Oklahoma State
University
Description of the
Dietetic Internship
Program
Web Address: http://ches.okstate.edu/nsci/
The Oklahoma State University Dietetic Internship Program was first established in 1937 with an
Administrative Dietetics emphasis. It became an Approved Pre-Professional Practice Program
(AP4) from 1989-1994, had Developmental Accreditation status as a Dietetic Internship Program
with General emphasis from 1994-1998, and a 10 year accreditation from the Commission on
Accreditation/Approval for Dietetics Education (CAADE) from 1998-2008.
During the program, the Dietetic Intern/Graduate Student will gain a broad and comprehensive
background in the knowledge and skills needed for the area of general dietetics. Under the
leadership and supervision of dietitians registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration and
licensed by the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure, and foodservice managers in the medical
centers where students are assigned, the Dietetic Intern/Graduate Student will participate in
meaningful learning experiences in foodservice/management, medical nutrition therapy, and
community dietetics/nutrition education.
A wide spectrum of opportunities will be provided to practice new techniques and skills. During the
foodservice/management rotation, the student will learn the varied roles of the administrative
dietitian and other foodservice personnel. Opportunities will include experiences in supervision and
management, in procurement, storage, assembly of food, patient tray service, cafeteria service,
catering/vending, and marketing/entrepreneurship. Food production experiences will vary from
conventional, cook-chill to cook-freeze. If the student is assigned to a medical center with a
conventional food production and centralized tray assembly system, he/she will be encouraged to
visit other medical centers with other systems (cook-chill, cook-freeze, circular trayline, etc.)
During the medical nutrition therapy rotation, the student will learn the varied roles of the clinical
dietitian in such areas as medicine, obstetrics, gynecology, rehabilitation, intensive care, cardiology,
endocrinology and outpatient counseling. Some of the larger medical centers will have surgery,
ophthalmology, stroke and neurology, oncology, pulmonary, neonatology, pediatrics, nutrition
support, burns unit and kidney dialysis. Most of our affiliations are 250 bed regional hospitals and
may not have all of the areas, however, students may visit a larger medical center for a few days or
weeks to observe and/or participate in specialized functions of the clinical dietitian.
During the community dietetics/nutrition education rotation, the student will learn the varied roles
of the community dietitian in such areas as school food & nutrition services, Head Start, day care
centers, Indian Health Services, government inspection agencies, Cooperative Extension, State &
County Departments of Public Health, food assistance programs, consultation & private practice,
long term health care, and outpatient specialty clinics. In addition, the student will learn public
policy development and programs.
Dietetic Interns can take the national registration examination administered by the Commission on
Dietetic Registration on completion of the internship and required graduate coursework.
General Information
Entrance Requirements (Selection Criteria) - 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 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale in the major
(nutrition, foods, food science & foodservice management) courses, and a minimum of 1400 on the GRE. Varied work
experiences in medical nutrition therapy, and foodservice are preferred.
Date of Admission - April or summer preceding the academic school year.
Length of Dietetic Internship Program – Minimum of 120 days supervised experience. (2 1/2 semesters)
Living Accommodations - Students are responsible for their own housing arrangements. Some affiliations have a guest
residence for overnight stay at very minimum cost to the student ($5.00-$12.50/day) in the event the student cannot
return home due to unusual weather conditions.
Meals - Most of the affiliations provide at least one meal per day. Others may provide 2-3 meals or meals at reduced cost.
Uniforms - Each Dietetic Intern will provide his/her own laboratory coats (2 recommended) to be worn over appropriate
street clothes and will need white uniforms and shoes for food production for affiliations which require them.
Car - Because the affiliations are located through out the state, each Dietetic Intern will need access to a car and must
carry sufficient automobile insurance coverage for collision and liability.
Health Insurance - Each Dietetic Intern must have health insurance. A student may elect to participate in the OSU
Student Government sponsored group insurance policy which costs $409.00/year or be insured with his/her parents or
spouse.
Liability Insurance - Each Dietetic Intern will have Liability Insurance through Maginnis Associates (1-800-621-3008 x
105) for $35.00/year for $3 million.
Number of Dietetic Interns - 24 will be accepted each year.
Holidays - The Dietetic Internship program tries to follow the University calendar. Holidays are as follows: Labor Day (1
day); Fall Break (2 days); Thanksgiving (2 days); Christmas (2-3 weeks); Spring Break (1 week). Some may not be
observed during the rotations.
Work Responsibilities - The work week is a minimum of 40 hours. There will 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 OSU. Most deadlines for
scholarships are in January or February preceding the school year. At OSU, students should set up an appointment to
visit with a financial aid officer at Hanner Hall. Out-of-state Students and Minority Students with GPA of 3.5 or higher
and a GRE of 1740 or higher should call us or the Graduate College for scholarships specifically designated for these
students.
ADA - All Dietetic Interns are encouraged to join ADA as Associate Members and to attend ADA Annual Meeting if
possible. The Journal of the ADA is a valuable resource for all graduate courses.
RD Eligibility - After successful completion of the Dietetic Internship program, the student will be eligible for active
membership in the American Dietetic Association and will be eligible to write the registration examination anytime at
Sylvan Learning Center starting in August, 1999.
Graduate
Enrollment
Dietetic Interns are enrolled concurrently in a graduate program for MS or PhD degree.
Summer Session
(preceding the program required while on summer rotation)
NSCI 5440 (2)
Dietetic Internship Practicum
NSCI 5220 (1)
Contemporary Issues in Dietetics
3 hours required
Fall Semester
NSCI 5563
Nutritional Assessment
NSCI 5643
Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy
NSCI 5713
Community Dietetics
NSCI 5753
Management in Health Care Systems
12 hours required
Additional courses which may be taken include:
NSCI 5960 (1)
NSCI 5000/6000
Seminar in NSCI
Research
Spring Semester
(while on rotation)
NSCI 5220 (2)
Contemporary Issues in Dietetics
NSCI 5440 (4)
Dietetic Internship Practicum
6 hours required
Additional courses which may be taken include:
NSCI 5000/6000
NSCI 5393
NSCI 5593
NSCI 5763
NSCI 6123
STAT 5013
Research
Nutrition for the Elderly
Quality of Worklife
Manpower Management
Micronutrients in Human Nutrition
Statistics (or equivalent)
Appointment Procedure and Selection Practices
Appointment Procedure for Dietetic Internship:



A letter notifying you of your computer match or appointment will be mailed in mid April,
2000 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 5:00 p.m. CST, April 19, 2000. The applicant will
also write a letter of acceptance to the Dietetic Internship Director dated April 19, 2000.
The applicant will inform the Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics or his/her Advisor
of the computer match and appointment, and of final decisions made regarding the
appointment.
Application Procedure for Graduate School:



Students may apply for admission to the Graduate College at any time, however applications
will not be reviewed until all application materials have been received.
MS applicants must submit:
Graduate School Application form, transcripts, GRE scores, application fee, & TOEFL scores
(if applicable). The department will use your letter of application & references from your DI
application.
PhD applicants must submit:
Graduate School Application form, transcripts, GRE scores, application fee, statement of goals
for doctoral study, letter(s) of recommendation specifically addressing your ability to pursue
doctoral study, & TOEFL scores (if applicable).
Selection Practices:
Recruitment and selection practices are nondiscriminatory 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 NSCI graduate faculty.
Affiliations
Medical Centers in Oklahoma Participating in OSU's Dietetic Internship Program include:
Columbia Tulsa Regional Medical Center State Regional hospital located in Tulsa,
OK (75 miles NE of Stillwater)
Hillcrest Medical Center - Private hospital
located in Tulsa, OK (70 miles E of
Stillwater).
Integris Baptist Medical Center - Private
hospital located in Oklahoma City, OK
(72 miles SW of Stillwater).
Integris Bass Memorial Hospital
Private hospital located in Enid, OK (65
miles NW of Stillwater)
Integris Southwest Medical Center - Private
hospital located in Oklahoma City, OK
(75 miles SW of Stillwater).
Jane Phillips Memorial Hospital - Private
hospital located in Bartlesville, OK (120
miles NE of Stillwater); foodservice is
run by ARAMARK Corporation.
Marriott Conference Center/ National Postal
Training School - Private hotel
conference center/government training
center located on Highway 9 near
Norman, OK (95 miles S of Stillwater).
McAlester Regional Hospital - State Regional
hospital located in McAlester, OK (160
miles SE of Stillwater).
Mercy Health Center - Private hospital located
in Oklahoma City, OK (65 miles SW of
Stillwater).
Muskogee Regional Hospital - State Regional
hospital located in Muskogee, OK (115
miles SE of Stillwater).
Norman Regional Hospital - State Regional
hospital located in Norman, OK (90 miles
S of Stillwater).
St. Francis Health System - Private hospital
located in Tulsa, OK (81 miles E of
Stillwater).
St. John Medical Center - Private hospital
located in Tulsa, OK (72 miles E of
Stillwater)
St. Mary/Mercy Hospital - Private hospital
located in Enid, OK (65 miles NW of
Stillwater).
Valley View Regional Hospital - State
Regional hospital located in Ada, OK
(110 miles SE of Stillwater)
Community Dietetics/Nutrition Education
Affiliations - Too numerous to mention.
PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
The deadline for applications is February 15, 2000.
The applicant is to assume responsibility for his/her application to the Dietetic Internship Program.
Applicants for admission should complete the following checklist:

Sent Graduate School Application form, transcripts and $25.00 application fee to:
Graduate College, Oklahoma State University, 202 Whitehurst, Stillwater, OK 74078-0050.

Sent computer matching information and $50.00 fee by February 15, 2000 to:
D & D Digital Systems, 137 Lynn Avenue, Ames, IA, 50014-0490.

Enclosed typewritten letter of application stating my professional goals as related to dietetics, graduate school, as
well as any other pertinent information including any personal information I wish to share.

Enclosed the completed American Dietetic Association DI application forms which includes undergraduate
coursework and graduate coursework if appropriate.

Enclosed three recommendations from a faculty member in medical nutrition therapy, a faculty member in
foodservice management and major advisor or employer. All qualities rated OUTSTANDING on chart the must
have written explanation on the page for additional information.

Enclosed official transcript(s) of credits from all universities and colleges attended.

Enclosed GRE Score (a minimum total of 1400 for all three sections is required)

Enclosed Verification Statement of Completion of Didactic Program in Dietetics or Declaration of Intent to
Complete Degree from Didactic Program. This standardized form is to be completed and signed by the
College/University Didactic Program Director.

Enclosed application fee of $25.00 to partially cover cost of processing application. This is a separate fee from
the graduate school application fee and this fee is not refundable.

Completed applications postmarked no later than February 15, 2000 for notification in April. It is recommended
that completed application be sent via certified mail with a request return postcard to:
Lea L. Ebro, PhD, RD, LD
Professor and Dietetic Internship Director
NSCI-HES 425
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078-6141
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ONLY
 Enclosed certificate(s) of equivalency for degrees earned outside the United States.
 Enclosed TOEFL scores.
APPLICATION MATERIAL WILL NOT BE RETURNED.
All applicants to the OSU Dietetic Internship must participate in computer matching. Applicants should request instructions and a
mark/sense card to prioritize their DI preferences. Applicants should request this material from any ADA-approved Didactic
Program in Dietetics or from D&D Digital Systems. This request should be made to allow turn around time for submitting by a
February 15 postmark deadline. There is no charge for this material, however, there is a $50 charge for computer matching that
is due with the applicant's prioritized ranking.
Address request to:
D&D Digital Systems
137 Lynn Avenue
Ames, IA 50014-7126
Estimated Cost of Dietetic Internship Program for 1999-2000*
The cost to students enrolled in the DI Program will vary depending on current costs for tuition, books, student fees,
board, lodging, etc. ESTIMATED COST of the DI Program is as follows:
FEES
 DI Application Fee (non-refundable)
 Graduate College Application Fee (non-refundable)
 DI Maintenance Fee (upon acceptance to the program)
TUITION (21 HOURS)
 Oklahoma Residents ($102.41/credit hour)
 Non-Resident ($290.91/credit hour)
 Other required fees (see catalog pp. 18-20)++
$25.00
$25.00
$2,000.00
$2,150.61
$6,109.11
OTHER FEES AND EXPENSES
 OSU Registration Fee (new students only, refundable
$40.00
at the completion of the program or degree)
 OSU Campus Parking Permit
If living in Stillwater
$54.00
For one day/week on campus each sem. for commuters)
$15.00
 Estimated textbooks, supplies, etc.
$500.00
 Student Health Insurance (optional)**
$409.00/yr
 Professional Liability Insurance***
$35.00
 Estimated Room and Board ($500.00/month)
$6,000.00
 Estimated uniform, lab coat, shoes, etc.
$200.00
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/MEETINGS
 ADA Associate Membership
 Professional Meetings: ODA-Fall & Spring
(required as part of rotation) (approximately)
 Other Nutrition/Dietetics Meetings (optional)
 ADA Annual Meeting (optional)
$40.50
$150.00
variable
variable
TRANSPORTATION
 Students must provide own transportation between the variable
university and facilities
*Subject to change.
**This health insurance is offered through the OSU Student Government Association at a substantial savings
[1(405)744-6500].
***The State of Oklahoma requires professional liability insurance for practicing professionals, provisional or
licensed. Many of the hospitals where students intern also require professional liability. This insurance is not
available through the university, however, we refer requests to the agency recommended by the American Dietetic
Association which is Maginnis and Associates [1(800)621-3008 ext. 105 (Individual Liability Division)].
++Student Health Center Fee may be waived if students elect not to use the Center for medical consultation and
medicine.