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General Information - Distance Track

The University of Houston Dietetic Internship program is an ACEND (Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza Ste 2190, Chicago IL 60606-6995, Ph: 1-800-877-1600 ext 5400) accredited, post-baccalaureate supervised practice program that qualifies graduates to take the examination to become Registered Dietitians. Interns enter the full-time program (average 40 hours/week for 27 weeks) in January or June of each year. The program goals reflect the major points of our philosophy: quality instruction and broad-based site training which enables graduates to land meaningful professional employment in a variety of areas upon completion. The internship is administratively housed within the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Health and Human Performance.

The University of Houston Dietetic Internship Distance Track is a fast-paced program designed to allow interns to complete their supervised practice requirements in their local setting using sites and preceptors of their choice. Prospective interns are required to obtain agreements with qualified preceptors in the areas of Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), management, community nutrition, and an elective rotation to complete their requirements. These rotations may be accomplished in more than one setting. Preceptors must be set up prior to applying to the UHDI. The strength of the sites and preceptors for achieving the required competencies will be an integral part of the selection process. Sites and preceptors are subject to approval by UHDI.

The program is approved to take up to 30 interns annually, 15 in fall and 15 in spring. Following acceptance to the program, interns are required to complete a set of on-line modules designed to review and reinforce didactic learning. After successful completion of the modules, interns must attend a virtual orientation/pre-rotation experience beginning in January or June. Actual rotations will begin following orientation.

Interns will communicate with the director weekly throughout the supervised practice experience. Evaluations will occur with the program director weekly; preceptors will be providing feedback at regularly scheduled points in the rotation.