The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Dietetic Internship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606, (312) 899-5400
http://www.eatright.org/ACEND

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, master’s, doctorate, and professional degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about UAB’s accreditation.

Professional Licensure and Certification (PLC) Requirements

The MS in Nutrition Sciences, Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship is designed to lead to registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) certification. While there is a national professional exam, the Registration Examination for Dietitian Nutritionists, associated with the RDN certification, specific licensure requirements still vary from state to state. UAB is working to develop an online, publicly accessible database to assist in providing this state-by-state information. In the meantime, if you are interested in learning about potential professional licensure requirements in your state for a specific degree program, please contact UAB State Authorization at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call eLearning and Professional Learning staff at 205-934-3258.

For additional RDN State Licensure Resources, visit the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

Our mission is to prepare students to be competent, entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) for practice in a variety of settings through an innovative program design that promotes collaboration, use of the research process, and critical-thinking skills to improve the health of individuals and communities.

Goal 1: Program graduates will be registered dietitian nutritionists who demonstrate competence in the knowledge and skills expected for entry-level employment in nutrition and dietetics or related fields.

Objectives for Goal 1:

• At least 80% of program interns complete program/degree requirements within 18 months (150% of the program length).
• Over a five-year period, at least 90% of program graduates will pass the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within one year of first attempt.
• Of graduates who seek employment, 75% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
• 95% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
• The program's one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
• During their first year of employment, program graduates will be ranked by at least 90% of employers as "satisfactory" or better in professional knowledge and skills as compared to the expected competency of an entry-level registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).

Goal 2: Prepare graduates who demonstrate the ability to use current evidence-based research and apply the research process in professional practice.

Objectives for Goal 2:

• 85% of program graduates indicate on the alumni survey that they routinely use current research findings in professional practice.
• 75% of program graduates indicate on the alumni survey that they have used the research process to make decisions in professional practice since graduation.

Goal 3: Prepare graduates who demonstrate a commitment to serving the community and the profession.

Objectives for Goal 3:

• 75% of recent (within one year of graduation) graduates who respond to the alumni survey will indicate that they participated in at least one service activity since graduation.
• 75% of recent (within one year of graduation) graduates who respond to the alumni survey will indicate they are active members of a local, state, or national dietetic association.

If you are interested in specific outcome measures of the program, please contact the Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship Program Director, Keith Pearson, PhD, RD,LD, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 205-975-4113.

The MS in Nutrition Sciences, Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship prepares entry-level dietitian nutritionists for a variety of careers in health care, wellness, and food service management. The program aims to improve awareness and understanding among health professionals and the public of the vital role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of disease and in health promotion. On completing the program, graduates will earn a Master of Science degree and will be eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitian Nutritionists offered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

The UAB MS in Nutrition Sciences, Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship works with more than 40 sites and 100 preceptors, many of whom are graduates of the program. Internship sites are available in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, and Mobile. With a program emphasis of Medical Nutrition Therapy, the Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship offers extensive supervised practice experience in a variety of clinical settings. Listed below are the areas of practice that an intern may work in while enrolled in the program.

• Clinical Nutrition - Inpatient and outpatient services may include weight management, diabetes, nephrology, cardiology, gastroenterology, rehabilitation and long term care, HIV, trauma, burns, surgery, oncology, cystic fibrosis, eating disorders, and sports nutrition.
• Community Nutrition - Public health, community and corporate wellness, telehealth, and community outreach organizations
• Foodservice Management - Hospitals, universities/colleges, and school nutrition programs
• Research (only Birmingham) - Clinical and community research

Within the different practice areas, interns may work with various population groups, including infants, children, adolescents, adults, pregnant/lactating women, and older adults. The supervised practice portion of the program concludes with interns completing a five-week staff practice rotation in an area of their choosing. All rotation facilities are located within 100 miles of the intern's designated program city.

The UAB MS in Nutrition Sciences, Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship accepts a total of 25 interns annually. These positions are distributed among the on- and off-campus programs:

• Birmingham (on-campus): 16 interns
• Huntsville (off-campus): 3 interns
• Mobile (off-campus): 3 interns
• Montgomery (off-campus): 3 interns

The Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship participates in the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS).

Open House

The MS in Nutrition Sciences-Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship will host a Virtual Open House on September 19, 2025, from 12:00PM-1:00PM CT. Dr. Keith Pearson will discuss the program details as well as how UAB’s program could align with your interest or career goals. Register here today.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for the MS in Nutrition Sciences, Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship, you must have:

• Received a minimum of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in the United States (or to be completed prior to Fall semester).
• Completed the required curriculum from an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and received a Verification Statement or Declaration of Intent Statement.
• Earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• No GRE required

In instances where applicants do not meet the minimum GPA requirements for admission, they may be considered for probationary admission. Students who are competitive for the MS in Nutrition Sciences, Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.5 and have completed a Didactic Program in Dietetics within the past three years.

If you do not qualify for the Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship, the Department of Nutrition Sciences offers additional MS in Nutrition Sciences tracks that may meet your professional goals.

Application Process

1. Complete the online application Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) portal. The application fee is $50. Detailed information about DICAS application procedure and fees can be found on the DICAS Applicant Help Center.
   • Official Transcripts – Submit official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended directly to DICAS. In the coursework entry section, applicants must also enter all courses exactly as they appear on their transcripts. When prompted to complete a transcript review by DICAS, please ensure you designate your DPD Professional and DPD Science coursework. These steps must be completed for your GPA to be calculated accurately. A full tutorial is available on the DICAS Applicant Help Center website.
   • Three letters of recommendation are required. Strong letters of recommendation generally come from the following:
     • Current or previous professor
     • Current or previous work supervisor
     • A registered dietitian you’ve interacted with professionally (if not applicable, use another professor or work supervisor)
     Every applicant has unique circumstances. Collectively, your letters of recommendation should describe transferable skills such as leadership, critical thinking, decision making, overcoming adversity and attest to your academic ability to complete a rigorous graduate program. Providing specific examples that illustrate these characteristics make for a strong letter of recommendation. DICAS will send an email link to each of your references from the email address that you provide for each reference as part of your application. Your letters of recommendation will be submitted electronically by your references directly to DICAS.
   • Personal statement: In 750 words or less, provide a personal statement that describes a) your interest in the nutrition and dietetics profession; b) how your experiences and achievements have prepared you to succeed in our graduate program; c) your strengths and areas of improvement; and d) anything else you would like the selection committee to know, if applicable.
2. Applicants may be invited to interview with the Program Director during the application process.
3. Admissions Decision
   • Early Decisions: Applications will be reviewed upon completion.
   • Final Deadline: February 1 - Applicants will receive a decision by March 1.
   • All applicants who receive offers for admission into the program must notify UAB of their decision to accept or decline their offer by March 15.
4. Graduate School Application
   • Students who accept offers for admission into the Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship will then apply to the UAB Graduate School (deadline: June 1)
   • Application fee: $50

International Applicants

International students interested in the Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship must have:

• Received a minimum of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in the United States (or to be completed prior to Fall semester) or a bachelor’s degree from a foreign university with a transcript evaluation from an accredited company.  (I.E. World Evaluation Services or SpanTran).
• Completed the required curriculum from an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and received a Verification Statement or Declaration of Intent Statement.
• Earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• An expected cumulative TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 80, IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5, PTEA (Pearson Test of English Academics) score of 53, Duolingo score of 70, or IELA (International English Language Assessment) score of 176.
• Please contact the Office of International admissions with questions specific to the English proficiency test requirements.
• A Financial Affidavit of Support.