About the Department, College, and Penn State

About the College

Penn State's Nutrition and Dietetic Internship Program is part of the Department of Nutritional Sciences, which is located within the University's College of Health and Human Development - a college that utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to address the health, development and well being of individuals and families. The College boasts two schools and six departments offering programs consistently ranked among the highest of their kind in the nation; nine highly successful research centers addressing major societal problems and influencing policies geared toward tackling those problems; and four clinical centers providing various services which have and immediate impact on those they serve. These units span a variety of disciplines with one common goal: improving the health and well being of our society

One of the unique aspects of Penn State's Dietetic Internship Program is its ability to combine practical dietetic experiences with the Nutritional Sciences Department's strong education and research. The department's programs incorporate basic nutrition sciences which build on the principles of biochemistry and physiology with applied nutrition sciences that draw from economics, education, epidemiology and the social sciences. Additionally, its faculty and staff are involved in myriad continuing education and research endeavors. Many of the faculty members are registered dietitians who hold leadership positions in various state and national professional organizations, contribute frequently to peer-reviewed journals and textbooks, and speak at state, national and international conferences. TOP

About Penn State

The Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania's only land grant institution, seeks to improve the lives of people in the Commonwealth, the nation and the world through integrated, high-quality programs in teaching, research and public service. Founded in 1855, Penn State now enrolls more than 81,000 students at 24-campus location statewide and offers instruction in more than 160 baccalaureate and 150 graduate prosgrams.

Penn State's University Park campus, with and enrollment of some 40,000 students, is Penn State's administrative and research hub. The campus is located in central Pennsylvania, adjacent to the community of State College and overlooked by the majestic Mount Nittany. Other Penn State campuses - including the College of Medicine at the Hershey Medical Center and the Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle - play a vital roll in the University's overall mission. There is a Penn State campus within commuting distance of virtually every Pennsylvanian.

As Pennsylvania's only land-grant university, Penn State has a responsibility to provide outreach and public service activities to support the citizens of Pennsylvania. For that reason, the University engages in collaborative activities with industrial, educational and agricultural partners here and abroad to disseminate and apply knowledge. In 1999, Penn State expanded those efforts by creating its Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Program.