Mission Statement

The Cal Poly Pomona dietetic internship program was established in 1987 and is based in the Department of Nutrition & Food Sciences.

The department’s mission is to support a creative and innovative environment to prepare baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate students through a learn-by-doing approach for careers in the health and food science professions to benefit society.

The dietetic internship provides planned supervised learning experiences in clinical, management, and community settings that build on knowledge obtained in didactic programs and prepare program graduates to become competent entry-level registered dietitians or registered dietitian nutritionists.

Program Goals

• To prepare graduates to be competent entry-level practitioners through the application of knowledge acquired in the program to the practical setting.
• To prepare graduates to assume positions in the field of Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) as well as a variety of career opportunities and to maintain lifelong learning within the profession of nutrition and dietetics.

Learning Objectives

• At least 80 percent of graduates will complete the program in 15 months or 150 percent of the time planned for completion. For the dietetic internship, this is 15 months. For the combined master’s degree-dietetic internship, this is 36 months.
• At least 80 percent of program graduates will take the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of graduation.
• The program's one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of their first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for registered dietitian nutritionists is at least 80 percent.
• At least 80 percent of graduates will rate themselves as being ready for entry-level practice upon completion of the program.
• Of graduates who seek employment, 80 percent are employed in nutrition- and dietetics-related fields within 12 months of graduation.
• At least 80 percent of employers who return surveys will agree or strongly agree that graduates are adequately prepared for entry-level practice.
• At least 80 percent of graduates will rate themselves as “Prepared” or “Well Prepared” in medical nutrition therapy (MNT) knowledge and skills for their first entry-level position.
• At least 50 percent of graduates will seek employment in MNT-related positions.

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) Concentration

Our program is focused on medical nutrition therapy in clinical, outpatient, and community settings. As an intern, you will receive training through a variety of supervised practice experiences. Program graduates will become competent to:

• Assess clients with multiple acute complex medical conditions, plan appropriate medical nutrition therapy, and document accurately in medical records, communicating to all appropriate stakeholders.
• Recommend, monitor, and adjust nutrition support prescriptions as part of an interdisciplinary team

Accreditation Status

The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®), which is part of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, has accredited the Cal Poly Pomona dietetic internship program.

ACEND® contact information:

120 Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995

(800) 877-1600, ext. 5400

ACEND@eatright.org 

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics website at eatrightPRO.org

Civil Rights Information

The California State University complies with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the regulations adopted thereunder. No person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin or disability, be excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program of the California State University.

California State University programs for professions that require licensure or certification are intended to prepare the student to meet California licensure and certification requirements. Admission into programs for professions that require licensure and certification does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certificate. Licensure and certification requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the California State University and licensure and certification requirements can change at any time.

The California State University has not determined whether its programs meet other states’ educational or professional requirements for licensure and certification. Students enrolled in a California State University program who are planning to pursue licensure or certification in other states are responsible for determining whether they will meet their state’s requirements for licensure or certification. This disclosure is made pursuant to 34 CFR §668.43(a)(5)(v)(C).