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Program Mission and Goals

Our Mission

The mission of the KU dietetic internship graduate certificate program is to produce competent entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists with enhanced skills in nutrition therapy using evidence-based practice to support the health of citizens of Kansas, the region, the nation and the world.


Goal 1:

Prepare graduates to be competent entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists.

Our objectives include the following:

  • At least 80% of dietetic internship graduate certificate students complete program requirements within 14 months (150% of the program length).
  • Eighty percent of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
  • The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
  • Eighty percent of employers who respond to a survey on program graduates in their first year of employment indicate that graduates demonstrate adequate knowledge and practice ability for entry-level practice as a dietitian (rating of at least 4 on a 5-point scale) over a three-year period.
  • Three years post-program completion, 80% of respondents to graduate surveys rate their preparation for entry-level practice as adequately prepared or better over a three-year period.

Goal 2:

Prepare graduates who are engaged within the dietetics and nutrition profession.

Our objectives include the following:

  • Of graduates who seek employment, 75% are employed in dietetics and nutrition or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
  • Of those who respond to the three-year graduate survey, at least 70% of graduates over a three-year period will indicate involvement in one or more of the following areas: membership in a professional organization, holding leadership positions, pursuing further education or specialized certification, engaging in precepting, or participating in advocacy activities.

Program outcomes data are available upon request.

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

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