The Graduate Certificate Program in Food and Nutrition Science fulfills the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards for Dietetic Internships. The program blends theoretical and practical principles of Dietetics in didactic and supervised practice settings. Students will gain experience in all areas of Dietetics Practice, including Food Service Systems and Management, Community and Public Health Nutrition, Clinical Dietetics, and Research. Students who successfully complete the program will be issued a Verification Statement and will be eligible to sit for the national credentialing exam for Registered Dietitians. The
Verification Statement is the eligibility document that allows one to apply to take the Registered Dietitian national credentialing examination. Admittance into the VSU Dietetics Internship Program does not guarantee that a Verification Statement will be issued. As entry-level practitioners, graduates of the program provide quality nutrition services to clients and show sensitivity and responsiveness to the community.

Admission
Admission into the Graduate Certificate Program in Food and Nutrition Science requires that applicants successfully match to Virginia State University’s Dietetic Internship. The following minimum qualifications are required for admission into VSU’S Dietetic Internship;

• Baccalaureate degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college/university or a foreign degree equivalent to at least a U.S. baccalaureate degree. The degree must meet requirements as identified by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
• A valid verification statement signed by the Program Director of an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average from the baccalaureate degree of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Completion of GRE within the past 5 years is required. (Possessing a Master’s Degree may waive the GRE requirement.)
• Complete Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS) Application Packet and D&D Digital Computer matching application. Use program code 448.
• Evidence of dietetic-related work or volunteer experiences.
• $50.00 non-refundable application fee.

Applicants who successfully match to Virginia State University’s Dietetic Internship Program will be required to notify the Program Director within 24 hours to confirm their appointment. All applicants who successfully match to Virginia State University’s Dietetic Internship Program will be enrolled in the Graduate Certificate Program in Food and Nutrition Science via Continuing Education.

Time to Completion
Students will enroll in this program on a full time basis and complete the program within 15 months. No students will be allowed to enroll on a part time basis.

Students must earn a grade of "B" or better in all courses and supervised practice rotation evaluations and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.  Students have one year to complete all program requirements..

Students are involved in supervised practice rotations in the areas of Clinical, Foodservice, and Community Nutrition simultaneously with coursework.

Students will complete at least 1200 practice hours (equivalent to 42 weeks) supervised by qualified professionals. Rotation sites will be assigned by the Program Director. The majority of sites are in Petersburg, VA and its vicinities (Richmond, South Hill, Farmville, Chesterfield, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Williamsburg and Fredericksburg). Travel of over 70 miles from campus may be required for some rotations.