Track 1: Master's Degree with a Dietetic Internship
The Central Valley WIC Dietetic Internship offers a graduate degree option through Russell Sage College, a degree-granting institution. The degree offered is a Master's Degree in Applied Nutrition. The master's degree is 100% online, and can be completed while working full-time. Interns complete their dietetic internship supervised practice rotations onsite in the Fresno/Central Valley area, during the final year of the program.
Founded in New York in 1916, Russell Sage College is nationally accredited by the US Department of Education, and regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Russell Sage has two campuses in Albany and Troy, and they offer many courses and degrees online. Russell Sage provides 50 bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees, including 23 degrees in the health sciences.
Founded in New York in 1916, Russell Sage College is nationally accredited by the US Department of Education, and regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Russell Sage has two campuses in Albany and Troy, and they offer many courses and degrees online. Russell Sage provides 50 bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees, including 23 degrees in the health sciences.
Admission Requirements
- Current employment with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) WIC Program. Applicants also need to have worked for WIC for at least six consecutive months prior to the preselection deadline.
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
- Verification Statement indicating completion of an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) within the last 5 years. If more than 5 years have passed since the student completed the DPD program, the student may be able to take additional classes to qualify for internship application. Please contact the Internship Coordinator for more information.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 on last 60 semester/90 quarter units.
- If native language is not English and applicant did not graduate from a college or university in the United States, a minimum TOEFL score of either 560 (paperbased test), 241 (computer-based test), or 83 (internet-based test) is required.
- Three letters of recommendation: 1 from a work supervisor (from a paid work position), 1 from a college/university instructor, 1 from a person of applicant's choice. WIC employee applicants must have letter of recommendation from their WIC Supervisor and be an employee in good standing.
- Demonstration of desire to stay and work in the Central Valley of California is a desired criteria, but not required.
- Applicants who have worked as paid employees for the CDPH WIC Program for 6 consecutive months, prior to the pre-selection deadline, will be eligible for the pre-selection process.
- Reliable transportation is required.
- We are unable to accept international students at this time.
Once acceptance to the dietetic internship is confirmed, interns need to obtain a self-managed application packet from the Russell Sage Graduate Schools Office of Admission. The packet will include instructions to collect the following items and forward them as a package to the Office of Admission:
- A completed application
- A current resume
- A one-to-three page career goals essay (typewritten and double-spaced) indicating the reasons for seeking a graduate degree from Russell Sage
- Official transcripts from each previous college attended
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals able to assess the applicant’s ability to successfully complete graduate-level academic work.
- Official transcripts will also be evaluated by Russell Sage. A maximum of six graduate credits may be transferred from another institution if such work was completed within five years. Transferred credits must be a “B” or better.
- GRE scores are not required
Academic Calendar
Russell Sage College offers rolling admissions. Students can start in the summer, fall or spring semesters. Interns enrolled in the Master's Degree with Dietetic Internship typically enroll in the Master's Degree in Applied Nutrition in the summer semester. The degree is eight semesters long and is 39 credits. Please visit the Master's Degree in Applied Nutrition, and the Russell Sage Academic Calendar for more information.
Technology Requirements
Interns are required to have their own laptop, reliable internet access, webcam and microphone. Interns are also required to have their own personal mobile hotspot at their rotation sites.
Graduation Requirements
Graduation from the Master's Degree with Dietetic Internship expected by the end of the program with successful completion and documentation to demonstrate:
The Master's Degree with Dietetic Internship is 32 months long. If the intern is not able to complete the program in 32 months due to illness or other authorized reasons, the program may be extended to a maximum of 150% (48 months/4 years) of time, per ACEND requirements.
Interns who meet the graduation requirements above, and upon validation by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, are eligible to take the registration exam for dietitians. Interns are required to participate in a free Registration Exam Study Program after completing all supervised practice hours. The study program is a structured, online program provided by the California WIC Career Development Coordinator. Guided instruction and support, as well as access to valuable study materials, are given to interns to help prepare them for the exam.
RDNs are required to be licensed/certified in some states. This requirement is not applicable in California, because California does not offer licensure to RDNs. State licensure requirements can be found on the CDR website.
- Ability to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher for graduate level courses at Russell Sage College
- Completion of all required courses for the Master's Degree in Applied Nutrition Degree
- Successful completion of 1134 supervised practice hours
- Successful completion of all supervised practice rotations, competencies, didactic assignments as determined by preceptors, the Internship Director
The Master's Degree with Dietetic Internship is 32 months long. If the intern is not able to complete the program in 32 months due to illness or other authorized reasons, the program may be extended to a maximum of 150% (48 months/4 years) of time, per ACEND requirements.
Interns who meet the graduation requirements above, and upon validation by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, are eligible to take the registration exam for dietitians. Interns are required to participate in a free Registration Exam Study Program after completing all supervised practice hours. The study program is a structured, online program provided by the California WIC Career Development Coordinator. Guided instruction and support, as well as access to valuable study materials, are given to interns to help prepare them for the exam.
RDNs are required to be licensed/certified in some states. This requirement is not applicable in California, because California does not offer licensure to RDNs. State licensure requirements can be found on the CDR website.
Scholarships, Financial Aid, and Tuition
California WIC employees are eligible to apply for a California Nutrition Corps (CNC) Scholarship through the California WIC Association at www.calwic.org. Additional scholarships are available through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at www.eatright.org and the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at www.dietitian.org.
There is no tuition for the Dietetic Internship.
Interns are required to pay Russell Sage College for the Master's Degree in Applied Nutrition graduate classes. Student financial aid is available through Russell Sage College. Please see the “Federal and State Aid” webpage on the Russell Sage College website, at https://www.sage.edu/admission/financial-aid/federal-state-aid/.
There is no tuition for the Dietetic Internship.
Interns are required to pay Russell Sage College for the Master's Degree in Applied Nutrition graduate classes. Student financial aid is available through Russell Sage College. Please see the “Federal and State Aid” webpage on the Russell Sage College website, at https://www.sage.edu/admission/financial-aid/federal-state-aid/.
Requirements to Become an RDN
Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the Master’s Degree in Applied Nutrition at Russell Sage College, and supervised practice hours provided by the Central Valley WIC Dietetic Internship, will be eligible to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.
Acceptance into this program is not influenced by age, sex, language, race, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, or ancestry.