Ball State’s full-time Dietetic Internship is designed to prepare you for successful practice as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Successful completion of the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietetics Internship option qualifies you to sit for the exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
Program Overview
The Dietetic Internship is only offered as a part of the Aspiring Dietitian MS in Nutrition and Dietetics program. The 18-month graduate program includes 27 credit hours of online graduate coursework, a 26-week Dietetic Internship, and optional clinical rotations in the areas of eating disorders, pediatric diabetes, and advanced clinical dietetics. Upon completion of the graduate program, students will earn their MS in Nutrition and Dietetics degree and their DI Verification Statement. At this time, the student will be eligible to sit for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Exam from the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Be sure to attend an Open House and receive a graduate school application fee waiver. To register, click here and filter to the College of Health.
To hear a little more about our DI from our DI Director, click here.
The six steps required to become a
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist are as follows:
1. Complete a bachelor’s degree and earn a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited undergraduate program (like the
Ball State Didactic Program in Dietetics).
2. Get
matched to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program (like the Ball State Dietetic Internship Program).
3. Complete a Master's Degree (like the
Ball State MS in Nutrition and Dietetics for Aspiring Dietitians).
4. Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s (CDR’s) dietetic
registration exam.
5. Obtain
certification/licensure in your state of practice, if applicable. While state interpretations of statutes may vary, ACEND’s considered opinion is that the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND-accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state’s licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license.
6.
Maintain continuing education as outlined by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
The mission of the Ball State University Dietetic Internship Program is to prepare entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists who meet or exceed the ACEND-required competencies. The program will foster a culture of collaboration through inter-professional development and community engagement.
- Goal 1: Graduates will become registered dietitian nutritionists that participate in community engagement.
Objective 1.1: “At least 80% of program interns complete program/degree requirements within 24 months (150% of the program length)”.
Objective 1.2: “Of graduates who seek employment, 80 percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation”.
Objective 1.3: “Ninety percent of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion”.
Objective 1.4: “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%”.
Objective 1.5: At least 80% of employer surveys returned will indicate agreement with the statement that “program graduates are prepared for entry-level practice.”
Objective 1.6: At least 80% of the alumni surveys returned will indicate agreement with the statement “I have participated in community engagement”
- Goal 2: Graduates will participate in interprofessional activities.
Objective 2.1: At least 80% of the alumni surveys returned will indicate agreement with the statement “I have collaborated with members from other professions.”
*2021 One-year pass rate of 96%, other outcomes data available upon request.
Program Application Process
The DI will accept applications in the fall and spring for a program starting the next May.
Early Access DI Admission Option (BSU Undergraduates only)
- Attend the Early Access DI Admission meeting in September to learn about the program application process and to get the necessary application materials.
- Apply to the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics Aspiring Dietitians graduate program by October 4. Attendance at the Early Access DI Admission meeting will qualify you for the Graduate School application fee waiver.
- Email your Early Access Application to the DI Director by October 4.
- Participate in a DI Interview with the DI Director between October 4 and 15. Offers for the DI will be shared between October 16 and 31 with acceptance/rejections of offer made on or by November 15.
Open to all students with a DPD Verification Statement or a DPD Declaration of Intent.
- Attend a DI Open House or recruitment event to learn about the program and application process.
- Apply to the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics Aspiring Dietitians graduate program by October 4 for the fall match or by February 7 for the spring match. Attendance at a DI Open House or recruitment event will qualify you for the Graduate school application fee waiver. In your graduate school application, you will need to have official transcripts emailed to admissions@bsu.edu. The letters of recommendation from your DICAS application will be used to determine acceptance into the Graduate school.
- Upload all the necessary application materials into the DICAS by October 4 (fall match) or February 7 (spring match). Application materials include the following:
- Personal Statement (750-1000 words) sharing 2 unique experiences that highlight your undergraduate achievements, your short- and long-term professional goals, and how the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics will assist you in achieving these goals;
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, including those where dual credit was earned;
- Three letters of recommendation (2 faculty + 1 work supervisor);
- DPD Verification Statement or Declaration of Intent; and
- DICAS Application
- Participate in a DI Interview with the DI Director between October 4-15 (fall match) or February 7-21 (spring match). Offers for the DI will be shared between October 16-31 (fall match) or February 22-28 (spring match) with acceptance/rejection of offer made on or by November 15 (fall match) or March 15 (spring match).
- If the offer is accepted, you will be admitted into the MS-DI program.
Sample Graduate Study Plan1
Summer 1 (3-6 credits) |
Fall 1 (9-12 credits) |
Spring 1 (9-12 credits) |
Electives (3-6)2 | HSC 687 (3)
| NUTR 642 (3)3 |
| HSC 683 (3)
| NUTR 697 (3)
|
| NUTR 647 (3)
| NUTR 648 (3)
|
| Elective (0-3) | |
Summer 2 (6 credits) | Fall 2 (3 credits) | |
NUTR 690 (6) | NUTR 690 (3) | |
1Program is 36 credit hours; 27 in course work and 9 for the DI
2Program includes 9 elective hours. Those students writing a thesis will use 6 elective hours for their thesis hours.
3A grade of B- or higher in NUTR 642 must be earned before starting the DI.
Program Information
Program Expenses
Tuition will be paid for 36 hours. The current tuition rate can be found here. Additionally, students will pay the Technology Fee ($100-$150/semester). Financial aid may be available in addition to department scholarships.
During the program, many students live at home, with friends or relatives, in a graduate residence hall, or in a shared apartment. When considering leases, please remember the DI starts in mid May and there are a limited number of DI sites in the Muncie area.
This includes attending the annual meeting ($80), usually in the Indianapolis area, in April. Travel expenses and lodging costs will vary.
Dietetic interns must hold an active membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics throughout their entire program (graduate coursework and DI; $116.00 - $58/yr). With this membership, you automatically become a member of the
Indiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Program Calendar
After completing 3 semesters (Summer 1, Fall 1, and Spring 1) of online graduate coursework, the interns are ready to begin the Dietetic Internship portion of the program. All internships will begin in mid-May and be completed by mid-December.
Internship Rotations
- Orientation - 1 week (40 hours) in the Health Profession Building on Ball State University's campus in Muncie, IN
- Hospital food service management rotation – 8 weeks (320 hours)
- Hospital nutrition therapy rotation – 11 weeks (440 hours)
- Community nutrition/business rotation – 6 weeks at one or two sites (240 hours)
- Specialty Rotation - optional (1 - 5 weeks)
DI Sites
| Sites |
City in which the facility is located |
Ascension St. Vincent Anderson | Anderson, IN |
Ascension St. Vincent Evansville | Evansville, IN |
Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo | Kokomo, IN |
Baptist Health Floyd | New Albany, IN |
Community Hospital Anderson | Anderson, IN |
Community North Hospital | Indianapolis, IN |
Elkhart General Hospital | Elkhart, IN |
Eskenazi Health | Indianapolis, IN |
Franciscan Health | Indianapolis, IN |
Goshen Hospital | Goshen, IN |
IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital | Muncie, IN |
IU Health Methodist | Indianapolis, IN |
IU Health University | Indianapolis, IN |
Lutheran Hospital of Indiana | Fort Wayne, IN |
Marion General Hospital | Marion, IN |
Norton King's Daughters Health | Madison, IN |
Parkview Health | Fort Wayne, IN |
Reid Health | Richmond, IN |
Riverview Health | Noblesville, IN |
Schneck Medical Center | Seymour, IN |
VA Northern Indiana | Marion and Fort Wayne, IN |
| Dietetic Internship Affiliation |
City in which the facility is located |
| American Dairy Association Indiana | Indianapolis, IN |
| Ball State University Dining | Muncie, IN |
| Collaborative Counseling and Nutrition
| Indianapolis, IN |
| Cummins, Inc
| Columbus, IN |
| Diabetes Care Center: Community Hospital Anderson | Anderson, IN |
| Dialysis Clinic, Inc.
| Indianapolis, IN |
| Elkhart County Health Department - WIC | Elkhart, IN |
| Farrington Specialty Center
| Fort Wayne, IN |
| Fort Wayne Community Schools | Fort Wayne, IN |
| Four Seasons Retirement Facility | Columbus, IN |
| Greenwood Community Schools
| Greenwood, IN |
| Greenwood Meadows-American Senior Communities
| Greenwood, IN |
| Hamilton Southeastern Schools | Fishers, IN |
| Heartland Food Products Group
| Carmel, IN |
| Hooverwood Living
| Indianapolis, IN |
| Indianapolis Colts
| Indianapolis, IN |
| Indianapolis Public Schools | Indianapolis, IN |
| IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Bariatric and Medical Weight Loss Center | Muncie, IN |
| IU Health Riley Children's Hospital
| Indianapolis, IN |
| Madison County WIC
| Anderson, IN |
Majestic Care
| throughout IN |
| Marion County Public Health Department/WIC | Indianapolis, IN |
| Marion Health Outpatient Services
| Marion, IN |
Mississinewa Community Schools | Gas City, IN |
| Modify Nutrition Education - Purdue University Extension
| Virtual |
| Neighborhood Health Clinics-WIC | Fort Wayne, IN |
| New Hope Services | Scottsburg, IN |
| Notre Dame Athletics
| Notre Dame, IN |
| Nutrition Education Programs-Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN |
| Nutrition Services, Inc. | Warsaw, IN |
| Open Door Health Services-WIC | Muncie, IN |
| Pacer Sports and Entertainment
| Indianapolis, IN |
Parkview Diabetes Treatment Center | Fort Wayne, IN |
| Parkview Hospital Oncology Center
| Fort Wayne, IN |
| Parkview Hospital Eating Disorders Clinic
| Fort Wayne, IN |
| Parkview Hospital Pediatrics Clinic
| Fort Wayne, IN |
| Parkview Hospital Weight Management
| Fort Wayne, IN |
| Riverview Health Diabetes Center
| Noblesville, IN |
| Selah House | Anderson, IN |
| Seymour Community Schools | Seymour, IN |
Sport ONE | Fort Wayne, IN |
| Swiss Village, Inc. | Berne, IN |
| University of Louisville Athletics | Louisville, KY |
Westercamp Consulting
| Virtual |
The Ball State Dietetic Internship Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 800-877-1600, ext. 5400. http://www.eatrightPRO.org/acend