BWS DI is offering an Accelerated DI-Only Pathway for Spring 2023 applicants to complete their DI requirements in 2023 without needing a master’s degree. Through this pathway, the program will run from June 2023-December 2023 and is full-time (40 hours/week). Details about this pathway, including application instructions, eligibility, and an example schedule, may be found below.
Application Instructions
- Applicants must apply to BWS DI through DICAS for the Spring 2023 Match. This pathway is available for Spring 2023 Match applicants only. Instructions for applying to our program through DICAS can be found here.
- Those who wish to apply to the Accelerated DI-Only Pathway must indicate this is the pathway they are applying to in the BWS DI Supplemental Application.
- Applicants may apply to the Accelerated DI-Only Pathway and the DI-Only Pathway or MS/DI Pathway. In this case, two separate rotation schedules would need to be submitted with the Supplemental Application.
- The Accelerated DI-Only Pathway is also available for applicants who apply to BWS DI through the Preselect Option.
- Interns applying to the accelerated DI-only pathway may apply for Prior Assessed Learning (PAL).
- If all DI requirements are met no later than December 22, 2023, DI Verification Statements will be issued by BWS DI Program Director between December 25-29, 2023. Once Verification Statements are issued, the applicant will be submitted into CDR’s Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) by BWS DI Program Director before midnight CT, December 31, 2023. More information on CDR’s registration eligibility requirements can be found here.
Pathway Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for the Accelerated DI-Only Pathway, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Provide a DPD Verification Statement and final, official transcripts of a bachelor’s degree, or higher, granted by a university accredited by a USDE-recognized accrediting agency for the undergraduate degree (and graduate degree, if applicable) by May 31, 2023.
- Submit a complete rotation schedule with their supplemental application, which is due on February 15, 2023.
- Be available to start the program on June 5th, 2023, and commit to a full-time rotation schedule through December 19, 2023. There is no option to complete the Accelerated DI-Only Pathway in a part-time format.
- A master’s degree is not required to apply for the Accelerated DI-Only Pathway.
Accelerated Pathway Curriculum
In addition to supervised practice rotations, BWS DI also has a didactic curriculum component. This includes assignments, conference meetings, professional development workshops, self-assessments, and a comprehensive exam. Didactic curriculum activities are completed outside of rotation hours. The curriculum is essential for interns to meet ACEND required competencies. It also gives them extra experience and practice in certain skills, allows them to collaborate with others, and also forms the foundation of our wellness concentration.
An overview of the didactic curriculum can be found below. If you have questions about our didactic curriculum, please send an email to bwsdi@bewellsolutions.com.
BS Students
Assignments & Wellness Capstone
- Foodservice Assignment
- Community Needs Assessment Assignment
- MNT Case study
- Dietary Trends Presentation
- Policy and Advocacy Assignment
- Mentoring Assignment
- Wellness Capstone
Conference Meetings & Journal Club
Once a month, interns will come together with their advisory groups for a conference meeting. During these meetings, interns have the opportunity to check in with their peers and faculty advisor, and talk about how things are going in their rotations. Each intern will lead one journal club discussion on a scientific article throughout the year. Additionally, interns will present their projects, including their wellness capstone and dietary trends assignment.
Conference meetings typically take place in the late afternoon/evening (depending on the intern’s time zone) and are approximately 1 hour long.
Workshops
Interns will be required to attend a few workshops during the program, including a Policy and Advocacy Workshop, Wellness Workshop, and Interviewing Skills Workshop. Some of the workshops are a part of Orientation and Exit Class, and there are a few that will be scheduled in the evenings, outside of rotation hours. The exception to that is the Wellness Workshop, which is a day-long event where interns participate in a variety of activities to gain hands-on experience in the area of wellness and disease prevention. Interns will be notified of the date of the Wellness Workshop in advance, and will be required to adjust their rotation schedules accordingly.
Self-Assessments
Interns will complete self-assessments at the beginning, middle, and end of their internship. These are an opportunity for them to reflect on their strengths, areas of improvement, and goals. The self-assessments are reviewed by faculty advisors, who will provide support and guidance to interns as needed, based on what they’ve shared in their assessments.
Comprehensive Exam
The comprehensive exam is a virtually proctored exam, modeled after the RDN Exam, which interns must pass to graduate from BWS DI. Interns will sit for this toward the end of the program and will be provided with a study guide beforehand. The comprehensive exam is a great way for interns to become familiar with the format of the RDN Exam and get a jump start on studying. It is typically scheduled on a weekend and is a 1.5-hour time commitment.
MS Students
Assignments & Wellness Capstone
- Policy and Advocacy Assignment
- Mentoring Assignment
- MNT Case Study
- Dietary Trends
- Wellness Capstone
Conference Meetings & Journal Club
Once a month, interns will come together with their advisory groups for a conference meeting. During these meetings, interns have the opportunity to check in with their peers and faculty advisor, and talk about how things are going in their rotations. Each intern will lead one journal club discussion on a scientific article throughout the year. Additionally, interns will present their projects, including their wellness capstone and dietary trends assignment.
Conference meetings typically take place in the late afternoon/evening (depending on the intern’s time zone) and are approximately 1 hour long.
Workshops
Interns will be required to attend a few workshops during the program, including a Policy and Advocacy Workshop, Wellness Workshop, and Interviewing Skills Workshop. Some of the workshops are a part of Orientation and Exit Class, and there are a few that will be scheduled in the evenings, outside of rotation hours. The exception to that is the Wellness Workshop, which is a day-long event where interns participate in a variety of activities to gain hands-on experience in the area of wellness and disease prevention. Interns will be notified of the date of the Wellness Workshop in advance, and will be required to adjust their rotation schedules accordingly.
Self-Assessments
Interns will complete self-assessments at the beginning, middle, and end of their internship. These are an opportunity for them to reflect on their strengths, areas of improvement, and goals. The self-assessments are reviewed by faculty advisors, who will provide support and guidance to interns as needed, based on what they’ve shared in their assessments.
Comprehensive Exam
The comprehensive exam is a virtually proctored exam, modeled after the RDN Exam, which interns must pass to graduate from BWS DI. Interns will sit for this toward the end of the program and will be provided with a study guide beforehand. The comprehensive exam is a great way for interns to become familiar with the format of the RDN Exam and get a jump start on studying. It is typically scheduled on a weekend and is a 1.5-hour time commitment.
Sample Rotation Schedule
An example schedule for the Accelerated DI-Match can be found below. Please note that rotations may be arranged in any order from June 12 – December 19, 2023. This example schedule is based on a full-time schedule of 40-hour weeks.
| Rotation/Activity | Potential Dates |
|---|---|
| Onboarding | Monday, April 3 – Friday, June 2, 2023 |
| Orientation (Virtual) | Monday, June 5 – Wednesday, June 7, 2023 |
| Foodservice (80 hours) | Monday, June 12 – Friday, June 23, 2023 |
| Clinical (320 hours) | Monday, June 26 – Tuesday, August 22, 2023
*Off July 3 and 4 for Independence Day |
| Community (160 hours) | Wednesday, August 23 – Thursday, September 21, 2023
*Off for Labor Day |
| Wellness (320 hours) | Monday, September 25 – Friday, November 17, 2023 |
| Emphasis (160 hours) | Monday, November 20 – Tuesday, December 19, 2023
*Off for Thanksgiving |
| Exit Class (Virtual) | Wednesday, December 20-Thursday, December 21, 2023 |
| Final Document Submission | Friday, December 22, 2023 |
| DI Verification Statements Issued | Monday, December 25- Friday, December 29, 2023 |
Questions?
Our program faculty are happy to answer any questions that you have and provide support through the application process. Questions can be sent to bwsdi@bewellsolutions.com.