FCS
Dietetics
Intern Program Information
Western Michigan University’s Dietetics Internship is a 10-month generalist program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Dietetic Education (CADE) c/o the American Dietetic Association, 216 W. Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL, 60606-6995, (312-899-4876). This internship meets the Standards of Education of the American Dietetic Association, and graduates are qualified to take the Dietetic Registration Examination. Students earn 15 hours of graduate credit toward a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Family and Consumer Sciences while they are interns. The 40-week internship begins in late August and finishes in early June of the following year. The final graduate course of the year is offered online, can be completed anywhere the intern has access to the internet, and finishes in late June. WMU accepts eight interns each year.
Program Philosophy
The Dietetics Internship Program seeks to help students build on the knowledge gained in meeting academic requirements of the American Dietetic Association, to provide opportunities for the application of that knowledge in a variety of settings, and to develop the clinical and management skills essential for quality dietetics practice in a changing health care and food service environment. The program includes both supervised practice and didactic opportunities in clinical nutrition, community nutrition, and food service management. A one-to-one preceptor-student ratio enables interns to build skills and achieve competency in CADE’s Core Performance Requirements of the Standards of Education. Individualized learning opportunities are also provided through independent projects and an elective 2-week rotation.
Program Goals:
- Provide supervised practice experiences in all areas of dietetics enabling students to achieve competency in the Core Performance Requirements.
- Provide students with the environment in which to acquire and develop clinical and management skills essential in meeting the needs of clients at various age, education, and income levels in a variety of settings.
- Provide a supervised practice program, which allows for some elective experience, based upon career goals and/or perceived needs for additional experience.
- Enhance interns' abilities to develop self-direction and competency in entry-level practice.
- Provide opportunity for interns to develop skills and knowledge in research.
- Develop and maintain the quality of education through program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Major Program Sites and Partners for 2007-08 Internship Year
Supervised practice experiences in clinical nutrition, community nutrition, and food service management are provided at the following facilities for 2007-08:
Battle Creek Health System, Battle Creek
Berrien County Health Department, Benton Harbor
Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo
Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo
Calhoun County Medical Facility, Battle Creek
Cherry Street Services WIC Program, Grand Rapids
Evergreen Manor Senior Care, Battle Creek
Family Health Center, Kalamazoo
Hackley Hospital, Muskegon
Heritage Communities, Kalamazoo
Holland Homes, Grand Rapids
InterCare Community Health Network, Bangor
Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services
Kent County Health Department, Grand Rapids
Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph
Michigan Dept of Community Health, Lansing
Muskegon County Health Department
Senior Services, Kalamazoo
Spectrum Health - Blodgett Memorial Medical Center, Grand Rapids
Spectrum Heartreach Program, Grand Rapids
St. Mary's Medical Center, Grand Rapids
Western Michigan University Dining Services
Expenses
Memberships - Student membership in the American Dietetic Association is required.
Graduate Classes - Academic Credit is earned during the internship:
Fall Semester |
FCS 5220 Food and Society |
3 credits |
Spring Semester |
FCS 5900 Projects and Problems in FCS: Program Development and Evaluation |
3 credits |
Summer I |
FCS 6100 Nutrition during the Life Cycle (offered online) |
3 credits |
Application Process:
Internship Application deadline is Friday, February 15, 2008. Applications must be postmarked by this date.
Intern applicants must also apply to D & D Digital Computer Matching which involves submitting the computer matching preference card*, release card*, and check or money order for $50.00 to D & D Digital Systems postmarked on or before February 15, 2008. The materials must be sent via certified mail with return receipt requested.
*Most intern applicants can get the computer matching materials from their DPD Director at their university.
For additional information, contact
Director, Dietetic Internship Program
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5322
(269) 387-3710 or (269) 387-3704