Curriculum

Dietetic Internship Curriculum

The UW Health Dietetic Internship Program maintains two concentrations: clinical medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and public health (reserved for WIC program nutritionists). The UW Health Dietetic Internship Program is a year-long, supervised practice experience consisting of clinical, community, public health and food systems administration experiences. Interns within the MNT concentration are in rotations a minimum of 32 hours per week, whereas interns within the public health concentration are in rotations a minimum of 20 hours per week.

The internship is integrated with the UW-Madison Capstone Certificate Program in Clinical Nutrition-Dietetic Internship as NS 670 Nutrition and Dietetics Practicum I (3 credits), and NS 671 Nutrition and Dietetic Practicum II (3 credits).

Rotations

The year-long dietetic internship maintains comparable rotations for all interns but there is greater emphasis in MNT or public health experiences, by concentration. Sample internship schedules are available for the Medical Nutrition Therapy concentration and the Public Health concentration below and within the current student handbook, which also is posted on the home page.

Interns within the MNT concentration complete the following rotations:

  • Orientation (1 week; 40 hours)
  • Clinical Nutrition-Ambulatory Medical Nutrition Therapy (5 weeks; 32 hours per week)
    • Ambulatory Orientation (1 week)
    • Diabetes Care (2 weeks)
    • Free Choice (2 weeks). Choose from the following: Preventive Cardiology, Abdominal Transplant, Surgical Weight Management, Digestive Health, Employee Wellness, Nutrition Clinics (Eating Disorders, Weight Management)
  • Clinical Research Unit (1 week; 32 hours)
  • Community Public Health and School Nutrition (5 weeks; 32 hours per week)
    • County WIC program, Community health center, local school district, grocery stores
  • Food Systems Administration (6 weeks; 32 hours per week)
    • Clinical Nutrition-Medical Nutrition Therapy (18 weeks; 32 hours per week)
      • Clinical Skills (1 week)
      • MNT Chronic (3 weeks)
      • MNT Acute (4 weeks)
      • Surgery (2 weeks)
      • Renal (2 weeks)
      • Critical Care (2 weeks)
      • Extended Care/Geriatric Nutrition (2 weeks)
      • Management (2 weeks)
    • Clinical Nutrition-Pediatrics (3 weeks; 32 hours per week)

    Total Hours: 1,256

    Interns within the Public Health concentration complete the following rotations:

    • Orientation (1 week; 40 hours)
    • Public Health (22 weeks; 20 hours per week )
    • County WIC program, Community health center, local school district, DHS, DPI
    • Food Systems Administration (9 weeks; 20 hours per week )
    • Clinical Medical Nutrition Therapy (14 weeks; 32 hours per week )
    • MNT Chronic (2 weeks)
    • MNT Acute (2 weeks)
    • Surgery (2 weeks)
    • Pediatrics (2 weeks)
    • Critical Care (2 weeks)
    • Extended Care/Geriatric Nutrition (2 weeks)
    • Management (2 weeks)
    • Clinical Nutrition-Ambulatory Medical Nutrition Therapy (6 weeks; 20 hours per week)
      • Diabetes Care (3 weeks)
      • Renal/Hemodialysis (3 weeks)

    Total Hours: 1,228

    Requirements of Program Completion

    • Completion of the UW-Madison Capstone Certificate in Clinical Nutrition-Dietetic Internship (NS 650, 651, 652, 653, 670, 671).  The required courses for the online courses (NS 650, 651, 652, 653) were developed while considering the program learning goals and after identifying the specific set of skills needed by an advanced practice clinical nutritionist.
      • NS 650: Advanced Clinical Nutrition – Critical Care and Nutrition Support (3 credits)
      • NS 651: Advanced Clinical Nutrition – Pediatrics (3 credits)
      • NS 652: Advanced Nutrition Counseling and Education (3 credits)
      • NS 653: Clinical Nutrition Research (3 credits)
      • NS 670 Nutrition and Dietetics Practicum I (3 credits)
      • NS 671 Nutrition and Dietetic Practicum II (3 credits)
    • Students must remain in good academic standing:
      • Students must earn ≥ 3.00 GPA on all course work attempted for the certificate program.
      • Students receiving an Incomplete (I) grade are allowed the subsequent semester of enrollment to complete the coursework.
    • Completion of all ACEND-accredited rotation competencies at a satisfactory level as aligned with the grading system (NS 670 and NS 671), consistent with the achievement of performance for entry-level dietitians.
    • Completion of Internship projects at a required level of satisfaction:
      • Case Study Presentation
      • Journal Club Presentation
      • Professional behavior self-assessment, reflection and statement
      • E-Portfolio
      • Oral examination

    Dietetic interns must complete all requirements of the Capstone Certificate in Clinical Nutrition-Dietetic Internship and demonstrate satisfactory completion of ACEND program competencies prior to the signing of the Dietetic Internship Verification Statement.

    The online UW-Madison Capstone Certificate in Clinical Nutrition is also available without the Dietetic Internship. It is designed for new graduates (prospective interns), current interns and experienced professionals seeking advanced clinical nutrition training. The Capstone Certificate in Clinical Nutrition may increase your chances of matching to competitive internship programs. The courses earn full graduate credit, which students may subsequently use in relevant graduate/professional degree programs at UW-Madison and other institutions.