The Cal Poly Dietetic Internship & Master's Degree Combined Program
Introducing the 2022-23 Dietetic Intern "Family"
Back Row, L-R: Janae Mudge, "Mary Beth" Brumit, Sapna Peruvemba, Elyce Barr, Jasmine Martinez
Front Row, L-R: Nicolaza Cervantez, Julia Orloff, Rose Giorgi, Patti Bergstrom, Kaitlynn Watson
Located on California's Beautiful Central Coast!
Our internship is housed in Cal Poly's Food Science and Nutrition Department and has rotation sites in three counties on California's Central Coast: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.
San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly is located in the city of San Luis Obispo - known to locals as "SLO" - a community of about 47,000, in an area of extraordinary natural beauty and known as a year-round destination for adventure. San Luis Obispo is a bike-friendly community with a delightful downtown of great dining, shops, nightlife, arts center, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, historical walking tours, world-class performing arts center, many excellent wineries, and the popular Downtown SLO Farmer's Market. If that's not enough, beautiful beaches are located only ten minutes away!
Santa Barbara
The internship also offers rotation sites in Santa Barbara, which is world-famous for its breathtaking setting. The dramatic mix of mountains, valleys, beaches, islands, and ocean defines its natural beauty. Santa Barbara has world-class performances of music, opera, dance and theater year-round. It is also one of the top five art colonies in the west. It has many restaurants, first-rate golf, tennis, polo, horseback riding, cycling, hiking, and many water sports.
Please note: Beginning January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) has changed the degree requirement for dietitian registration eligibility from a Bachelor's degree to a Master's degree (in any field) in addition to the current requirement of a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited dietetics program. Cal Poly offers a Master of Science in Nutrition through the Food Science and Nutrition Department and other graduate degrees in other departments across campus.
How to Join our "Family" and Become a Cal Poly Dietetic Intern
Our two program options:
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Stand Alone Dietetic Internship for NON-DEGREE SEEKING students and have already completed a graduate degree, OR
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Graduate Degree AND Dietetic Internship for GRADUATE DEGREE SEEKING students who are currently enrolled in, have been accepted into, a Cal Poly graduate program such as the Master of Science in Nutrition program (evidence of acceptance due by March 15).
Additional ACCeptance requirements include:
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a DPD Verification Statement dated no more than 5 years prior to application (through submission of a Verification Statement), OR
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a Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree and DPD (to receive DPD Verification Statement) prior to admission into the internship.
This program does not discriminate based on color, race, creed, religion, national origin, age, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability.
Awarding of Verification Statements:
Cal Poly will award Verification Statements upon successful completion of:
- all ACEND and Cal Poly program requirements (refer to Cal Poly Dietetic Intern Handbook) with a score of ≥3 out of a 5-point evaluation scale on all competencies for registered dietitian nutritionists (CRDNs), and
- a graduate degree, either through Cal Poly or previously awarded from another university
Want to Learn More about the Cal Poly DI & MS Nutrition with a Dietetics Emphasis?
Attend one of our virtual Cal Poly Dietetic Open Houses or the NDEP Dietetic Supervised Professional Practice (DSPP) Fair! During the virtual open houses, the DI Director and a small group of current interns will provide detailed information about the program and the application process and answer guests' questions. The interns will also share their first-hand experiences to provide an intern's perspective.
Cal Poly's Virtual Open Houses - 2022-23
- Monday, December 5, 2022 @ 5:30 pm PT: Recording on YouTube
- Tuesday, January 10, 2022 @ 5:30 pm PT: REGISTER HERE
Contact Dr. Pilolla at CalPolySLODI@calpoly.edu if you have any questions.
We're SOCIAL! Check us out @calpolyslodi on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and our Blog!
We post lots of pictures highlighting our interns' experiences during the Cal Poly Dietetic Internship and share tips for success on the application and internship!
Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
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Complete a minimum of a Master’s Degree (effective January 1, 2024).
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Complete required coursework and earn a Verification Statement from an ACEND-accredited program (Didactic Program in Dietetics, Coordinated Program, Graduate Program, or Foreign Dietitian Education Program).
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Complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.
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Pass the national registration examination administered by CDR.
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When applicable, apply for state licensure
Students/Interns are eligible to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians administered by the CDR after satisfactory completion of the ACEND-accredited, Cal Poly Dietetic Internship and their choice of master's degree programs at Cal Poly or graduate degree obtained prior to the Cal Poly Dietetic Internship.
The RDN credential is a national credential and, thus, meets licensure requirements of all states. Refer to the state map provided by the Commission on Dietetic Registration to determine which states have licensure requirements.
For more information on the steps to becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, please review the "Fact Sheet" provided on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website.
