Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP)

Program Eligibility, Application Process and Selection Criteria

Montclair State University’s Individual Supervised Practice Pathway allows the following individuals to apply:

• Graduates who possess a DPD verification statement, and applied, but did not match to a dietetic internship, or
• Individuals holding a doctoral degree with a DPD verification statement, or
• Individuals holding a DPD verification statement dated within eight years if the applicant’s professional experience is at least three years.

Application deadline: All applications must be submitted by May 6, approximately three weeks after DICAS notification day, which is the first Monday in April.

Students must apply to the program by sending the following information to the DI Director, by the application deadline. Applications received after the deadline will not be reviewed for consideration.

Application packets must include:

1. Printed copy of your complete Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) application inclusive of your overall GPA, DPD GPA and Sciences GPA; DPD verification statement, relevant experience (work or volunteer), honors and awards
2. A copy of your non-match from D&D Digital
3. Current resume or curriculum vitae
4. Short essay, less than 300 words, double-spaced, in response to the following questions:
• Why are you an outstanding candidate for the Montclair State University (MSU) ISPP?
• What has led you to have an interest in a dietetics career?
• Discuss experiences that have contributed to your decision to apply for an ISPP.
• What are your short and long term career goals?
5. An identified MSU Faculty or work supervisor to use as a reference.
6. Indicated preferred rotation schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week) or Part-time (<40 hours per week)
7. Application fee of $65.00. Checks should be payable to MSU Dietetic Internship/ISPP. Please include the name of the applicant on the check.

Please enclose the application to:

Montclair State University
Dietetic Internship/ISPP
University Hall, Room 4019
Montclair, NJ 07043

Admission and selection are based on the following criteria:

1. Printed copy of your complete Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) application inclusive of your overall GPA, DPD GPA and Sciences GPA; relevant experience (work or volunteer), honors and awards. A minimum of a 3.2 DPD GPA is required.
2. Current resume
3. MSU Faculty or work reference
4. Short essay
5. Interview with program faculty and admissions committee member/s. Applicants offered an interview will be contacted via phone to arrange a date and time for an interview which can run up to one hour. Applicants not meeting program eligibility will not be notified for an interview. Applicants will be evaluated during the interview based on the following:
• Applicant’s professionalism
• Communication skills
• Responses to questions
• Critical thinking
• Case-based scenario/writing sample
• Enthusiasm
• Skills
6. $65.00 (subject to change) Application fee payable to MSU Dietetic Internship/ISPP

The Admissions Committee uses an overall numerical score based on each of the listed criteria. Applicants who are admitted to the program will receive notification of an offer of admission via email.  Admitted interns must respond by 5 PM the following business day to accept their position or it may be forfeited.

Credit for prior learning may be granted to interns who can provide documentation of significant and relevant compensated work experiences. These work experiences must reflect the same types of learning experience as required by the ACEND competency statements.

No credit hours will be extended for required volunteer experience for coursework.

No more than two rotations will be waived.

The request for prior learning credit consideration must be submitted at least one month prior to the program start date. The request must include the following:

• Candidate’s application for assessment of prior learning, including name and contact information of the person for whom the candidate worked.
• Description of the work experience/s, including dates of employment, responsibilities and activities performed
• Work related references with up-to-date/current contact information
• A summary of past experience/s demonstrating the ACEND competencies

When an applicant submits his/her packet for review, the Clinical Coordinators or DI Director will evaluate and determine whether the experience meets specific ACEND competencies. The Advisory Committee may also be contacted.

Final determination of assessment of prior learning is at the discretion of the Clinical Coordinators/DI Director.

Unless arranged in writing prior to the start of the ISPP program, tuition and fees are the same as the standard DI program.  Please refer to the Tuition and Fees section for more information.

Housing and meal costs are the responsibility of the student. The ISPP does not provide or arrange for student housing.

The MSU ISPP suggests access to a vehicle. Students are required to provide their own transportation to all rotation sites. Students are required to have vehicle insurance.

The ISPP prepares interns to have a successful career in dietetics. Interns will be given the opportunity to satisfactorily complete all supervised practice rotations, ACEND competencies and assignments as outlined in the rotation curriculums. Additional time may be granted to students for remediated supervised practice experiences, pending approval from the Clinical Coordinators, DI Director, and preceptors within 150% of the time designated to the ISPP. Graduates will receive a supervised practice verification statement at successful completion of the ISPP. Requirements for successful completion of the program include:

1. Completion of assigned rotations/rotation hours with satisfactory evaluations of “3” or “Satisfactory” in all rotations.
2. Completion of two graduate courses (six credits) with a minimum grade of “B”.
3. Passing a mid-point and final exam with a minimum grade of 70%.
4. Satisfactory completion of all didactic component requirements.
5. Completing the Registration Eligibility Application Form to be eligible to take the Dietitian Registration Examination. 

Program outcomes are available upon request by contacting the dietetic internship program.