About Our Program

KU's dietetic internship program offers two tracks, both with a medical nutrition therapy emphasis. The dual master's degree/dietetic internship program is a 22-month program completed over five semesters, starting in August and concluding in May of year two. It is designed for those students without a current graduate degree. The program consists of 38 graduate credit hours (3o hours of didactic coursework and eight hours of practicum) along with a minimum of 1,073 hours of supervised practice in a variety of practice settings.

For those students who have already completed both a DPD program and a graduate degree, KU also offers a nine-month dietetic internship graduate certificate track, starting in mid-August for fall semester and ending in mid-May of the spring semester. It consists of 16 hours of graduate coursework (eight hours of didactic coursework and eight hours of practicum) along with a minimum of 1,073 hours of supervised practice experience. Learn more about the dietetic internship graduate certificate program.

Learn about our program in this video!

After Completing the Dual Master's Degree/Dietetic Internship Program

Students completing the dual master's degree/dietetic internship program will receive a Master of Science in Dietetics degree, a Dietetic Internship Graduate Certificate and a verification statement that will allow the graduate to be eligible to apply for approval by the Commission on Dietetic Registration to take the national Registration Examination for Dietitians.

Program Outcomes

KU has a proven record in producing top-level professionals, as evidenced by the consistently high first-time pass rate by KU graduates on the national registration examination for dietitians.

The first-time pass rate for KU graduates of the past five years (2019-2023) is 93.8% (97^th percentile rank). Of those graduates who passed the registration exam, 97.9% did so within one year of their first attempt.

Registered Dietitian Registration Examination for Dietitians: ACEND Exam Pass Rates January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023 (PDF)

Registered Dietitian Registration Examination for Dietitians: ACEND Exam Pass Rates: Five Year Summary January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023 (PDF)

Accreditation

The University of Kansas dietetic internship graduate certificate program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 800-877-1600, ext. 5400; ACEND@eatright.org.

The full accreditation covers the remainder of the 7-year term ending December 31, 2023. This term was extended to December 31, 2024 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Another extension was granted in summer 2022 and is valid until December 31, 2025.

The program outcomes data are available upon request to prospective students and the public. Documents relating to accreditation may be obtained from the department office.

Licensure and Certification Requirements

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. 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.

While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND's considered opinion that the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND-accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state's licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license. More information about state licensure and certification can be found at the Commission on Dietetic Registration.