Each year, the KSC dietetic internship accepts 12 interns during the April matching. The internship year begins in September.

Length
The program provides a minimum of 1,360 hours of practical field experience. Interns may request to complete the internship on a full-time or part-time basis. The full-time option should be completed in 11 to 12 months. The part-time option should be completed in 12 to 18 months.

Rotations

Orientation (40 hours)
Orientation will take place on campus in the beginning of September. These classes are designed to prepare you for independent work throughout the internship.

Class Days (1 day/week in the Fall; 1 day/every other week in the Spring)
Classes will help expand on the knowledge and skills you gain on site. Fall classes focus on educational techniques for individuals and groups at all stages of the life cycle. Additional classes include speakers with expertise in: clinical disease states, nutrition care process, research, grant writing, nutrition support, behavior change, foodservice, entrepreneurship, whole foods, energetics of food and the body, complementary medicine, herbs, and more. Six graduate credits, offered through the graduate Department of Education, are earned during class days. Interns may also attend a variety of nutrition and health related educational events.

Community Wellness and Nutritional Health Promotion (400 hours)
This rotation requires interns to spend a minimum of 400 hours working with clients in all phases of life and in a variety of community settings. You will spend 40 hours working with each of the following: children, adolescents, adults, and mature adults. You will also work 40 hours in an outpatient nutrition education setting. The remaining hours may be spent working with groups of your choice and depending on community needs. This rotation will provide you with experience in outpatient, public health, and community settings. (Note: Rotations in eating disorders and sports nutrition are not currently available, and there are limited opportunities for private practice counseling.)

Clinical (440 hours)
This rotation requires interns spend a minimum of 55 eight-hour days (at least 440 hours) gaining clinical nutrition knowledge in a clinical facility. Clinical rotations take place in one or a combination of the following settings: acute care, sub-acute care, long-term care, and rehabilitation hospitals. Interns will be expected to perform with increasing competence and independence through the course of the rotation. By the end of the rotation, you will be able to provide staff relief at your clinical site. These placements are individualized based on availability and your prior experience and interests. Note that because there are a limited number of clinical opportunities in Keene, you can expect to commute up to one-and-a-half hours each way to your facility.

Management (120 hours foodservice management; 80 hours alternative management experience)
In this rotation, interns will learn how a foodservice operation functions and begin to develop management skills through observation, practice, and supervision. All interns are placed in schools and healthcare settings. The alternative management hours may include working in a different foodservice facility, special management projects, and marketing opportunities.

Specialty (160 hours)
This rotation allows you to explore your interests and create individualized learning experiences. You may choose from a variety of options, including advanced practice in one or more of your community, clinical, or foodservice rotations. This rotation can also be used to explore employment in non-traditional settings.

Independent Study (120 hours)
This rotation requires a minimum of 120 hours, allowing interns to complete a special interest project. Interns are matched with community partners, research a health promotion or disease prevention topic or issue, and then design an intervention. When a community partner is not available in intern's area of interest, there is the option to do a research paper instead of a project. All interns identify a grant funding source, write a grant proposal related to their topic, and present the results of their research.

Assignments (hours vary)
In addition to the required internship hours, you will complete several homework assignments and learning activities that are designed to supplement your practical learning experiences. Upon acceptance to the program, you will be required to complete six pre-internship clinical review homework assignments. These are comprehensive worksheets covering various disease states, medications, medical terminology, and nutrition therapy. Due dates will occur throughout the summer prior to the start of the internship.