The following technical standards, in conjunction with the academic standards, are requirements for admission, retention and program completion. The term "candidate" refers to candidates for admission to the program as well as current students who are candidates for retention or program completion.

These requirements may be achieved with or without reasonable accommodations. Candidates with disabilities are encouraged to contact academic accommodation services early in the application process to begin a confidential conversation about what accommodations they may need to meet these standards.

Academic Accommodation Services
ada-kumc@kumc.edu
913-945-7035 (711 TTY)
Room 1006 Dykes Library

The program prepares candidates to practice dietetics and nutrition within organizations and businesses. Graduates require knowledge and skills to function in diverse practice settings.

An essential requirement for completing the dual master’s degree/dietetic internship program is the ability to function within a clinical learning environment and to interact with a variety of interprofessional teams and patients.

Candidates admitted in the program must be able to perform the following:

Communicate: Candidates must have the ability to use multiple communication techniques (oral, written, nonverbal) to enable communication with clients, teachers and the health care team. Candidates must be able to report to members of the team, express accurate information to clients and teach, explain, direct and counsel people.

Observe: Candidates must be able to acquire information as presented through lectures, demonstrations, research and practice situations in the practice of health sciences. Candidates must be able to perform competent health assessments and interventions. Candidates must also be able to acquire information, learn from, and analyze health record content, including discernment and use of clinical data displayed within the health record.

Ethical Standards: Candidates must demonstrate professional attitudes and behaviors and must perform in an ethical manner in dealing with others. Personal integrity is required and the adherence to standards that reflect the values and functions of the profession of dietetics and nutrition. Candidates are required to abide by the professional code of ethics for dietetics and nutrition, and student honor codes.

Psychomotor: Candidates must have sufficient motor capacities and motilities to be able to generate, calculate, record, evaluate and transit information; prepare assignments; deliver public presentations to large and small audiences; collect specimens and perform basic tests and physical assessments on individuals, e.g., finger sticks for blood glucose testing, using glucometers, assessing skinfold thickness, taking blood pressure, and placing feeding tubes; work in institutional and food demonstration kitchens to prepare foods and direct employees involved in food services, and conduct patient visits individually and with health care team members to provide nutrition care. Candidates must be able to travel to supervised practice experiences.

Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities: Candidates must be able to measure, calculate reason, analyze, synthesize, integrate and remember to apply information. Creative problem solving and clinical reasoning requires all of these intellectual abilities.

Professional and Social Attributes: Candidates must exercise good judgment and promptly complete all responsibilities required of the program. They must develop mature, sensitive and effective professional relationships with others. Candidates must be able to evaluate one’s own performance critically, accept constructive criticism and look for ways to improve.

In addition, candidates must be able to tolerate taxing workloads and function effectively under stress. They must be able to adapt to changing environments, display flexibility and function in the face of uncertainties and ambiguities. Concern for others, interpersonal competence and motivation are requisites for the program.

Accommodations are not applied retroactively and a disability-related explanation will not negate poor performance. More information may be found in the students with disabilities policy.

Additional Questions?

Consider joining us for an upcoming open house or contact Jeannine Goetz, program director, at jgoetz@kumc.edu or 913-588-1449 (711 TTY).