Nutrition Day at the Capital - 2011

Overview

The Texas State Dietetic Internship is a fulltime 10 month experience that combines 18 hours of graduate coursework and approximately 1,240 hours of supervised practice. No graduate degree is awarded, but 9 hours of coursework may be credited towards the MS in Human Nutrition. Separate application to the MS in Human Nutrition is required.

The program is housed within the Nutrition and Foods Program of the School of Family and Consumer Sciences. It is currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995, 800-877-1600. 

Each year we accept up to 9 students into the program.

The mission and goals for the Texas Dietetic Internship can be found here.

Competencies and Concentration

Supervised practice is divided into three components – Management/Business, Medical Nutrition Therapy, and Community. Interns practice in facilities located between Austin and San Antonio, along the IH-35 corridor. Management experiences include state-of-the-art food service operations in Comal Independent School District, South Texas Veterans Health System, and Seton Health System. Business experiences occur at the HEB Grocery (for sales, media relations, and product development/ promotion experience), New BraunFIT (where interns participate in and evaluate this community wellness program), and with practice dietitians (providing first hand experience with entrepreneurs). Clinical skills are developed at several hospitals in the Central Texas area, and include a rotation in a pediatric hospital. Community experiences are offered at state agencies, children's programs outpatient dialysis clinics, outpatient diabetes clinics, and at a community health clinic, a food bank, and a senior feeding program. Unique rotations take place at the American Botanical Council, where interns learn about the therapeutic properties of herbs and at the Mothers' Milk Bank, one of only 9 such facilities in the country. Interns also participate in a lactation education seminar.

The internship has an emphasis in Pediatric Nutrition. Supervised practice at a school district, a local WIC clinic, the state WIC office, children's feeding programs at Meals on Wheels and More and the San Antonio Food Bank, well-child clinic at the Hays County Personal Health Clinic, Mother's Milk Bank and the lactation education seminar provide opportunities for interns to develop more specialized knowledge and skills in the identification and provision of nutritional services/care for infants, children, and adolescents. A community research project exposes interns to pediatric obesity prevention interventions.

Classes introduce interns to emerging fields of research and practice. Participation in several community education programs and research projects expose the interns to actual community interventions, particularly with low income and minority populations.

Students will complete the program in 43 weeks, beginning in the Fall semester and finishing mid-June. Interns who successfully complete the program are eligible to sit for the Registration Exam, which is required to become a Registered Dietitian.

Schedule

Fall Semester (late August-December)

NUTR 5360 – Practicum (Supervised Practice)

NUTR 5362 – Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy 

Spring Semester (January – May)

NUTR 5306 – Seminar in Nutrition and the Lifespan

NUTR 5360 – Practicum 

Summer I Semester (May through Mid June)

NUTR 5363 – Research in Community Nutrition

NUTR 5360 – Practicum

Application & Admission Information

Application Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for apply to the Texas State Dietetic Internship program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• 1 official transcript from each college or university attended
• Verification Statement or Intent to Complete a Didactic Program in Dietetics (obtained from your DPD director)
• Application to the Graduate College at Texas State as an MS student or for the graduate DI certificate program if you are not applying to the MS program (prepared and submitted after acceptance to the DI)
• Minimum GPA of 3.25 for undergraduate degree (3.0 graduate GPA for students in the MS in Human Nutrition at Texas State)

Post-Acceptance Requirements

• Negative Tb test
• Negative drug screening urinalysis
• Criminal background check
• Immunization for Hepatitis B, mumps, measles, and tetanus

Program Completion Requirements

• Attainment of entry-level performance (through completion of all supervised practice)
• Completion of 18 hours of graduate coursework (9 can be applied to the MS in Human Nutrition)

Application Procedure

Instructions for Non-Texas State Applicants

The Texas State Dietetic Internship program participates in the Spring Match every year. Students apply to the program through the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS) hosted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association). It is recommended that you watch the DICAS instructional video at http://www.eatright.org/CADE/content.aspx?id=186.

All applications are made through the DICAS Applicant Portal at  https://portal.dicas.org/. The portal will be open for Spring 2012 applications beginning on December 1, 2011.

Calendar for the Spring 2012 Internship Computer Match

Portal opens                                                           December 1, 2011

DICAS Application Deadline                                   February 15, 2012 at 11:59 PM Central Time.

Computer Match Form Deadline                             February 15, 2012 at 11:59 PM Central Time.

Applicants may change DI rankings until:               March 26, 2012

Matching results (on D&D Digital website)              April 1, 2012 beginning at 6:00 PM Central Time.  

THE APPLICATION PROCESS REQUIRES COMPLETION OF THREE STEPS.

STEP ONE. Complete the centralized application using the DICAS Applicant Portal.

The centralized application includes the following components (subject to change):

Create an account.

Application Checklist (make sure all the boxes marked with a red dot within the application are completed.

Contact Information.

Personal and Background Information.

Colleges Attended [Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and any other]. Note: Transcripts for all colleges must be submitted.

Session and Coursework. All DPD courses must be entered and include at what college the course was taken, academic status when you took the course (freshman, etc.), the term, the year, and whether completed or planned in progress. Be sure to enter the course title exactly as it appears on your transcript. You will also enter the type of course, if it was repeated, the number of credits, the grade type and the grade earned. Additionally, you will enter whether the course is a DPD Science or DPD Professional course. Check your DPD program requirements to obtain this information. Texas State students should refer to their catalog coursesheet. These can be found at http://advising.appliedarts.txstate.edu/degrees/majors/FCS.html.

DPD Contact Information. You will provide contact information for your DPD Director. Dr. Sylvia Crixell is the DPD Director at Texas State (scrixell@txstate.edu). Note: In Spring 2012, Ms. Karen Brasfield will act as the DPD Director while Dr. Crixell is on sabbatical (kb41@txstate.edu). The DPD Director you indicate will be sent an email with directions about how to upload your Verification Statement or Declaration of Intent to Complete to DICAS. If is courteous to inform you DPD Director that you will be applying to DIs. Note: Applicants who submit a Declaration of Intent form and are accepted to an internship will be required to submit a Verification Statement prior to beginning the Internship.

Awards, Experience, Volunteer Activities. You will complete information for each experience.

Personal Statement. You may create and upload as many personal statements as you wish. Provide an identifying title for each Personal Statement. You will later select the statement to be included with an application to a particular internship as you complete the application process.

Resume. Upload your resume as a PDF document.

Three Letters of Reference. Two letters should be from academic references and one from a work or volunteer supervisor. You will identify your referees on the DICAS site. They will be sent an email with instructions to complete the reference form. Ask your referees to specifically address your qualifications for a supervised practice program and upload them to the DICAS portal.

Application Certification. You certify your application and identity by entering your name and date.

Program Designation. You identify the DIs to which you are applying and select the appropriate Personal Statement to be attached.

Transcript from each college/university attended. An official transcript from each of the post-secondary schools that you have attended should be mailed to the DICAS central processing office (address below). Note: Applicants who are accepted will be required to provide a transcript showing degree completion prior to beginning the Internship.

DICAS Transcript Department
PO Box 9118
Watertown, Massachusetts 02472

Note. ADA  centralized system application costs $40 for first program + $20 for each additional program to which the intern applies.

STEP TWO. Send a $40.00 Texas State Dietetic Internship application fee to the Program Director.

This application fee covers expenses incurred by Texas State personnel during the review of your application and also applies to the Graduate College admission fee. This fee is separate from any costs paid to ADA using DICAS. If accepted to the DI, applicants will then be directed to apply to the Texas State Graduate College at https://www.applytexas.org/adappc/gen/c_start.WBX. You WILL NOT pay the $40 fee to the Graduate College. Your admission fee will be sent to the Graduate College by the Texas State DI Director.

Make the $40 check payable to the Texas State Dietetic Inernship.

Mail to:

BJ Friedman, PhD, RD/LD
Director, Texas State Dietetic Internship
School of Family and Consumer Sciences
Texas State University
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666

Note: The PROGRAM APPLICATION FEE must be POSTMARKED BY FEBRUARY 15, 2012. Applicants will receive a receipt in the mail.

STEP THREE. Use the D&D Digital Computer Matching Process.

Application to the Texas State Dietetic Internship includes a computer matching process. All applicants must participate in this selection system. Application is made online at D&D Digital (https://www.dnddigital.com/ada/index.php). Applicants rank their preference for all internship to which they apply. Note: This process requires a $50 fee.

Texas State Students or Alumni Application

Pre-select Option. Application Deadline is January 15.

The Texas State Dietetic Internship offers a pre-select option for current or former (within 5 years of application) Nutrition and Foods majors or students enrolled in the MS in Human Nutrition.

Applicants do not participate in the computer matching process. All applicants will be informed via email of acceptance on or before February 1 to permit application to other Dietetic Internships through the DICAS and computer matching process if not preselected.

For Bachelor of Science in FCS - Nutrition and Foods (Dietetics Track) Students

Currently enrolled students are eligible to apply if their degrees will be completed by August.

Degree holders may apply if the degree was earned within the past 5 years. If the degree is older than 5 years, upper division courses currently required for the Verification Statement (in consultation with the DPD Director and the DI Director) must be taken prior to applying.

For Master of Science in Human Nutrition Students

MS students will complete 1 or more semesters of coursework for the graduate degree before they are eligible to apply for the DI.

Students enrolled in the MS program are eligible to apply to be pre-selected to the Texas State Dietetic Internship if they have obtained a Verification Statement from a CADE-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics within the past 5 years.

Applicants from Texas State must submit the following:

Application Form

Recommendation Form - Note: Only 1 letter of recommendation is required for Texas State applicants. This referral should NOT be completed by a Texas State faculty member.

Graduate College Application - Application to the Graduate College at Texas State as an MS sutdent or for the graduate DI certificate program (if you are not applying to the MS program) (prepared and submitted after acceptance to the DI).

$40 Application Fee by check (payable to the Texas State Dietetic Internship).

Verification Statement from a Didactic Program in Dietetics (from director of program where you graduated - in Spring 2012 Dr. Crixell will be on sabbatical and the acting director will be Ms. Karen Brasfield). NOTE: If you have not yet graduated when you complete this application, you can submit an Intent to Complete form.

Personal Statement (no page restriction).

Resume.

 INFORMATION FOR ALL APPLICANTS

Applicant Ranking

Applicants will be ranked using the following criteria: overall academic performance, academic performance in upper division nutrition courses, academic performance in chemistry and biology courses, quality of personnel statement with emphasis placed on compatibility with our program, work and volunteer experience, with emphasis on experience in the nutrition and foods area,  and quality of references.

Applicant Interviews

Top applicants may be called for a phone interview. The interviews will take place during February and March. The interview will provide the applicant with further information about the program and allow the applicant to demonstrate their potential to the Dietetic Internship Selection Committee.

Estimated Cost Regarding Return of Application Material

The Texas State Dietetic Internship does not return application materials to the applicant.

Policy Regarding Equal Opportunity

No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity sponsored or conducted by Texas State University-San Marcos on any basis prohibited by applicable law, including race, color, age, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or disability. Publications will, upon request, be provided in alternative formats.

Admission to the Dietetic Internship

Applicants must have completed the baccalaureate degree and academic requirements of the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) set by The Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education prior to entering the program.

Policy Regarding Background Checks and Drug Screens

Interns will be working in facilities (i.e., hospitals, schools) that require criminal background checks and/or drug screens before attendance is permitted. The Texas State Dietetic Internship program abides with policies of the site if an intern whose criminal background check raises concerns is rejected by the facility. Please consider your own circumstances before applying to the program.

Gainful Employment Disclosure - Here

Estimated Cost to Student Upon Enrollment

The following approximate expenses will be incurred by the Texas State Dietetic Internship intern:

Tuition and fees for 18 semester graduate hours (tuition and fees can be found at http://catsweb.txstate.edu/catsweb/sa/index.htm)

General property fee - $10

Professional attire (e.g. lab coats, appropriate shoes, etc.) - $150

Professional liability insurance - $17

Textbooks and other supplies - $600

Registration for professional meetings (varies) - $150

American Dietetic Association affiliated Membership Fee (optional) - $50

Meals, housing and transportation. A reliable car is required for travel among practicum sites. Sites will be in Austin, San Antonio, and the San Marcos vicinity. A San Marcos resident would drive about 12,000 miles to classes, rotation sites, and other required activities.

Immunizations - $100

Criminal Background Check - $35 (depends on the number of counties of residence)

Drug Screening Test - $40

Faculty Directory

Information on our faculty can be found at this web site: http://www.fcs.txstate.edu/people/faculty/nf_directory.html

Master of Science in Human Nutrition

Information about the MS in Human Nutrition can be found at: http://www.fcs.txstate.edu/degrees-programs/nutr/ms_nutr.html.

Submit all of the above  (by mail or brought to the Family and Consumer Sciences Main Office) by January 15 to:

BJ Friedman, PhD, RD/LD
Director, Texas State Dietetic Internship
School of Family and Consumer Sciences
Texas State University
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666