Learn about KU's Doctor of Clinical Nutrition
Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., RD
Department Chair
Professor
Contact Us
dietetics@kumc.edu
913-588-5355
TTY 711
School of Health Professions > Dietetics and Nutrition > Doctor of Clinical Nutrition > 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.
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)
Research Core (12 credits)
Clinical Nutrition Core (18 credits)
Advanced Clinical Nutrition Residency (360 hours at workplace) (3 credits)
DN 990 Applied Research Project (6 credits)
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.
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.
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.
Students select one elective class from the following list as part of clinical nutrition core requirements: