Dietetic Internship

Minimum Application Requirements:

• Graduate degree from accredited university completed or in-progress. (Graduate degree must be posted to begin DI Program)
• Verification statement from ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics or Letter of Intent stating when your DPD program will be completed.

A prospective intern may apply to the program while completing a graduate level degree. The student may not actually enroll in the program until a graduate degree has been obtained.

Applications must include documentation of the following:

1. A DICAS style letter of application addressing why you want to enter the dietetics profession, your short and long-term goals, your strengths and weaknesses or areas needing improvement. In addition, discuss any experiences that have helped prepare you for your career, and any other information you would like the committee to know. Please submit one hardcopy with DI application and one copy submitted electronically to the DI Director;
2. A non-refundable application fee of $50.00 made payable to Chico State Enterprises;
3. A master’s degree from an accredited institution;
4. Verification Statement of completion of an ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) within the past five years or a Letter of Intent from the DPD Director;
5. Official transcript showing the master’s degree has been awarded (Minimum 3.0 GPA);
6. Two letters of recommendation, one from previous or current employer or supervisor, and one from a CSU Chico NFSC professor on the form provided. These letters must have a completed release of information for letters of recommendation/reference attached in addition to the AND letter of reference form;
7. Resume including work experience in nutrition/dietetics including at least 40 hours of experience in an acute or long-term care type setting (this must be completed prior to the submission of your application) (current resume). Additionally, work experience in foodservice management and community settings will be considered in the selection process. Please submit one copy as a hardcopy with DI application packet and one copy submitted electronically to the DI Director.

Please place all materials in a sealed manila envelope with your name written across the seal. Submit your DI packet to Joan Giampaoli, Interim DI Director, either in person (office in in Holt 324), or in her mailbox in Holt 369 by January 15 at 5:00 p.m..

The program is a full-time 26-week internship program. View a tentative VSO-DI schedule.

The DI Director will issue a Verification of program completion at the exit interview after confirming that a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised practice and all DI requirements in all three major rotations and the DI class have been successfully completed, all core competencies have been met at the proficient level, and all assignments and evaluation tools have been completed. The Verification is a statement that the Intern is ready to both sit for the registration examination for RDNs and demonstrates the skills necessary to practice as an entry-level dietitian. Continuous evaluation toward these goals will be performed throughout the minimum 26-week experience. After issuing verification statements, the DI Director will submit intern names to CDR for eligibility for the RDN exam. Interns are expected to meet all program completion requirements within the 26 - week rotation schedule but have 150% of the program length to complete requirements as needed.

There is no monetary support provided for supervised practice hours

Students entering the CSU Chico DI are not eligible for financial aid. However; they may apply for the Fogleman Scholarship once accepted into the program.

Minimum Application Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited university
• Verification statement from ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics or Letter of Intent stating when your DPD program will be completed.
• Prerequisites: One semester of inorganic chemistry or general chemistry, organic chemistry, microbiology, physiology, and statics.
• A non-refundable application fee of $50.00 made payable to Chico State Enterprises;
• Unofficial transcript from all colleges or universities attended since high school. A minimum cumulative and DPD GPA of 3.0. If admitted, official transcripts will be requested
• Two letters of recommendation, one from previous or current employer or supervisor verifying 40-45 hours of work experience, and one from a CSU Chico NFSC professor on the form provided. These letters must have a completed release of information for letters of recommendation/reference attached in addition to the AND letter of reference form;
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
  • Must include work experience in nutrition/dietetics including at least 40 hours of experience in an acute or long-term care type setting

• Statement of purpose addressing why you want to pursue an MS in Nutrition Science. In addition, the statement of purpose should address why you want to enter the dietetics profession, your short and long-term goals, your strengths and weaknesses or areas needing improvement, any experience that have helped prepare you for your career, and any other information you would like the committee to know.
• An academic writing sample (preferably focused on nutrition and dietetics). 

Application Process: 

1. If you are applying to the MS/DI and ARENOT currently enrolled in the General Dietetics program at CSU Chico, you will need to apply through DICAS by January 15 at 11:59 p.m. PST. You will also need to apply to the CSU Chico Graduate School online by January 15 at 11:59 p.m. PST at . You will apply to the MS Program – Option in Dietetics.
2. If you ARE currently enrolled in the General Dietetics program at CSU Chico, you only need to apply to the CSU Chico Graduate School online (see link above).

This is a once per year application for Fall admission only. The Dietetic Internship Program Director will provide more guidance after acceptance. 

Contact Information: For further inquiries, contact the Interim Dietetic Internship Program Director, Joan Giampaoli at jgiampaoli@csuchico.edu.

YEAR 1

Fall Semester

• NFSC 600 – Research Methods in Nutritional Research (4)
• NFSC 601 – Nutritional Epidemiology (2)
• NFSC 663 – Public Health Nutrition (3)
• NFSC 664 – Nutrition Communication and Leadership (2)

Spring Semester

• NFSC 560 – Principles of Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition Counseling (3)
• NFSC 643 – Advanced Topics in Macro and Micronutrient (4)
• NFSC 644 – Nutritional Genomics (2)
• NFSC 671 – Advanced Clinical Nutrition (3)

YEAR 2

Fall Semester

• NFSC 680A – Dietetics Professional Practicum I (1)
• NFSC 681A/B – Dietetics Practice in Foodservice Administration/Clinical Nutrition (5) (12 weeks = 480 hours)
• NFSC 698 – Capstone Professional Project (2)

Spring Semester

• NFSC 680B – Dietetics Professional Practicum II (2)
• NFSC 681C/D – Dietetics Practice in Clinical Nutrition/Community Nutrition (6) (13 weeks = 520 hours)

Total Practicum Hours = 1,000 hours

View a tentative Ms/DI schedule.

To graduate from the MSDI Program, the Graduate Coordinator and DI Director will confirm that the student has completed 39 units of graduate coursework, submitted an approved research project paper, competed 1,000 hours of supervised practice in all three major rotations and the DI class, all core and nutrition education competencies have been met at the proficient level, and all assignments and evaluation tools have been completed. The DI Director will issue a DI Verification statement of program completion at the exit interview after confirming all requirements have been met. The program Verification is a statement that the intern is ready to sit for the registration examination for RDNs and demonstrates the skills necessary to practice as an entry-level dietitian. Continuous evaluation toward these goals will be performed throughout the two-year experience. After issuing the Verification statements, the DI Director will submit intern names to the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) for eligibility for the RDN exam. Interns are expected to meet all program completion requirements within this schedule. Students have 2.5 years (150% of program length) to complete all requirements.

There is no monetary support provided for supervised practice hours.

Information on eligibility and applying for financial aid or scholarships for the M/SDI Program is outlined in the 2025-2026 University Catalog.

In addition, students can also qualify for the following financial support opportunities:

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• California Pre-Doctoral Scholars Program
• Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program
• Graduate Equity Fellowship Program
• California Dream Act Application (CADAA)

Additional fellowships, awards and grants are available to qualifying students.