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Dietetic Internship Program

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James H. Quillen VA Medical Center

Program Rotations and Schedule

Dietetic Internship Only Option
Length:  8 months

The DI is a fulltime program with 40 hours of supervised practice scheduled per week.  The program starts in August and finishes in mid-April.  Typically, interns are scheduled Monday through Friday but may be asked to work an occasional weekend.  In addition to supervised practice hours, dietetic interns have assignments or readings to supplement the hands-on learning experience.  Graduates are issued a verification statement after successfully completing the supervised practice hours and completing all assignments, with a minimum score of “competent at entry level” in all competencies. No award for prior supervised practice hours is available.

Combined MS University of Alabama/Dietetic Internship Option (MS/DI)
Length:  22 Months, includes the 32 weeks of supervised practice


The combined MS/DI program begins with enrollment in University of Alabama’s MS in Human Nutrition program year one, followed by the supervised practice experience at James H Quillen VA Medical Center which occurs in the second year, after interns have completed all but 2 courses in the MS in Human Nutrition.  The remaining 2 courses will be completed along with supervised practice rotations in year 2. Supervised practice is a fulltime program with 40 hours of supervised practice per week.  Typically, interns are scheduled Monday through Friday but may be asked to work an occasional weekend.  In addition to supervised practice hours and required coursework, dietetic interns may have assignments or readings to supplement the hands-on learning experience.  Graduates are issued a verification statement after successfully completing the supervised practice hours, all assignments, with a minimum score of “competent at entry level” in all competencies, and conferral of the master’s degree.

  • Students in the MS / DI option will need to allow the university to share information on academic progress with the dietetic internship.

Sequence of MS / DI option:

  1. Application and admission to University of Alabama (UA) School of Graduate Studies through UA.
  2. Application and admission to James H Quillen VA Medical Center Dietetic Internship through DICAS and D&D Digital.

Year 1:

  • Summer Semester:  Start online MS Program through UA and complete required courses, online.
  • Fall and Spring Semesters: Interns will continue the online MS program through UA and complete required courses, online.

Year 2:

  • Summer Semester:   Interns will continue in the online MS program through UA taking required courses, online.
  • Fall Semester: Interns admitted to James H Quillen VA Medical Center Internship will relocate to Johnson City, TN to begin supervised practice rotations at James H Quillen VA MC and affiliate community sites. 
  • Interns will rotate in supervised practice for 32 weeks from August until May while completing the final two courses for the MS in Human Nutrition.
  • Supervised practice is completed in May of the 2nd Verification statements are provided upon successful completion of the MS degree and the Dietetic Internship.

A copy of the academic calendar for students in the graduate degree option can be found on the website for the Office of the University Registrar at:  https://registrar.ua.edu/academiccalendar/

Course descriptions can be found on the University of Alabama's website.