Best Class Ever: Nutrition and Dietetics: Farm to Family Wheels

Leah Waldron ’25
Nutrition & Dietetics, M.S.

We have name recognition

A Russell Sage nutrition degree means something in the field:

  • We are a top-three producer of nutrition degrees and certificates in New York state.
  • We are the ONLY accredited nutrition program in New York’s greater Capital Region.
  • Many employers look for a Sage-educated RDN above all others.
  • We’ll put you on the path to become an RDN: This program – offered both on-campus and through distance delivery (not online) – provides the supervised practice that is required to sit for your RDN exam.
  • We offer an on-site Dietetic Internship and a distance delivery option: For the on-site option, we arrange all sites and preceptors. For the distance delivery option, students find their own sites, and must be more than 100 miles away from the RSC campus.
  • Full accreditation: This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.
  • Expert faculty: Our top-notch faculty are active in all areas of nutrition and dietetics and committed to providing an experience where interns feel individually supported and fully prepared to embark on careers as registered dietitian nutritionists.
  • Individual attention and support: Collaborate with specialized dietitians and other area professionals to bring their wide range of expertise to the program.

RSC Offers Two Options for Students to Complete the Dietetic Internship Program. 

  • The Dietetic Internship Certificate Program: This program is for candidates who have obtained a DPD Verification Statement and are currently completing or have completed a master’s degree. This program requires you to complete three practicum classes and two graduate classes, totaling 24 graduate credits, completed in 3 semesters.
  • The MS-DI program: The MS-DI program combines a master’s degree in Applied Nutrition with the Dietetic Internship Program. This option is for candidates who have completed a bachelor’s degree and obtain a DPD Verification Statement. This program requires you to complete 42 graduate credits that are completed either over four semesters for the accelerated track, five semesters for the traditional full-time track, or seven semesters for the traditional part-time track.

The program may be taken along one of three tracks: Onsite, Distance Delivery or the Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP). This program is only for candidates who have successfully completed at least a baccalaureate degree and minimum academic requirements established by The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics – a didactic program in dietetics (DPD). Successful graduates of the program are eligible to take the registration examination for dietitians.

  • The ISPP track is a non-matriculated program where those who have a Ph.D. who meet specific criteria can complete their supervised practice requirement.
  • The Onsite and Distance Delivery dietetic internship tracks are graduate certificate programs; the ISPP track is not.

Course Requirements

Credits and Completion

The DI offers two program formats, an on-campus program and a distance delivery program. The supervised practice portion of the internship may be completed on either a full-time (40 hours/week) or part-time (24 hours/week) basis. Classes begin in May of each year.

View Program Catalog

The Dietetic Internship program at Russell Sage’s School of Health Sciences is currently granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. ACEND is the only accrediting agency for dietetics education recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE). The address and telephone number of ACEND are: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL. 60606-6995, 1-(800)-877-1600, ext. 5400. Website: www.eatrightpro.org/acend

Russell Sage College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and is chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York.

Dietetic interns spend 14 weeks in clinical settings where they provide medical nutrition therapy to a variety of populations under the supervision of an RDN. Six weeks are spent in food-service management operations, where interns apply their knowledge of menu planning, food science principles, food service systems management and quantity food production.

You’ll also bring your knowledge of community-based nutrition programs to work with community organizations or government agencies for five weeks to help improve the nutrition access, education and overall nutrition status of communities at large.

Program Mission

Prepare entry-level RDNs who are effective communicators of evidence-based nutrition content in all areas of practice.

Program Goals

Goal 1. Program graduates will be competent in a variety of entry-level positions in the field of dietetics.

Goal 2. Program graduates will accurately and effectively communicate evidence-based nutrition content in a variety of settings.

Objectives

Objective 1.1a (Graduate Certificate and ISPP-PhD full-time and part-time)

At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 18 months (150% of the program length).

Objective 1.1b (MS-DI Traditional full-time)

At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 32 months (150% of the program length).

Objective 1.1c (MS-DI Traditional part-time)

At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 42 months (150% of the program length).

Objective 1.2
Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.

Objective 1.3
At least 80% 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 responses from employers on Employer Survey will indicate that graduates were “adequately prepared” or better for entry-level practice.

Objective 1.6
At least 80% of responses from graduates on Alumni Survey will indicate that they were “adequately prepared” or better for entry-level practice.  

Objective 2.1 At least 80% of responses from graduates on Alumni Survey will indicate that graduates are able to accurately and effectively communicate evidence-based nutrition content.

Objective 2.2 Over a five-year period, at least 50% of graduates will pursue a specialty certification in nutrition and dietetics.

Program outcomes data are available upon request.

The MS-DI and the Dietetic Internship Certificate Program is subject to Gainful Employment Regulations.

Program YearOnsite TrackRemote Track
2011100%100%
2012100%100%
2013100%100%
2014100%100%
2015100%100%
2016100%100%
2017100%100%
201896.7%92.31%
2019100%100%
202096.15%80%
202180%100%
202290%75%

  • Mandatory Orientation in Troy, NY: May 19-21
  • Summer semester begins: May 19
  • Summer Practicum: May 26-August 12
  • Summer semester ends: August 8
  • Fall semester starts: August 25
  • Fall Practicum: August 25-December 12
  • Fall Semester ends: December 8
  • Spring semester begins: May 5*
  • Spring practicum: January 12-May 11
  • Spring semester ends: May 11
  • Exit Days: May 12-13

*in accordance with the RSC Graduate Program Calendar

Quick Links

DIETETIC INTERNSHIP CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
Dietetic Internship Program Policy and Procedure Handbook 2024-2025
Professional Licensure Information
Distance Delivery Track Applicant Guide
Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
Academic Calendar

Dietetic Internship Information Session

Easily Apply

Apply by February 1 and start in May.

Applications to the Dietetic Internship program are conducted through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS). Applicants should have have successfully completed at least a baccalaureate degree and meet the following criteria:

Apply Now
Personal advising, experienced faculty

Our program comes with a deep, Russell Sage-level of support from an assigned faculty advisor who works with you to ensure your success.

Sage Park - Troy
Natalie
Newmeyer-Blunden

Assistant Professor of Nutrition

Learn more about Natalie
Sage Park - Troy
Lisa
Schmitt, MS, RDN, CDN

Assistant Professor of the Practice of Nutrition and Director of Dietetic Internship Program

Learn more about Lisa
fresh produce on display

Dietetic Internship Affiliate Institutions and Placements

A variety of facilities in and around the Capital District and the Hudson Valley have agreements with the School of Health Sciences’ Dietetic Internship program to host dietetic interns. The Dietetic Internship director and coordinator arranges placement for and schedules interns at facilities based on their prior type and level of work experience, preferences and geographic location. Please note that distance-learning interns are required to set up their own practicum placements.

Distance interns may be required to attend orientation, presentations, special activities and some supervised practice rotations in and around the Troy, NY campus during their internship.

Check out a few of the sites we place interns in within the Capital Region and surrounding areas:

Acute ClinicalFood Service ManagementCommunity
Ellis Medicine
Albany Medical Center
St. Peter’s Health Partners
Saratoga Hospital		Several local K-12 school districts
BOCES
Several local hospitals/clinical facilities
Skidmore College		The Sylvia Center
The Food Pantries of the Capital District
WIC
Brightside Up

Dietetic Internship Alumni Spotlights

Meet the successful students and alumni of our dietetic internship program.

Alumni
Dietetic Internship 2021
Angela Aguiar

Angela Aguiar had always been interested in eating for health and energy, but watching two children struggle to keep up …

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Alumni
Christi Kargl, RD

When Christi Kargl enrolled in Russell Sage College’s Dietetic Internship program, she expected to become a well-qualified dietitian. What she …

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Alumni
Dietetic Internship
Dylan Farnan

During his high school career, Dylan Farnan knew he wanted to pursue a career in the field of nutrition and …

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Alumni

“The Dietetic Internship program at Russell Sage is communications-focused, which really taught me to write, speak and convey nutrition information in an ethical, evidence-based, and population-specific way.”

– Selina LaVista Preyer-Blakney, RDN
Alumni

“I was exposed to a variety of dietetic applications and directly worked with Registered Dietitians, doctors, nurses and speech pathologists. These professionals helped me to enhance my assessment, diagnosis, intervention and evaluation skills, and become confident in the field practices.”

– Bruno Lima
Alumni
Dietetic Internship Nutrition Science (Bachelor’s) 2015, 2017
Monica Salafia

In her spare time, when she’s not consulting with the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, or offering her services as …

Read More
Alumni

“I was exposed to diverse fields of nutrition and complex patients, and also provided with just the right amount of guidance and support to grow and learn both personally and professionally.”

– Amelia Ti, MS, RD, CDN

Related Resources

A dietitian holds a pen over a printout of charts on a white table; next to the charts are trays of fresh food, including raw meat, fish, lettuce, vegetables, and fruits

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When considering a career in nutrition and dietetics, it’s important to understand the key differences between registered dietitians and nutritionists. While both professions focus on promoting health through diet and nutrition, their education, certification requirements, and scope of practice differ. Whether you pursue a registered dietitian nutritionist career or a nutritionist career, both paths offer […]

Need help?
Lisa Schmitt, MS, RDN, CDN
Assistant Professor of the Practice of Nutrition and Director of Dietetic Internship Program
[email protected]
518-244-2044

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