Student Learning Outcomes

The program’s curriculum provides learning activities to attain the breadth and depth of the core competencies and program-defined concentration competencies based on accreditation standards. Below are the student learning outcomes for the program.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Apply evidence-based guidelines, systematic reviews and scientific literature in the nutrition care process and model and other areas of dietetics practice.

2. Perform self- assessment, develop goals and objectives and prepare portfolio for professional development as defined by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

3. Perform the Nutrition Care Process and use standardized nutrition language for individuals, groups and populations of differing ages and health status, in a variety of settings.

4. Conduct nutrition-focused physical exams (NFPE).

5. Assess the nutritional status of individuals, groups and populations in a variety of settings where nutrition care is or can be delivered.

6. Diagnose nutrition problems and create problem, etiology, signs and symptoms (PES) statements.

7. Plan and implement nutrition interventions to include prioritizing the nutrition diagnosis, formulating a nutrition prescription, establishing goals and selecting and managing intervention.

8. Monitor and evaluate problems, etiologies, signs, symptoms and the impact of interventions on the nutrition diagnosis.

9. Complete documentation that follows professional guidelines, guidelines required by health care systems and guidelines required by the practice setting.

10. Perform management functions related to safety, security and sanitation that affect employees, customers, patients, facilities and food.

11. Participate in public policy activities, including both legislative and regulatory initiatives.

12. Analyze financial data to assess utilization of resources.

13. Code and bill for dietetic/nutrition services to obtain reimbursement from public or private insurers.

14. Performs needs assessment for targeted programs.

CAS Program Requirements

The 13 credit hour Dietetic Internship Certificate of Advanced Study (C.A.S.) is a dietetic internship program that can be pursued with or without a graduate degree.

The internship program supports students as they prepare for careers as entry-level dietitians. It builds on academic skills acquired in an accredited didactic program in dietetics. The internship consists of 1200-hours of supervised practice focusing on the nutrition care process as it applies to communities, families, acute care, long term care, outpatient programs and feeding programs. It includes a concentration focusing on outcomes research, and management.

Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the registration examination for dietitians offered through the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR). Successful completion of the RD exam is usually a prerequisite for state licensure or certification.

The internship is based on the current standards of Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) (120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606; 312-879-0040; ext. 5400).

Transfer Credit

A maximum of three credits from a combination of transfer and/or external examiniations/extra-institutional and experiential learning will be accepted toward a CAS.