Program Mission Goals and Objectives

It is the mission of the Stony Brook University Dietetic Internship program to prepare dietetic interns to have a positive impact on health care delivery, health promotion and the dietetics profession through the provision of high quality medical nutrition therapy, the management of high quality food service systems, and/or the implementation of high-quality health promotion programs.

The goals and associated objectives of the Stony Brook University Dietetic Internship Program are:

Program Goal 1: To prepare dietetic interns to perform at entry-level or higher through the completion of a variety of high-quality rotations and attainment of a master degree, which will prepare them to be able to take on a management role or leadership responsibilities of an interdisciplinary care team in the future.

Objectives:

• The average overall quality rating of clinical rotations will be ≥ 3.5 on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest score (when considering their cumulative outpatient, inpatient and long term care rotations).
• 90% of rotation sites related to the program's declared emphasis (clinical nutrition therapy) will receive a Rotation Site Quality Score >90%, and 90% of other rotation sites will receive a Rotation Site Quality Score >80%.
• At least 80% of program interns complete program requirements within 15 months for full-time interns and 24 months for part-time interns (150% of the program length) in the dietetic internship program only. For interns also completing the Stony Brook MS in Nutrition or self-identified graduate degree, at least 80% of MS/DI  interns complete program requirements within 33 months (150% of the program length). 
• At least 70% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
• The program's one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration examination within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
• Of graduates who seek employment, 75% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
• The percent of employers of one-year alumni who respond to program survey will evaluate alumni preparedness for their entry-level positions > 3 (on a scale of 1-5 with 5 indicating the highest level of preparedness) will exceed 80%.

Program Goal 2: To prepare graduates to think critically, communicate their ideas in a professional manner, and attain life-long learning skills by completion of a robust CQI/Research project that can positively impact nutrition practices within their institution and possibly the profession. (Examples include: precepting interns, disseminating evidence-based nutrition information to the public, serving in a professional organization, representing your department or institution on committees/task forces, etc.)

Objectives:

• 80% of interns completing the program will evaluate their critical thinking skills at a 3 or greater (on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest score)
• 75% of one year alumni completing the survey will evaluate their critical thinking skills at a 3 or greater (on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest score)
• 80% of interns completing the program will evaluate their life-long learning skills at a 3 or greater (on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest score)
• 75% of one year alumni completing the survey will evaluate their life-long learning skills at a 3 or greater (on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest score).
• 60% of one year alumni completing the survey will evaluate their ability to positively impact nutrition practices and the profession (e.g. mentoring interns, disseminating evidence-based nutrition information to the public, serving in a professional organization, representing department or institution on committees/task forces, etc.) at a 3 or greater (on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest score).

Outcome data measuring achievement of program objectives is provided for ACEND reviews and is available to interns, prospective interns, and the public upon request. If you would like this information, email the Program Coordinator, Alec Ackerman.

RDNs/NDTRs are required to be licensed/certified in some states.

To qualify for certification, an applicant shall fulfill the following requirements:

1. File an application with the department;
2.  
   1.  
      1. Have received an education including a bachelor's degree, or its equivalent as determined by the department, in dietetics/nutrition or an equivalent major course of study which shall include appropriate core curriculum courses in dietetics/nutrition from an accredited college or university as approved by the department, in accordance with the commissioner's regulations; and
      2. Have completed a planned, continuous, experience component, in accordance with the commissioner's regulations, in dietetic or nutrition practice under the supervision of a certified dietitian or certified nutritionist or a dietitian or nutritionist who is registered by or is a member of a national dietetic association or national nutrition association having registration or membership standards acceptable to the department; such experience shall be satisfactory to the board and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations; or
   2.  
      1. Have received an education including an associates degree in dietetics or nutrition acceptable to the department,
      2. In the last fifteen years have completed ten years of experience and education in the field of dietetics or nutrition satisfactory to the board in accordance with the commissioner's regulations. These ten years must be the full time equivalent of any combination of post secondary dietetic or nutrition education and dietetic or nutrition work experience satisfactory to the board in accordance with the commissioner's regulations, and
      3. Have obtained the endorsement of three dietitians or nutritionists acceptable to the department;
3. Pass an examination satisfactory to the board and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations; provided that such examination shall test a level of knowledge and experience equivalent to that obtained by an individual satisfactorily meeting the requirements of paragraph (a) of subdivision two of this section;
4. Pay a fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars to the department for admission to a department conducted examination and for initial certification, a fee of eighty-five dollars for each reexamination, a fee of one hundred fifteen dollars for an initial certification for persons not requiring admission to a department conducted examination, a fee of one hundred fifty-five dollars for each triennial registration period;
5. Be at least eighteen years of age.

See CDR's State Licensure Page for more information.