Dietetic Internship Programs
Dear Prospective Students,
Starting in 2024, Georgia Southern University will no longer be accepting new enrollments for the combined Master’s Degree in Foods and Nutrition and Dietetic Internship (MS-DI) program. However, we are pleased to announce that we are currently accepting applications for the last Dietetic Internship Certificate program, which will run from Summer 2024 to Spring 2025. To be eligible for this program, you must possess a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) verification statement and have completed a graduate degree before the Summer 2024 semester begins.
Please be informed that the combined MS-DI and DI Certificate program will end at the close of the Spring semester in 2025. This decision has been prompted by declining numbers of students seeking dietetic internship programs nationwide and low enrollment rates.
Georgia Southern will continue to offer the Bachelor Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) program to prepare students to become registered dietitians.
We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all our preceptors and faculty members who have dedicated themselves to guiding our students in their professional development.
We understand that this transition may present some challenges, and we thank you for your understanding. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
After May 2025, program graduates may obtain a copy of their DI verification statement through the Chair of the Department of Health Science and Kinesiology.
Best regards,
Karen Spears, PhD, RD
Dietetic Internship Director
kspears@georgiasouthern.edu
At Georgia Southern University, we have the Dietetic Internship Certificate Program designed to prepare you for a career as a registered dietitian. We are accepting applications for the 2024-2025 cohort. The DI Certificate program will close in May 2025 after the completion of our final cohort.
The chart below will help you decide which program is the best fit for you.
| COMBINED MS IN NUTRITION AND FOODS PLUS DIETETIC INTERNSHIP PROGRAM | DIETETIC INTERNSHIP CERTIFICATE PROGRAM | |
| Program Length | 20 months | 12 months |
| Program Start Date | Fall Semester | Summer Semester |
| Application Due Date | Closed to Enrollment | January 15, 2024 pre-select February 15, 2024 for spring matching |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | 23 |
| Must Have Graduated From a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) | yes | yes |
| Must have Advanced degree prior to entry into program (MS, MA, MPH, Ph.D., etc.) | no, you will be getting a MS with the program | yes |
| Eligible to Take RD Examination Upon Completion of Program | yes | yes |
| Terminal Degree | yes, MS | no, certificate |
| Thesis Required | no. non-thesis Must pass a comprehensive exam at the end of year one. | no |
Accreditation
The Georgia Southern DI is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition & Dietetics (ACEND) (https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend), the accreditation agency for education programs for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (AND).
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
Phone: 312-899-0040, ext. 5400
Fax: 312-899-4817
Questions? Contact Us
Karen Spears, Ph.D., RD
Clinical Instructor and Dietetic Internship Programs Director
Ph.D., University of Washington
Office: Statesboro Campus-Hanner Building – Room 2301-B
Phone: 912-478-2123
E-mail: kspears@georgiasouthern.edu
Last updated: 12/19/2023