Montana Dietetic Internship
Non-Degree Graduate Dietetic Internship (DI)
The Montana Dietetic Internship Non-Degree Certificate is designed for applicants who already hold a master's degree and a Didactic Program in dietetics (DPD) verification statement. The two-semester internship emphasizes in sustainable food systems and prepares graduates for entry-level dietetics practice.
The internship begins with orientation at MSU-Bozeman, followed by an immersive sustainable food systems rotation. During this rotation, interns work at Towne's Harvest Garden, an experiential learning laboratory for MSU students, and participate in tours of local farms and ranches, food production facilities, food banks and waste management systems. Interns also facilitate a cohort “lunch and learn” session and examine the role of policy in systems change by drafting a brief and leading a group discussion. In addition, interns complete an interprofessional Food as Medicine project alongside medical and nursing students, researching and teaching the healthcare about the connections among food, agriculture, and health systems, with an emphasis on nutrition security and planetary health.
Following the sustainable food systems rotation, interns relocate once from Bozeman to a major rotation site in Kalispell, Missoula, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, or Billings, MT or Sheridan, WY. There, they complete the remainder of the internship through fall and spring semesters, totaling 1,085 hours of supervised practice across clinical, community, and food service management affiliate locations.
Upon successful completion of all coursework and supervised practice requirements, interns are awarded a Dietetic Internship (DI) verification statement. Graduates who hold a masters degree and DI verification statement are eligible to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians.
August - May. Supervised practice does not follow the MSU-Bozeman academic calendar. Any additional holidays will be determined by preceptor schedule but are not guaranteed.
The initial weeks of orientation, professional development and sustainable foods foundation and applied weeks will take place at MSU-Bozeman and surrounding areas.
Interns will be assigned to one of seven geographic regions in Montana or Wyoming for the remainder of their supervised practice hours. Locations in Montana include Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, and Sheridan, Wyoming. Interns can indicate their top two location choices in the application.
During the internship, interns will complete 12 non-degree graduate credits. The coursework includes Food Systems Leadership for Nutrition Professionals and Dietetic Supervised Practice (internship hours). During the internship, online class will occur once a week. Online class includes professional presentations, assigned readings, group projects and guest lectures.
- Food Service Management
- Clinical Nutrition
- Community Nutrition
- Nutrition Communications
- Sports Nutrition
- Pediatrics
- Sustainable Food Systems
- Proof of an MS or MPH degree is a requirement for application to this pathway.
- Verification statement (or declaration of intent) from an accredited didactic program (DPD).
- Preferred 100 hours of volunteer or work experience in food, nutrition and/or dietetics.
- Three references from dietetic professionals, faculty and/or employers.
- GRE is not required for the DI program
- Application will be evaluated based on a variety of factors including scholastic achievement, work/volunteer experience, professional references, leadership abilities and program fit.
- Nonrefundable Application Fee: To be considered, send an application fee of $57 directly to MDI postmarked by the
application deadline. (This is a separate fee from the DICAS fees.)
- Please pay online (preferred) or
- Make checks payable to Montana Dietetic Internship and mail to: Montana Dietetic Internship,Montana State University,PO Box 173370, Bozeman, MT 59717-3370
- Submit application materials through the Dietetic Internship Computer Application Service (DICAS) Portal by the appropriate deadline. Resources including instructional videos for using DICAS are available from ACEND.
- Do not apply to the MSU Graduate school unless directed by the MDIGP team.
Accepting applications in DICAS October 19th for Fall 2026 start.
Selection Process |
Application deadline through the DICAS PortalApplication fee paid to MDI |
Interviews |
Notification of Program Decision |
Confirm Acceptance with MDI Directors by phone or email |
Non-refundable $1000 Deposit paid or postmarked to MDI by |
Early Selection for MSU grads |
Sunday, October 12th, 2025, 11:59 pm MST |
Oct 13-16 |
Friday, October 17th, 2025 |
Monday, October 20th, 2025, 5:00 PM MST |
Monday, October 27th, 2025, 5 PM MST |
National - Fall Priority Deadline |
Priority Deadline Sunday, October 19th, 2025, 11:59 pm MST |
October 21-29 |
Friday, October 31st, 2025 |
Saturday, November 15th, 2025 |
Friday, November 21st, 2025 |
National - Spring Priority Deadline |
Priority Deadline Sunday, February 8th, 2026, 11:59 pm MDT |
February 10 - 17 |
Friday, February 27th, 2026 |
Sunday, March 15th, 2026 |
Monday, March 23rd, 2026 |
DI early selection category applicants must be:
- Montana State University grads completed with, or near completion of, a degree from MSU with the Didactic Program in Dietetics Verification Statement from the Department of Food Systems, Nutrition & Kinesiology.
- Submit your application through the DICAS Portal indicating "Montana Dietetic Internship- Internal MSU Applicants Only"
Notice – MDI students are required to complete a background check. Applicants shall include in the ‘Background Section’ of their DICAS application any information that could appear in a background check. Background checks are comprehensive and can include findings such as all arrests and criminal charges even if dismissed or deferred, as well as expunged records. Failure to disclose a discrepancy could have worse consequences than not disclosing on DICAS if discovered later upon review of a background check report and may be cause for termination from the program.
To learn about the Montana Dietetic Internship program costs, please visit the MDIGP Overview Page.
Orientation Week 1
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Monday |
Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
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8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
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8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
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Livingston Food Systems Day 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Clinical Workshop Day 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
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Clinical Workshop Day 8:15 AM - 2:15 PM
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Sustainable Food System Foundations Week 1
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
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7:00 AM - 3:00 PM MT Beef Council Ranch & Processor Tour |
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
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Culinary Medicine Interprofessional Workshop Day 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
|
Sustainable Food System Foundations Week 2
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
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8:30 AM - 4:00PM
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8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
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8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
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Recreational Foraging Workshop at Hyalite 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
Long Weekend
|
Explore other pathways:
-
Two-year combined Master of Science degree in Dietetic Systems Leadership and Dietetic Internship (MSDI) for students who hold a bachelor’s degree and Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) verification statement
-
Accelerated 4+1 Program that allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition and a DPD verification statement in four years, followed by completion of the Master of Science in Dietetic Systems Leadership and dietetic internship in the fifth year.
To learn more about the Montana Dietetic Internship see the MDI Program Handbook.
