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 college or university recognized by the US Department of Education 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 of KU's dietetic internship graduate certificate program are eligible to take the registration examination for dietitians offered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. All U.S. states with licensure and certification requirements currently accept the registered dietitian credential for state licensure and certification purposes. The Commission on Dietetic Registration provides information on specific state licensure requirements.
Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration requires a minimum of a master's degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). If a student does not already have a graduate degree, they must complete the dual master's degree/dietetic internship program to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become an RDN. More information about this requirement is available from the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
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 (cumulative GPA*, DPD professional GPA, and science GPA are all considered).
- Virtual interview.
- General work experience and nutrition/health care-related experience (paid or volunteer).
- Leadership, undergraduate research 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.
- Letters of recommendation.
GRE scores are no longer required for application.
* Please note that a cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for admission.
Complete applications received by the specified deadline will be evaluated by the selection committee. All applicants will be scored based upon the criteria listed above. Applicants meeting admissions requirements will be scored and, based upon the application pool, will be extended a position in the program, wait-listed, or declined.