Non-Degree Graduate Dietetic Internship (DI)

The focus area for this dietetic internship is Sustainable Food Systems. The Sustainable Food Systems foundation work and practicum occur following the internship orientation at MSU-Bozeman. Interns work at Towne's Harvest Garden, an experiential learning laboratory for students at MSU. Other experiences include tours and field trips of local farms and ranches, food production facilities, local food banks and other community organizations. Interns also complete interprofessional projects such as Culinary Medicine sessions with medical and nursing students, and research and teach peers about food system issues related to the dietetics profession.

Becoming an RDN or NDTR

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.

  1. 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
  2. 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.
  3. 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 Portal

Application 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.

 

To learn more about the Montana Dietetic Internship see the MDI Program Handbook.