Clinical Nutrition

Program Overview

The Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (DCN) program explores the principles and practice of functional nutrition to develop the next generation of leaders in the field. Functional nutritionists evaluate biological, environmental, dietary, and lifestyle factors to address each individual’s unique health goals and needs. Students build the skills and knowledge to provide advanced nutrition care that incorporates personalized, evidence-informed plans. Research skills are emphasized, and students prepare publishable case report manuscripts.

Program Description

The Doctor of Clinical Nutrition program is a professionally oriented, clinical doctoral program designed to educate students in all aspects of functional nutrition. The program reinforces and builds on students’ existing skills and knowledge in research literacy, ethics, and foundational nutrition; provides specialized coursework in nutritional genomics, environmental health, nutrition-focused physical exam, and case report writing and explores advanced functional nutrition care in gastrointestinal, immune, cardio-metabolic, neurological, energy metabolism, and endocrine health. The program culminates with either applied practice within a clinical setting or an advanced clinically oriented project.

Admissions

There are two entry pathways for this program:

• Master’s Degree/Doctoral Degree Pathway
• RD/RDN Bachelor’s Degree Pathway

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS COMMON TO THE MASTER’S PATHWAY AND THE RD/RDN PATHWAY TO THE DCN

• Resume
• TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (International students)
• Complete essay question(s) in application
• Official transcripts of all coursework to verify degree completion

FOR THE MASTER’S PATHWAY:

Minimum of a Master’s Degree in nutrition or a related field, or a doctoral degree in clinical healthcare, from a degree-granting college or university accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, or if a school uses a Pass/Fail system, passing grades in all coursework.

In addition, meet one of the following criteria:

1. Demonstrate the completion of the following prerequisite requirements from a college or university accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education:
   • Nutrition Science (12 semester credit hours at the graduate level). Examples include courses in macronutrients, micronutrients, life cycle nutrition, and nutrition therapy.
   • Biochemistry (6 semester hours at the undergraduate or graduate level). 3 of these credits can be fulfilled by completing the Biochemistry course offered by StraighterLine.
   • Physiology or Anatomy and Physiology (3 semester hours at the undergraduate or graduate level). This requirement can also be fulfilled by completing the Anatomy & Physiology I AND Anatomy & Physiology II courses offered by StraighterLine.
2. Clinical or Life Sciences (12 semester hours at the undergraduate or graduate level). Examples include courses in biology, microbiology, epidemiology, biostatistics, botany, genetics, pathophysiology, and organic/inorganic chemistry. Three credits of research literacy may be applied toward the 12-credit requirement. Nutrition courses not used to meet the “Nutrition Science” requirement may be applied to the “Clinical or Life Sciences” requirement. Credits towards this requirement can also be fulfilled by completing the Introduction to Biology, Microbiology, and/or General Chemistry
   I courses offered by StraighterLine.
   • Behavioral Science: 3 semester hours at the undergraduate or graduate level. Examples include courses in psychology, motivational interviewing, and principles of health behavior/behavior change. This requirement can also be fulfilled by completing the Introduction to Psychology course offered by
     StraighterLine.
3. Hold the following credential which is equivalent to the pre‐admission requirements:
   • Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) by the Board of Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS)

FOR THE RD/RDN PATHWAY:

Meet both of the following criteria:

1. Bachelor’s degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) with a minimum of 3.0 GPA , or if a school uses a Pass/Fail
   system, passing grades in all coursework
2. Hold the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential issued by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDN)

Licensure, Certification, And Credentialing

As an advanced degree in nutrition, the Doctor of Clinical Nutrition program is not designed to meet entry-level requirements for licensure or certification. As noted above, the prerequisite for admission is CNS certification, the RDN credential, or meeting the educational requirements (degree and coursework) to earn the CNS credential.

Those seeking initial licensure or certification in the field of nutrition should enroll in the Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health program.