June 3, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Susan S. Swadener
(805) 756- 6132
Cal Poly Announces New Dietetic Internship Program
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cal Poly has been granted developmental accreditation
for its new Dietetic Internship program.
“The program aims to produce competent individuals who will become
contributing members to the field of dietetics,” said Program Director
Susan S. Swadener, an instructor in the university’s Food Science
and
Nutrition Department.
The program will start Sept. 13, and the deadline for applications is
June 30. Applicants to the program must be graduates of an American
Dietetics Association didactic program in dietetics and have a
bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited school.
The internship program will be housed in the Food Science and Nutrition
Department at Cal Poly but will have rotation sites in Santa Barbara and
San Luis Obispo counties. A total of eight interns will be selected for
the 2004-2005 class. Five of the interns will be placed in San Luis
Obispo County and three will be placed in Santa Barbara County.
The program will help meet the nation’s need for registered dietitians
and to prepare graduates to meet the requirements for dietetic
registration, Swadener said.
Training for the program will consist of:
· Nutrition therapy – a total of 288 hours (nine weeks) will
be
spent at a hospital and/or extended care facilities plus one week at a
renal care center.
· Food service management – 288 hours (nine weeks) will be
completed
in a hospital or school district.
· Community nutrition – 320 hours (10 weeks) will be spent
in a
variety of locations including county health departments, University of
California Cooperative Extension, Head Start/Early Head Start programs,
senior programs and a homeless shelter.
· Elective – 64 hours (two weeks) will be given to interns
to
participate in a dietetic-related field of their interest.
· Professional staff experience – during this 96-hour (three
week)
portion of the program, interns will serve as the acting dietitian at
a
selected facility.
· Class and seminar – 120 hours (30 weeks)
For details, contact Swadener at (805) 756-6132 or sswadene@calpoly.edu.
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