and 4 in the writing section within five years of application.

When requesting GRE scores from ETS, use the following coding:

Saint Louis University code: 6629
Nutrition code: 0214

Applicants will need:

• Three letters of recommendation. We recommend that two be from college professors/instructors and one from a work supervisor. Please choose professors/supervisors who can adequately assess your abilities to perform in a dietetic internship and as a registered dietitian. When completing the DICAS application form, you must include the name and email address for each reference. This will initiate an email message requesting online completion of a reference form. Students submitting more than one application will need to use the same individuals as references for each application.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended should be sent to: DICAS - Transcript Dept., PO Box 9118, Watertown, MA 02472. They will be scanned and included in your online application.
• A personal statement including professional interests, goals, personal attributes, etc. qualifying you as a good candidate for the SLU dietetic internship, as well as which concentration(s) you wish to study. A separate personal statement is required for each concentration and should be uploaded to the supplemental materials section in the DICAS application. DICAS will require the personal statement to be 1,000 words or less

There is no application fee for the SLU dietetic internship program.

A phone or Zoom interview may be conducted by one or more members of the selection committee. The interview will last 20 to 30 minutes and will cover the following topic areas:

• The different roles in dietetics and the areas of practice
• Your interest in becoming a dietitian and your career goals
• Your expectations of this internship
• Your attributes that make you a strong candidate for our program

Additional information regarding the phone interview process will be provided to applicants upon receipt of the application.

Applicants being considered for Fall 2025 admission, will be notified of acceptance to the program on or before March 1, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and applicants will be notified of their acceptance accordingly. Applicants must email the Program Director Rabia Rahman to accept their appointment by March 15, 2025. Applicants who do not confirm their appointment by March 15, 2025, may forfeit their place in the dietetic internship program". On the next line, can you please add:  "Due to the limited spots, applicants will also be notified on March 1, 2025 if they are placed on our Waitlist. Applicants on the Waitlist will be eligible for admission in the dietetic internship program, should one become available, and would be notified by March 15, 2025. 

Final transcripts, DPD verification and the dietetic internship admission fee must be submitted prior to beginning the internship program.

The purpose of this option is to offer qualified SLU undergraduate dietetic and DPD students the opportunity to apply for admission into the SLU dietetic internship/master’s program during their senior year and be granted direct admission into the program upon final acceptance and successful completion of the Bachelor of Science and DPD program requirements.

Students will commit to taking part in the SLU dietetic internship the year following undergraduate completion and bypass the computer-matching application and selection dietetic internship selection process.

Criteria for Current SLU Students

Students currently enrolled at Saint Louis University who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply for the pre-select admission option during their senior year and/or after completion of “Advanced Nutrition” (DIET 3850):

• A minimum of a 3.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA)*
• A minimum of a 3.4 GPA in the core Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)**
• A grade of "C" or better in DPD coursework
• Completion of the core upper division nutrition courses (DIET 4100 and DIET 4150 Medical Nutrition Therapy I, II) at Saint Louis University

Students who have transferred into SLU’s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics are eligible to apply for the pre-select admission option after completing a minimum of two full-time semesters at Saint Louis University, in addition to meeting the other criteria listed above.

*Undergraduate and graduate coursework will be considered in the cumulative GPA.
**DPD GPA will be calculated using the courses outlined on the Pre-select Admission Option form.

Application Process

1. Attend the pre-select interest meeting in the fall to review the admission requirements and discuss the application process.
2. Complete the Saint Louis University Pre-select Admission Form during the fall semester of your senior year, and no later than Jan. 10 for preadmission for the following year. Forms are available from the pre-select adviser.
3. Complete the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Supervised Practice Application Form during the fall semester of your senior year, and no later than Jan. 10. Forms are available from the pre-select advisor (Lauren Landfried) and on the DIET 3890 Canvas site.
4. Three letters of recommendation using the standard Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Waiver and Recommendation Form are required from SLU faculty and/or other professionals who can attest to your academic and/or professional attributes and support your application for the pre-select program. Please submit each reference letter in a sealed envelope with the signature of the person submitting reference on the envelope closure as part of the application packet.
5. Letter of Application(s)/personal statement(s) including professional interests, goals, personal attributes, etc. that support(s) your candidacy for the SLU dietetic internship and aptitude for a the specific track(s) should be included. A separate letter of application is required for each concentration. This letter should indicate to which track(s) you are applying. You may apply to all concentrations and prioritize your choices on the pre-select admission form.
6. Statement of intent to complete a DPD must be included in the pre-select application and a verification statement of DPD completion must be submitted by Aug. 1 of the internship year.
7. A résumé listing prior work experience, honors, awards and other relevant data should be included in the pre-select application packet.
8. The completed application packet must be submitted to the dietetic internship director no later than Jan. 10 for pre-admission into the dietetic internship class for the following year.
9. Completed applications packets can be hand-delivered to the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics (January 10), emailed to rabia.rahman@health.slu.edu (January 10), or mailed (postmarked deadline Jan. 10) to:
   
   Internship Selection Committee
   Department of Nutrition and Dietetics
   Doisy College of Health Sciences
   Saint Louis University
   3437 Caroline Street, Room 3076
   St. Louis, MO 63104-1111

Applicants will receive written notification of acceptance or rejection into the dietetic internship no later than mid-January prior to the scheduled program year. Failure to complete academic and graduation requirements will compromise internship admission.

Students notified of acceptance who decide to participate in computer matching, pursue other educational/career options or postpone the internship should do so by Jan. 15 before the scheduled internship year, with written notification to the dietetic internship director and, if applicable, should notify D&D Digital to participate in computer matching.

The applications to the dietetic internship and graduate program are separate processes. The application for the graduate program should be initiated after the applicant has been accepted into the internship. There is a $65 graduate program application fee. The graduate application should be submitted online. Learn more about SLU’s Master of Science in nutrition and dietetics.

SLU's supervised practice program (dietetic internship) is currently granted full and continued accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606, 312-899-5400, www.eatrightpro.org/acend.

Registration and state licensure can be obtained from the completion of the program and Registration Examination for Dietitians. For information on dietetic registration, certification and licensure refer to the Commission on Dietetic Registration website.

• Learn more about program mission, objectives, costs and additional information.
• SLU Academic Calendar
  
• Internship Holidays and Calendar

Program outcome data available upon request. Please contact Program Director Rabia Rahman at rabia.rahman@health.slu.edu.

Saint Louis University Mission

The pursuit of truth for the greater glory of God and the service of humanity.

Doisy College of Health Sciences Mission

Rooted in Jesuit ideals, the Doisy College of Health Sciences serves humanity through education, research and engagement.

Saint Louis University Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Mission

To thrive in a community that promotes and seeks truth about food and nutrition. Woven into the fabric of the community are multifaceted educational pursuits to promote food-centered culture for health and wellness, scholarly exploration, and an appreciation of the global and ecological community in which we exist.

Saint Louis University Dietetic Internship Program Mission

To prepare the graduate to assume an entry-level position as a registered dietitian nutritionist in the provision of evidence-based care.

Program Philosophy

The Dietetic Internship promotes self-directed learning, self-assessment for professional advancement, and collaborative opportunities to prepare graduates for emerging jobs in the profession. The Program is designed to develop competent practitioners dedicated to service of others and to the profession. The academic courses and supervised practice experiences provided during the internship prepare the intern for entry-level dietetics practice with diverse patient populations.

Program Goals

The goals of the SLU Dietetic Internship coincide with the mission of the University, which promotes the acquisition and application of knowledge and service to others and the profession. The program goals are outlined below:

Goal 1: To prepare graduates to assume entry-level positions as registered dietitian nutritionists in the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health through academic coursework, supervised clinical practice, and community exposure.

Measurable Program Objectives

• 1.1: At least 80% of program graduates will take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionist within 12 months of program completion.
• 1.2: The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
• 1.3: At least 80% of employer surveys returned will report average or above average satisfaction with graduate’s preparation for entry level practice.
• 1.4: At least 80% of alumni surveys returned will report that graduates “strongly agree” or “agree” that the program adequately prepared them for an entry-level position.
• 1.5: Of graduates who seek employment, at least 85% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
• 1.6: At least 80% of program interns will complete the program and degree requirements within 22.5 months (150% of program length).

Goal 2: Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to utilize critical thinking in the application of evidence-based science in assessing and treating individuals and populations.

Measurable Program Objectives

• 2.1: 100% of dietetic interns will achieve satisfactory or better in all supervised practice evaluations.
• 2.2: 100% of all dietetic interns will earn a B- or better in all graduate courses.
• 2.3: At least 80% of alumni surveys returned will report that graduates “strongly agree” or “agree” that the program fostered critical thinking and provided the necessary clinical skills to provide evidence-based care.