Degree Requirements

The doctorate in clinical nutrition requires a total of 48 credit hours.

An advance clinical nutrition residency and an applied research project are to be completed within a professional workplace under the guidance of a faculty advisor.

All degree requirements must be completed within a maximum of eight years. A cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 must be maintained for all KU graduate course work.

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Curriculum Outline

The following courses must be successfully completed to obtain the doctorate degree. These courses were specifically selected to enhance communication, collaboration and leadership skills, in addition to research skills and clinical nutrition skills.

Communication, Collaboration and Leadership Core (9 credits)

• DN 902 Interprofessional Collaboration, 3 credits
• DN 903 Nutrition Communication for Advanced Practice, 3 credits
• DN 910: Leadership Essentials in Clinical Nutrition, 3 credits

Research Core (12 credits)

• DN 904 Evidence Analysis in Clinical Nutrition, 3 credits
• PRVM 853 Responsible Conduct of Research (Ethics), 1 credit
• DN 934: Advanced Methods of Research in Clinical Nutrition, 3 credits
• DN 905 Applied Biostatistics in Clinical Nutrition, 3 credits
• NURS 938 Informatics and Technology Applications, 2 credits

Clinical Nutrition Core (18 credits)

• DN 810 Nutritional Assessment, 3 credits
• DN 838 Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy, 3 credits
• DN 870 Health Behavior Counseling, 3 credits
• DN XXX Pharmacology in Clinical Nutrition, 3 credits
• DN 980 Nutrigenomics & Nutrigenetics in Health and Disease, 3 credits
• One elective (see list, below), 3 credits

Advanced Clinical Nutrition Residency (360 hours at workplace) (3 credits)

DN 990 Applied Research Project (6 credits)

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Comprehensive Examination

Upon completion of the core curriculum, a written comprehensive exam will be required of all degree candidates. Students will demonstrate their command of the clinical nutrition body of knowledge, their ability to statistically analyze data, and their expertise in the broad scope of clinical nutrition practice.

Students must be in good academic standing with the KU Medical Center Office of Graduate Studies (a minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA) to be eligible for the comprehensive exam. This exam must be completed prior to enrollment in the residency course with a minimum score of 80% to be considered successful.

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Advanced Clinical Nutrition Residency

The residency experience is designed to span 360 hours and will be completed within a professional workplace setting. Students will identify an area of practice through which they will provide leadership to develop a research-based clinical initiative or program.

Upon completion, the student will provide their clinical team with the program or clinical initiative, along with program evaluation methods.

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Applied Research Project

Students will complete a planned and approved research project which is advisor-guided, student-directed, and designed to enhance the ability to apply graduate knowledge to achieve tangible and relevant outcomes.

All aspects of this translational research project will be included (i.e., planning, data collection, analysis and interpretation of results, preparation, and oral presentation of the project). The goal is a manuscript suitable for publication. Collaborative interprofessional patient care projects are strongly encouraged.

Students actively working on their research project must maintain active enrollment each semester while in the research phase by enrolling in a suitable and repeatable course (DN 990).

The final oral defense of the research project will be scheduled after the final draft of the manuscript has been accepted by the student's graduate committee. The oral examination is a defense of the manuscript and can include questions about knowledge of clinical nutrition concepts and applications.

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Elective Course Options

Students select one elective class from the following list as part of clinical nutrition core requirements:

• DN 829 Nutrition in Aging
• DN 837 Nutrition in Diabetes
• DN 839 Clinical Aspects of Nutrition Support
• DN 842 U.S. Public Health Nutrition
• DN 865 Nutrition in Sports & Exercise
• DN 875 Pediatric Clinical Nutrition
• DN 876 Interventions for Prevention & Management of Obesity
• DN 880 Dietary and Herbal Supplements
• DN 881 Intro to Dietetics and Integrative Medicine
• DN 882 Nutrition Approach to Inflammation Immune Regulation
• DN 884 Diet, Physical Activity and Cancer
• DN 885 Nutritional Biochemistry
• DN 895 Advanced Macronutrients and Integrated Metabolism
• DN 896 Advanced Micronutrients and Integrated Metabolism
• DN 980 Nutrigenomics & Nutrigenetics in Health and Disease