The Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (DCN) at the University of New England prepares Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) to competitively progress in their careers and excel in positions of advanced nutrition practice, practice-based research, and leadership in healthcare and academia. This 48-credit program, designed for RDNs, offers courses 100% online and a 3 year pathway to degree completion.
The DCN is a professional practice doctorate that integrates and applies critical thinking, nutrition practice, scholarship, leadership skills, and educational theory to practice. There is an emphasis on the provision of evidence-based nutrition services, scientific inquiry and research, adaptive and responsible leadership, higher education administration, advocacy and innovation, and interprofessional collaboration. Students engage in practice-based research throughout the program, and there are multiple opportunities for students to produce publication-worthy manuscripts.
Students select a leadership focus which allows them to tailor their course projects, research, and residency hours. Focus areas include leadership in higher education administration, healthcare and clinical management, and community health services. The program culminates in students completing 320 hours of an advanced practice residency and a doctoral research project which are individualized to the student’s professional goals and focus area.
The DCN offers fall, spring, or summer admission and may be completed full-time (5-6 credits per semester) or part-time (2-3 credits per semester). Courses are offered year-round in 8 or 16-week sessions.
The mission of the Doctor of Clinical Nutrition program is to prepare Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to be scholar-practitioners with advanced skills and competence to lead the integration of evidence-informed healthcare services, critical thinking, and/or research in professional settings.
Program Goals and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to:
The DCN offers three focus areas in leadership:
The focus in Leadership in Higher Education Administration is designed for students who are currently employed in higher education or are interested in faculty or administrative positions. This focus area prepares graduates to implement evidence-based best-practices in higher education administration and apply appropriate pedagogical and andragogical approaches to undergraduate and graduate programming.
The focus in Leadership in Healthcare and Clinical Management is designed for students who are currently employed in or aspire to achieve a clinical management position or other healthcare leadership role. This focus area prepares graduates to implement evidence-based best-practices in healthcare and clinical management settings and lead the delivery of services through strategic guidance and management of personnel.
The focus in Leadership in Community Health Services is designed for students who are currently employed in or aspire to lead community health services and related programming. This focus area prepares graduates to implement evidence-based best-practices in community services and lead community education initiatives through the development, implementation, and evaluation of targeted programming.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, only 3% of RDNs in the United States hold a terminal degree (Davis AM, Vogelzang JL, Affenito SG. The shortage of registered dietitians or nutritionists with a terminal degree: A call to action for the profession. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2023;123(4):569-573, 574-575). This creates a gap with few terminally degreed RDNs who are qualified to assume instructional and leadership positions in nutrition and dietetics programs. The DCN program at UNE provides a unique focus in higher education administration which produces RDNs with terminal degrees who are qualified to assume these positions where current gaps exist.
With the requirement that an individual must have a master’s degree before eligibility for the RDN exam, the DCN allows program graduates to differentiate themselves as a terminally degreed RDN expert, which demonstrates the highest level of knowledge and skill mastery in the profession of nutrition and dietetics.
The DCN is accessible to students, offering courses 100% online and designed with working professionals in mind, providing three admission points per year – Fall, Spring, or Summer. The DCN immerses students in practice-based research throughout the entire program and provides multiple opportunities for students to generate publication worthy research manuscripts at several points in the curriculum. Students actively engage with program faculty through didactic coursework, research mentorship, and residency oversight. Students complete 320 hours of an advanced practice residency and a doctoral research project aligned with their professional goals and focus area.
At UNE Online we take a holistic approach to reviewing applications. No GRE is required for admission. Our Doctor of Clinical Nutrition draws applicants from diverse backgrounds and a rich variety of professional and academic experiences. Successful students have natural perseverance, an inclination to take on new challenges, and the ability to manage multiple competing priorities. We review applicants in a comprehensive manner, taking into consideration applicants’ previous academic coursework, professional experiences, and their application materials.
For consideration, applicants to the DCN are required to have:
Applicants must submit the following materials with their application:
Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to submit a website link (URL) to their professional E-portfolio. The E-portfolio is an opportunity for applicants to showcase their professional background, a professional writing sample, and other professional artifacts that demonstrate proficiency in dietetics practice, professionalism, critical thinking, and communication skills.
Applications are processed and reviewed upon receipt with rolling admissions three times per year – Fall, Spring, and Summer. Upon reviewing application materials, applicants may be invited for a virtual interview prior to the admissions decision. Applicants are typically notified of an admission decision up to four weeks following submission of their completed application.
The DCN is a 48 credit program where students can choose either a full-time or part-time pathway to completion. The full-time pathway requires students to take 2 courses (5-6 credits) per semester, allowing them to finish their degree in 3 years, or 9 consecutive semesters. Students in the part-time pathway may finish their degree in 5 years. Students must complete the entire DCN degree within five years. Under unusual conditions, students may petition for an extension beyond five years.
Didactic coursework is offered 100% online in 8 or 16-week sessions and covers topics related to nutrition practice, leadership, and research. Students engage in practice-based research throughout the entire program and complete an advanced practice residency (APR) near the end of the program.
During the APR, students complete 320 hours of advanced nutrition practice in a professional practice setting under the mentorship of an advanced practice professional (i.e., PhD, EdD, DCN, MD, DO, DNP, PharmD). Students are encouraged to select a residency site and mentor aligned with their professional goals, program focus area, and geographic area. Based on availability of experiences, students may need to travel to another geographic region to complete the APR. Students may complete the APR within their workplace but must be mentored by an advanced practice professional who is not their direct supervisor and does demonstrate a conflict of interest. The APR must not conflict with their regular employment requirements.
The DCN culminates in a novel practice-based research project termed the doctoral research project. The doctoral research project immerses students in scientific inquiry to develop, defend, and implement nutrition and health-related research methods to examine target outcomes and apply findings to practice. Students share their findings with the professional community through submission of a publication-worthy manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal aligned with their research topic.
Courses
Tuition for the University of New England Online Doctor of Clinical Nutrition is competitive among other schools at $830/credit.* Because all of our courses are delivered 100% online, you will not incur the cost of traveling to campus or relocating to complete your degree.
*Note: Tuition is subject to change. Listed tuition does not include the cost of fees, books, other learning resources, or additional credits, etc. that may be required. While travel will not be required for didactic coursework, travel may be required for completion of the advanced practice residency and components of the doctoral research project.
Cost per
Credit: $830
# of Credits: 48
Typical Cost: $39,840
Application Fee (non-refundable) | Free |
General Services Fee (per semester, non-refundable for matriculated students) | $80 |
Tuition (per credit hour) | $830 |
Technology Fee (per semester) | $160 |
Registration Fee (non-matriculated students per semester) | $30 |
Malpractice Insurance Fee (per year, program year 2 and program year 3) | $50 |
Lab Fee, Residency I, Residency II and Research Practicum | $260 |
The UNE DCN program will cover the following fees associated with the program:
Our Doctor of Clinical Nutrition Faculty are scholars and clinicians with practical experience in the field of nutrition. Most hold doctoral degrees and many hold advanced clinical certifications. Our faculty members are experts in the field of nutrition and represent a variety of specialty areas in dietetics and nutrition practice.
Our experienced and knowledgeable faculty prepare you to be an advanced nutrition practitioner. Faculty educate future leaders in the field using evidence-based best practices. See our applied nutrition faculty and staff.
The College of Professional Studies (CPS) has a robust support team, including Enrollment Counselors and Student Support Specialists. Each student has access, from the time of application, to specialists who are actively engaged and knowledgeable about the program’s curricula and about specific courses and programs of study. Qualified faculty and/or staff facilitate student progress, and there are multiple opportunities to identify and support those who may experience difficulty in progressing through courses or completing other degree requirements.
The UNE DCN is a 48 credit program. Students can complete the program full time in 3 years or part-time in 5 years. Students must complete the entire DCN degree within five years. Under unusual conditions, students may petition for an extension beyond five years.
When choosing an institution of higher education, you want to be sure your investment will hold value upon completion. The University of New England is proud to hold regional accreditation through NECHE (New England Commission on Higher Education). NECHE Accreditation ensures a high level of academic quality and public accountability for the education being provided.
Regional accreditation is the primary type of institutional accreditation recognized in the United States. Many educational institutions holding regional accreditation do not recognize credits or degrees earned at institutions that are nationally accredited, which is important if one plans to transfer from one college or university to another part way through a degree program or to pursue additional degrees at different colleges or universities. For more information, visit https://www.une.edu/provost/accreditation.
The UNE DCN program is a 100% distance program. All didactic coursework is offered 100% online, and students are not required to come to campus at any time. In addition to didactic coursework, students must complete an advanced practice residency (APR) within a professional practice setting. Students are encouraged to select a residency site within their geographic region. Based on availability of experiences, students may need to travel to another geographic region to complete the APR.
Prior Learning Assessment is not considered for the DCN.
Transfer credit should be completed within the last five years and will be awarded at the discretion of the Director, Graduate Program in Applied Nutrition.
Yes, our admissions committee at UNE reviews each part of an application, alongside the supplemental materials applicants include, before finalizing admissions decisions. For applicants who have met all other admission criteria with an earned GPA lower than 3.0, we evaluate recently completed coursework, work experiences, and responses to the application prompts. Applicants with a GPA lower than 3.0 may be asked to provide a statement of rationale for their GPA and plans for future success.
Yes, an individual may apply to be conditionally accepted into the DCN pending successful completion of a master’s degree.
The UNE DCN is designed for RDNs who desire to advance in their practice competence and overall career trajectory from proficient practice to expert practice and assume positions of leadership in academia or healthcare.
The UNE DCN is an intensive, rigorous program that emphasizes evaluation and application of evidence-based research to professional practice. Prospective students should demonstrate strong academic aptitude, critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and proficiency in the standards of RDN practice and performance. They should also demonstrate strong interest in nutrition research and potential for professional leadership.
A minimum number of years of experience as a RDN is not required. Students must demonstrate proficiency in dietetics practice, professionalism, critical thinking, and communication skills as determined through E-portfolio review.
The UNE DCN program is designed for working professionals. Prospective students should evaluate their schedules, professional and personal responsibilities, academic aptitude, and time management skills to confirm they have adequate time to devote to program coursework, research, and advanced practice residency requirements.
Program courses vary in credit load (from 1 to 4 credits per course) and are offered in 8- or 16-week sessions, depending on the course. While the time commitment (i.e., course load) may vary from week to week, in general, students should plan to dedicate an average of 20-25 hours per week when enrolled in a 3 credit, 8-week course and 10-15 hours per week when enrolled in a 3 credit, 16-week course. It is important to note that this time commitment is comparable to that of a part-time job.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation offers a variety of scholarships to support RDNs who are pursuing advanced degrees, including doctoral degrees, in nutrition and dietetics or a related field.
Prospective students are encouraged to visit the UNE Student Financial Services website to learn more about financial aid options and to speak with a staff member about available options.