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Eligibility and Requirements

Interested in learning more about our dietetic internship graduate certificate program? Review the program's eligibility and requirements below.

To enter KU's dietetic internship graduate certificate program, you'll need to meet the following admission requirements.

Note: applicants are no longer required to provide scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and GRE scores are not considered in the application evaluation process.


Undergraduate and Graduate Degree

A master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is required to enter KU's program and must be documented by submission of official transcript(s) indicating the degree has been conferred before entering the program. The master’s degree may be in any field of study.

A bachelor’s degree from a didactic program in dietetics (DPD) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics is required and must be conferred before entering the program. Official transcript(s) from all institutions attended are required.

Please note: the University of Kansas does not offer an accredited DPD that meets this requirement. View a list of accredited programs at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website.

Degrees earned outside the United States must be evaluated for equivalency. For guidelines, see the international fact sheet provided by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Students with degrees from outside the U.S. may be subject to transcript evaluation indicating the degree is equivalent to a U.S. degree and meets the minimum cumulative grade-point average requirement.

Graduates who successfully complete KU's dietetic internship graduate certificate program (who already possess a graduate degree) at the University of Kansas Medical Center are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice.

See also:


Grade Point Average

A cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all college coursework is required for admission.


Background Check

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations requires all incoming students submit for and provide to KU a background check report. Students pay this one-time fee directly to the company performing the background investigation. You will be asked to provide information and make the payment once you have been officially accepted into the program. For more information, please see the School of Health Professions background check instructions.


Vaccine and Clinical Site Requirements

Matriculated students will need to provide an immunization profile prior to participating in curricular and/or clinical experiences required by the program. Please read the information found at the bottom of the program's curriculum page and be sure that you understand these requirements.


International Students

An applicant is considered an international student if they require a visa, or currently resides in the U.S. with non-immigrant status, or currently resides in the U.S. while applying for permanent residency. Additional requirements and documentation, such as proof of English language proficiency, are required for international students to become eligible for KU programs. Please review the information for international applicants before applying.


    The Selection Process

    When selecting individuals for admission to the program, we consider the following criteria, listed in order starting with most important.

    • Academic performance.
    • Work and volunteer experience.
    • Nutrition or health care-related experience.
    • Leadership and undergraduate research.
    • Honors, scholarships and awards.
    • Personal statement with responses to four applicant questions (required as part of DICAS application via personal statement). See how to apply page for more information.
    • Virtual interview.
    • Letters of recommendation.

    GRE scores are no longer required for application.

    Questions, advising and campus visit opportunities.

    We're here to answer questions and provide assistance as you prepare for an exciting career in dietetics and nutrition. For more information on KU's dietetic internship graduate certificate program or our dual master's degree/dietetic internship program, please see answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
     
    High school students and college students in their early years of study may contact Alex Lopez, our school's outreach and recruitment specialist, with questions at alopez12@kumc.edu or 913-588-1743 (711 TTY).
     
    If you're close to applying to KU, please contact Jeannine Goetz, Ph.D., program director, at jgoetz@kumc.edu or 913-588-1449 (711 TTY).
    School of Health Professions

    Dietetics and Nutrition
    KU Medical Center
    3901 Rainbow Boulevard
    Mailstop 4013
    Kansas City, KS 66160
    913-588-5355 • 711 TTY