Master's Degree/Dietetic Internship
The Central Valley WIC Dietetic Internship in collaboration with Russell Sage College, is proud to offer a Master's Degree in Applied Nutrition combined with a Community Nutrition Dietetic Internship. The master's degree is 100% online, and is designed for interns who would like to work full-time, while completing the majority of their graduate coursework. Interns complete their dietetic internship rotations (supervised practice) onsite during the final year of their master's degree.
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.
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.
Course Schedule
The "Course Schedule" table below outlines the number of MS courses planned per semester for interns selected in the Spring of 2023. The schedule also shows when the DI rotations will take place. The Academic Calendar for Russell Sage can be found here https://www.sage.edu/academics/academic-calendars/, and will be followed for the coursework year. The DI rotations (supervised practice) will be similar to the calendar at this link https://www.cvwdi.org/sample-rotation-schedule.html.
Course Schedule for Interns Selected in Spring 2023
Summer Semester May-Aug |
Fall Semester Sep-Dec |
Spring Semester Jan-Apr |
Summer Semester May-Aug |
Fall Semester Sep-Dec |
Spring Semester + DI Rotations Jan-Apr |
Summer Semester + DI Rotations May-Aug |
Fall Semester + DI Rotations Sep-Dec |
1 MS degree course |
2 MS degree courses |
2 MS degree courses |
No courses |
2 MS degree courses |
1 MS degree course 1 Practicum course |
I MS degree course 1 Practicum course |
1 MS degree course 1 Practicum course |
Russell Sage’s online Master of Science in Applied Nutrition provides graduates with lifelong professional skills in many areas including critical thinking, writing and communication, planning and conducting food and nutrition programs, research analysis and interpretation, evaluating interventions, using evidence-based guidelines in practice, and developing strong presentation skills. More information about course topics, requirements and options is provided in the table below.
Required Courses |
Credit Hours |
NTR 551 Research Methods for the Health Sciences |
3 |
NTR 690 Directed Research: Group MS Thesis Project |
3 |
NTR 691 Directed Research: Group MS Thesis Project |
3 |
Interns can choose 7 of the following courses |
|
NTR 549 Nutrition and Disease Management of Pediatrics |
3 |
NTR 553 Nutrition Epidemiology |
3 |
NTR 555 Nutrition Research: Interpretation and Communication |
3 |
NTR 561 Nutrition Programs and Interventions: Theory and Practice |
3 |
NTR 562 Weight Management |
3 |
NTR 564 The Psychology of Eating with Emphasis on Eating Disorders |
3 |
NTR 563 Nutrition Support |
3 |
NTR 560 Sports Nutrition |
3 |
Total MS in Applied Nutrition Credits: |
30 |
Central Valley WIC Dietetic Internship Practicum Courses |
|
NTR 536 Dietetic Internship Practicum 1 |
3 |
NTR 537 Dietetic Internship Practicum 2 |
3 |
NTR 538 Dietetic Internship Practicum 3 |
3 |
Total Practicum Credits: |
9 |
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS: |
39 |
Graduation and Program Completion Requirements
Graduation from the Central Valley WIC Dietetic Internship is expected by the end of the program with successful completion and documentation to demonstrate:
The program 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 internship may be extended to a maximum of 150% (48 months/4 years) of time, per ACEND regulations.
- Ability to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher for graduate level courses at Sage
- Completion of all required courses for the MS in Applied Nutrition Degree for interns enrolled at Sage
- Completion of a minimum of 1000 supervised practice hours
- Successful completion of all supervised practice rotations, competencies, didactic assignments as determined by preceptors, the Program Director and the Program Coordinator
The program 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 internship may be extended to a maximum of 150% (48 months/4 years) of time, per ACEND regulations.
Application and Admission Requirements
- 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. (The previous eligibility requirement of a B grade or higher in MNT and Advanced Nutrition has been removed.)
- 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 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 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
Selection Process and Computer Matching Information
- Applicants who have worked as paid employees for a local WIC agency in California for 6 consecutive months prior to the pre-selection deadline, are eligible for the pre-selection process.
- Acceptance into this program is not influenced by age, sex, language, race, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, or ancestry.
- If a position in the program becomes available prior to the start of supervised practice, the program will post the open position on the CVWDI website. Applicants who already have a master’s degree, and who meet the other program application requirements, will be eligible to apply. To participate in supervised practice, the applicant will need to register for three practicum classes (one per semester) through Russell Sage College. Please contact the Internship Coordinator with questions.
