This Dietetic Internship is located at the award-winning Medical University of South Carolina, the South's oldest medical school in historic Charleston, SC.

This internship prepares interns to become Registered Dietitians.  We are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  Upon completion, graduates are eligible to sit for the national RD exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.


Our Mission and Goals:

Our mission is to prepare entry-level dietitians by providing evidence-based clinical, food service, and public health nutrition experiences to interns from diverse backgrounds while serving the community. 

Our program goals include 1) preparing graduates with the knowledge and skills to be competent dietitians and 2) strengthening the dietetics workforce, particularly in South Carolina.    

Our Internship:

We offer a non-credit, non-degree certification program resulting in a 'Verification Statement' required for the RD exam.  This internship is an on-site, post-baccalaureate or post-graduate program for eligible DPD graduates only (see eligibility criteria below).  We accept 8 interns for the 2013-2014 year for this 10.5 month (45-46 weeks), 1200+ hour full-time supervised practicum commencing every August (applications accepted every February via the new DICAS system).  

This internship is comprised of over 25 rotations in 15 different healthcare settings under the supervision of 30+ qualified preceptors.  We pride our internship for its variety of diverse experiences and training opportunities. 

Currently, we focus on Clinical Medical Nutrition Therapy.  However, we also feature experiences in other traditional venues (i.e. food service management, community, wellness). In fact, this curriculum was just recently enhanced to offer stronger learning experiences in public health and research.  Interns will be working with diverse populations ranging from the young to the old and the sick to the well.

Eligibility for Application:

The path to becoming an RD involves many steps.  Applicants being considered for this internship MUST have (or will have prior to our Fall start date):

1. a bachelor's degree at minimum (in any field), AND
2. successful completion of an ACEND-accredited "Didactic Program in Dietetics" in the past 5 years.  DPDs encompasses several semesters of mandatory nutrition-based coursework designed to prepare graduates for a dietetic internship. DPDs can NOT be replaced by other certifications such as in personal training, culinary training, or other similar health/nutrition programs.  MUSC does NOT offer a DPD.

Search for accredited institutions that offer a DPD program (distance programs also available)

Please read a more detailed description of eligibility requirements for this internship before contacting the Director. 

Measuring our Success:

We successfully meet our program goals.  For instance, 99% of graduates have passed the RD board exam (96% passing upon first attempt).  Approximately 85% of graduates seeking a professional career as a Registered Dietitian after graduation found jobs within 3 months.  Of those who found careers, over 35% activily practice in South Carolina, a state prevalent in hypertension, diabetes, and stroke.  After working in the field for 1 year, 99% of employers of our graduates (and graduates themselves) feel this program trained them appropriately for entry-level practice. Finally, over 75% of our graduates become leaders in their field by actively partipating in local, state, or national nutrition and healthcare organizations. Data supporting these outcomes can be made available to students, parents, and educators upon request.

Want to Learn More?

Browse this website, watch our "VIRTUAL TOUR", or attend our annual "OPEN HOUSE" (Monday, Dec 17, 2012).  You may enjoy reading our Winter 2012 Newsletter. Candidates may also schedule an individual appointment, in-person or phone, with the Director with at least 2 weeks notice: