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Supervised Practice Experience

Students in the Distance Dietetic Internship (DDI)/Certificate Program are awarded graduate credit for completing their supervised practice experiences. Because this track is a distance learning program, students recruit their own preceptors, design their supervised practice schedules, and can choose the order of their rotations.

Supervised Practice Requirements

Track 2 Distance Dietetic Internship/Certificate Program requires students to seek their own rotation sites (minimum site requirements) with approval from the program administrators. Students must find the following types of rotation sites, which can occur in any order keeping in mind each site must provide instruction that progresses from basic to more complex:

  • Students who are completing the Distance Dietetic Internship/Certificate Program while taking online courses for their Master of Science in Nutrition Degree:
    • 320 hours of food service management; 10 weeks at 32 hours a week
    • 320 hours of community nutrition; 10 weeks at 32 hours a week
    • 320 hours of clinical nutrition; 10 weeks at 32 hours a week
    • Due to the rigor of the combined Distance Dietetic Internship and Master of Science in Nutrition degree (DDI/MS) plan of study, students are encouraged to reduce their supervised practice rotations to 32 hours per week.
  • Students who are completing the Distance Dietetic Internship/Certificate Program:
    • 320 hours of food service management; 8 weeks at 40 hours a week
    • 320 hours of community nutrition; 8 weeks at 40 hours a week
    • 320 hours of clinical nutrition; 8 weeks at 40 hours a week
    • Students enrolled in the Distance Dietetic Internship/Certificate Program are encouraged to build additional time off between rotations to allow for make-up hours as needed.

These sample schedules will help students visualize what their individualized experience could look like over the 9-month Graduate Certificate program.

All rotation sites must be identified by June 1st prior to the start of the program. Students will submit their list of rotation sites with the following documents: Preceptor commitment form confirming commitment to providing the supervised practice experience, preceptor resume, and proof of license and credentialing as appropriate. During the summer, the internship program administrators will obtain all necessary affiliation agreements and ensure the preceptors complete preceptor orientation. If students fail to secure their rotations by the June deadline, they risk delay of graduation or removal from the program.

The internship program administrators will work on affiliation agreements with rotation sites on a rolling basis as soon as students submit their plans. Late submissions of plans will delay graduation. If rotation sites are not secure (which includes signed affiliation agreements) by the first day of classes within the semester, students may not begin supervised practice. They may begin once all paperwork is finalized. This delay in start date may delay graduation. Once a student gets more than a semester behind they will need to reapply to the program.

Use the following selection criteria for rotation sites and preceptors:

  • Hospital-based sites need to be accredited by The Joint Commission; or Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP); or Det Norske Veritas Healthcare, Inc. (DNV).
  • Facility should have a variety of learning opportunities and experiences for the intern.
  • The site should provide experiences that progress from basic to more complex experiences.
  • An employee at the facility needs to be named that will take on preceptor responsibilities including communication with the program director, communication and direct work with the intern, scheduling for the intern, and complete continued preceptor training as identified by the program director.
  • Preceptors must have the education and experiences needed to provide appropriate guidance for supervised practice experiences.
  • Preceptors must be licensed, as appropriate to meet state and federal regulations, or credentialed, as needed, for the area in which they are supervising interns.
  • The preceptor must provide evidence of credentials or licensure as appropriate.
  • The preceptor must complete Illinois State University Preceptor Orientation (online).

Resources for Securing Rotation Sites: