COLLEGE OF APPLIED & NATURAL SCIENCES

Program Description

By completing this internship, dietetic interns will be prepared to become a competent entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists employed in the field of dietetics.

Program features include:

• Dietetic Internship classes will begin in September and will be coordinated with the Master of Science program. Expected completion will be by Winter or Spring quarter of the following year (5 quarters in total for DI and MS).
• Fall quarter courses are hybrid, and students are not expected to move from their permanent location until November.
• Master’s coursework follows the academic calendar of the university. Specific program calendars will be available for each cohort.
• Undergraduate students are eligible to apply for Fall admittance if they have completed their undergraduate degree by August (prior to the Sept start).
• The Official Louisiana Tech University Calendar is observed.
• Interns complete practicum assignments in one of three geographical areas of Louisiana (Shreveport, Alexandria, or Ruston/Monroe).
• 1,200 hours of supervised practice is combined with graduate coursework.
• Interns rotate through a variety of facilities, which may include acute and long-term care, school food services, wellness centers, community nutrition programs, dialysis centers, rehabilitation centers, and private practice to complete clinical, pediatric, renal, school nutrition and management rotations for dietetics.
• Interns are not required to locate their facilities or preceptors in their city.
• Periodic on-campus seminar classes will be scheduled.
• A mandatory RDN exam review course is required during the program. Minimum scores on practice exams are required to earn verification statements to sit for the RDN examination by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.