The Program

The Dietetic Internship Program is a post baccalaureate supervised program. Graduates of this program are qualified to take the examination for Registered Dietitians. All students who have completed a baccalaureate degree and hold a valid DPD verification statement are eligible to apply. The program is accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education*. The Dietetic Internship offers a challenging learning experience and is committed to the preparation of each individual with emphasis on ensuring the attainment of knowledge and practical skills necessary for the successful completion of the registration examination.

Objectives of The Program

Provide training in all areas of dietetic education.
Recruit a diverse population of students from qualified applicants.
Maintain at least 80 percent pass rate on the Registration Examination.
Provide the community, state and the nation with qualified dietitians.
Allow students to effectively utilize their experiences toward self-development.

Affiliated Practice Sites

The Dietetic Internship will provide students with supervised practice in a variety of settings.

The following is a listing of the affiliated practice sites: Alief Independent School District, Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District, Houston Independent School District, Tomball Regional Hospital, DaVita Inc., Prairie View A & M University Sodexho Facility, Spring Branch Medical Center Hospital, Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Texas Department of Health, Harris County Hospital District, Renal Care Group, Triumph Hospital, Seven Acres Jewish Geriatric Center.

The program is offered on a full-time basis. Students register for 9 semester credit hours in the fall and the spring semesters for a total of 18 hours over the duration of the program. In addition to becoming registry eligible, as a Dietetic Internship graduates, you can expect to achieve competence in nutrition assessment; nutrition care planning; nutrition counseling and education; personnel management; problem solving, decision making; personal growth and development.

Internship Organization

The internship will consist of a total of 1080 practice hours with a maximum class size of 7 interns annually. One class is admitted each academic year which begins in September and ends in May. Inters register for 9 semester credit hours both the fall and spring semesters. The program follows the university academic calendar and observes all university holidays. Internship rotations include 8 weeks community & public health, 9 weeks hospital and clinical with an additional 3 weeks emphasizing medical nutrition therapy, and 9 weeks foodservice administration, and 1 week staffing.

Program Cost

Estimated per semester cost for 2002-03 are outlined. Fees are subject to change.

Resident Non-Resident

Resident/Non-Resident

Tuition and Fees for 9(SCH) $432.00/$2358.00

Student service fee 126.00/126.00

Student center fee 40.00/40.00

Student health fee 75.00/75.00

Computer access fee 36.00/36.00

Board authorized Tuition $324.00/324.00

Registration fee 10.00/10.00

Parking 50.00/50.00

Identification Card 5.00/5.00

Books and Supplies 450.00/450.00

International Education Fee 1.00/1.00

Library Access 45.00/45.00

Additional costs should be factored in for travel to and from facilities, car insurance, housing, meals, and attendance to local and professional meetings.

Please note that public transportation from the university to practice sites is not available. Students must have access to or own a private vehicle.

Admission Requirements

Students requesting admissions must meet the following requirements:

- Completed a Didactic Program in Dietetics

- Grade Point Average 2.75 on 4.0 scale

- Work or volunteer experience in at least one area of Dietetics

Students must be admitted to Prairie View A & M Graduate School after acceptance into the internship program.

How to Apply

Prairie View A&M University uses the common application available from the American Dietetic Association or from any accredited undergraduate program. Send completed application packet to:

Dr. Sharon McWhinney, RD.LD

Associate Professor & Internship Director

Nutrition program

Prairie View A & M University

P.O. Box 4329

Prairie View, TX, 77446

Applications must be received by February 14 of each year. Interns will be selected using the American Dietetic Association computer matching procedure.

Admissions to the Dietetic Internship Program requires an Intent to Complete

Degree or a Dietetic Program in Dietetics Verification Statement from a Didactic

Program Director, and a minimum GPA of 2.75 overall. All applicants must participate in the ADA computer matching process. All interns are required to register for a specified 9 semester credit hours in the fall and spring semesters. Applicants accepted into the program are required to complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) before being admitted to the university.

For more information, contact the Internship Program Director, Nutrition Program, Prairie View A & M University, P.O. Box 4329, Prairie View, TX. 77446. Tel. (936) 857-4417/4419 Fax(936)857-4441, Email: Sharon_McWhinney@pvamu.edu

GENERAL INFORMATION

Entrance Requirements (Selection) - A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with completion of the Didactic Program in Dietetics is required by the American Dietetic Association. Other requirements include a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Work or volunteer experiences preferred.

Date of Admission - April preceding the academic school year.

Length of Dietetic Internship Program: - Nine months (Fall and Spring Semesters).

Living Accommodations & Meals - Students are responsible for their own housing arrangements and meals.

Uniforms - Each Dietetic Intern will provide his/her own laboratory coat to be worn over appropriate street clothes.

Transportation - Because the affiliations are located throughout Houston & surrounding areas, each intern will need access to private transportation and must carry sufficient automobile insurance coverage for collision and liability.

Professional Liability Insurance - Each Dietetic Intern must secure Liability Insurance prior to the start of the internship.

Number of Dietetic Interns - 7 will be accepted each year.

Holidays - The Dietetic Internship program observes the University calendar for

the following holidays: Labor day, Thanksgiving(2days); Christmas (3 weeks); Spring Break (1 week).

Work Responsibilities - The work-week is a minimum of 36 hours. There may be some weekend and evening work for most interns. Students are expected to utilize

evenings and weekends to study or complete projects during the rotations.

Stipend – None

Scholarships - Prospective students should explore scholarships available to them from their state dietetic association, state, family & consumer sciences association, ADA and AAFCS before coming to PVAMU. Most deadlines for scholarships are in January or February preceding the school year.

Association Membership - All Dietetic Interns are required to join ADA as Associate Members.

RD Eligibility - After successful completion of the Dietetic Internship program, students will be eligible for active membership in the American Dietetic

Association and will be eligible to write the registration examination

Prairie View A & M University is located approximately 40 miles northwest of Houston on Highway 290. Students of this institution enjoy all the benefits of a small town with easy access to the large metropolitan city of Houston. Interns within the program reside within the Houston area where majority of the practice facilities are located.

Prairie View A & M University is a comprehensive public institution of higher education. Part of the Texas A&M University System, it is a land grant university authorized under Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890.

The University is committed to fostering an educational community that is culturally and socially diverse. The participation of persons from various

backgrounds serve to enhance this program. While striving to maintain excellent

instruction and strong curriculum, the university understands its role to

include the nurturing of students academic development and intellectual

curiosity, by providing stimulating and healthy physical and cultural

environments and services.

Prairie View A & M University is a member of the Texas A&M University System and

is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. No person

shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected

to discrimination under any program or activity conducted by the Texas A & M

University System or any of its component institutions on any basis prohibited

by applicable law, including (but not limited to) race, color, national origin,

religion, sex, or handicap.

*The Dietetic Internship Program is accredited by the Commission on

Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetics Association, 216

W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312/899-4876.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

GRADUATE SCHOOL ___ Graduate School application ___ Official Transcript(s)

___ GRE Scores

Note: Students accepted into the internship program must submit a separate completed application packet to the graduate school for admission to the university. Transcripts, recommendations and other information submitted to the internship program are not part of the graduate school application. See graduate admissions at http://www.pvamu.edu/

DIETETIC INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Application Packet should include the following:

___ Standard ADA application

___ Official Transcript(s)

___ Application fee $35.00 (Money order payable to

Prairie View A&M Dietetic Internship)

___ Recommendation Forms

___ Personal essay ___ Declaration of intent to complete Degree

or

___Verification Statement

All students applying to the internship must apply to D&D Digital for computer matching

.

INTERN APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Please submit materials at the earliest possible date and include all required

materials. Do not send transcript (s) or letters of recommendation separately.

Incomplete applications will NOT be considered.

The complete application packet must include:

Completed ADA Dietetic Internship Application including transcript (s)

Completed recommendation form - Three (3) with original signatures and none

older than two (2) years.

Personal essay stating professional goals as related to

dietetics, and any other pertinent information..

American Dietetic Association Verification statement - must have original

signature.

Application Fee - $35.00 (non-refundable) - MONEY ORDER ONLY made payable to:

PVAMU DIETETIC INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

All applicants must send computer matching information and processing fee

by the February Deadline to:

D & D Digital Systems

Suite 301, 304 Main Street

Ames, IA 50010

All selected DI must apply for admittance to Prairie View A&M Graduate School

for acceptance in the Department of Agriculture, Nutrition & Human Ecology upon

notification of computer matching.

Send completed application via certified mail to:

Sharon McWhinney, Ph.D., RD., LD.

Associate Professor & Internship Director

Nutrition Program

P.O. Box 4329

Prairie View A&M University

Prairie View, TX 77446

APPLICATION MATERIALS WILL NOT BE RETURNED.

_

All applicants to the PVAMU Dietetic Internship must participate in computer

matching. Applicants should request instructions and a mark/sense card to

prioritize their DI preference. Applicants should request this material for any

ADA approved Didactic Program in Dietetics or from D & D Systems. This request

should be made to allow turn around time for submitting by a February 15 post

mark deadline. There is no charge for this material, however, there is a $50.00

charge for computer matching that is due with the applicant’s prioritized

ranking. Address request to:

D & D Digital System

Suite 301, 304 Main street

Ames, IA 50010

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APPOINTMENT PROCEDURE AND SELECTION PRACTICES

Appointment Procedure for Dietetic Internship

A letter or email notifying you of your computer match or appointment will be sent in mid April, 2001 by D & D Digital System.

The applicant will contact the Dietetic Internship Director to respond to the

appointment during the following hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CST, immediately

following notification.

The applicant will inform the Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics or

his/her Advisor of the computer match and appointment, and of the final

decisions made regarding the appointments.

Application Procedure for the Graduate School:

Students may apply for admission to the graduate school at any time following

notification of computer matching.

Applicants must submit:

Graduate School application form, transcripts, recommendations, GRE scores, graduate school application fees

Selection Practices:

Recruitment and selection practices are non-discriminatory with respect to race,

color, creed, sex, age, national origin, religion, handicap or veteran status.

Selections are made by an ad hoc committee made up of faculty within the

department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Human Ecology.