How to Apply for the Dietetic Internship

Admission Requirements

Application to the University of Dayton Master’s in Dietetics and Nutrition Program (MDN) and Premier Health Dietetic Internship (PDI) is open to students entering their final year of study or previous completion in an ACEND accredited undergraduate didactic program in dietetics. Applicants must be accepted by both the MDN and PDI programs to be offered an acceptance letter to the MDN/PDI program. We accept rolling applications in fall admission, which provides the benefits of eligibility for graduate assistant positions, no D&D fees, early coursework options, and early notification for planning for the online UD classes beginning in May with in person classes in August. Applications will be reviewed Nov 1 and Jan 15. Any remaining available positions will enter the DICAS/D&DDigital match in February.  Our interns must also be accepted into the University of Dayton Master’s Degree Program in Dietetics and Nutrition. Therefore, all students must complete a short application and upload their DICAS pdf to the University of Dayton graduate program application portal.

Application Timelines for Fall Acceptance

  1. Complete DICAS application, including the personal statement by either Nov 1 or Jan 15 for rolling admissions
  2. Submit DICAS application to Premier Health Dietetic Internship
  3. Complete University of Dayton graduate application, upload DICAS pdf (portal above)
  4. Review by committees as received, beginning on Nov 1 and Jan 15
  5. Receive Notification letters approx. Nov 30 and Jan 30
  6. Confirm with $1,000 deposit to PDI within 2 weeks of receiving your acceptance letter from PDI.  Remainder $1,000 due one year later

Important Note: Applicants must be able to matriculate into the graduate program by June 1 in order to complete the summer of online graduate courses required for this program. This requires the student to graduate in May and to receive the signed verification statement from their DPD Director with a signed date no later than May 30, prior to beginning the program .

Admission Minimum Qualifications to Apply

  • GPA: minimum 3.0 overall GPA
  • Science GPA: 2.5 minimum
  • Professional Dietetics GPA: 3.0 minimum

Work Experience

Evidence of 200-hours minimum nutrition-related work experience (up to 100 hours can be documented as nutrition related, non-paid experience with significant contributions).

Service to the Profession

Examples: Actively participates as a member of the Student Dietetic Association (SDA), has an executive position on SDA, serves the undergraduate dietetics program as a research or teaching assistant, works on other projects that support the mission and goals of the undergraduate dietetics program, leads/participates in a nutrition related project that impacts the community or fellow dietetic students.

Leadership Experience

Examples: Executive position in a university or community organization, job with high level of trust and responsibility assigned to position, mentor in any setting, leadership of groups outside of the classroom setting. 

***Note any experiences required for a course***

Required Documents for the Application

DICAS

  1. Intent to Complete or DPD Verification Statement:
    • Either of these forms can be completed by your DPD Director to be uploaded directly to the UD or DICAS Application Portal.
  2. Personal Statement
    • 1000-word limit
    • Address the following: Your interest in dietetics and journey to prepare to successfully complete the internship, graduate school and practice in the profession of dietetics; strengths and area of growth over the past four years of undergraduate study; a goal you would like to accomplish during your time in graduate school and dietetic internship as well as one for your career; and how these programs align with achieving your goals.
  3. Resume following template in application portal
    • No more than two pages
    • Specify number of work and/or volunteer hours
  4. Transcript with clear identification of GPA as total, professional, and science. This can be a DICAS printout.
  5. Letters of Recommendation (3)
    • Three letters of recommendation are required, one from each of the following: DPD Director, Medical Nutrition Therapy Professor, Work Reference. If two of these are the same person, add an additional reference from your faculty or organizational advisor – do not include a personal friend as a reference
    • References requested/managed by DICAS
  6. Attestation of Professional Image Policy

University of Dayton Graduate Portal brief application with attestation of Professional Image Policy.

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Content updated July 2023