Doctor of Clinical Nutrition
100% Online Degree
Doctor of Clinical Nutrition
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.
Request More Information
Why Choose the University of New England Online?
Fully Online
Courses are delivered fully online, allowing you to complete coursework around your schedule.
Affordable
UNE Online offers some of the most affordable and competitive tuition rates, allowing you to complete your program for less.
Supportive
Students have consistent support throughout the program, beginning right at the application process with an enrollment counselor and continuing with a personal student support specialist.
Flexible Course Options
Students can customize their degree by choosing elective courses based on their professional interests.
Mission of the Doctor of Clinical Nutrition
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.
Doctor of Clinical Nutrition Program Outcomes
Program Goals and Objectives
- Provide safe, ethical, equitable, and culturally relevant evidence-based healthcare, education, and community services.
- Lead integration of evidence-informed best practices, critical thinking and/or research in professional settings.
- Model leadership and management skills in organizational, healthcare, and academic settings.
- Work collaboratively in interprofessional settings to provide comprehensive approaches to healthcare services and education.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to:
- Apply adaptive and responsive leadership skills in healthcare, higher education, and community settings (depending on student focus area).
- Apply evidence-informed approaches when generating, appraising, and utilizing research.
- Lead the provision of safe, ethical, and evidence-based healthcare, higher education, and community services.
Doctor of Clinical Nutrition Focus Areas
The DCN offers three focus areas in leadership:
- Leadership in Higher Education Administration
- Leadership in Healthcare and Clinical Management
- Leadership in Community Health Services
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.
The DCN is accessible to students, offering courses 100% online, is designed for working professionals, and offers three admission points per year – Fall, Spring, and Summer. Students actively engage with program faculty through didactic coursework, research mentorship, and residency oversight. The DCN immerses students in practice-based research throughout the entire program and provides multiple opportunities for students to generate publication-worthy manuscripts. Students complete 320 hours of an advanced practice residency and a doctoral research project aligned with their professional goals and focus area.
Why Pursue a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition Degree
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.
Doctor of Clinical Nutrition Admissions
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:
- Current credentialing as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (For U.S. Applicants), or Equivalent Credential that meets U.S. Standards by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (For International Applicants).
- A master’s degree or above from a regionally accredited institution
*See International Admissions for details regarding the evaluation of international degrees for grade and degree equivalency.
*Applicants nearing completion of a master’s degree may apply for conditional acceptance pending receipt of a final official transcript evidencing conferral of the degree. - Graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better
*Applicants with a GPA lower than 3.0 may be considered for admission with a statement of the rationale for the GPA and plans for future success. - E-portfolio which includes a professional headshot, brief professional biography, copy of master’s thesis or graduate capstone project, professional writing sample, recorded video presentation, and one to two additional professional artifacts that demonstrate proficiency in dietetics practice, professionalism, critical thinking, and communication skills.
*Applicants without a professional E-portfolio will be provided with an E-portfolio template to use. - Computer with internet connection, including the hardware and software requirements described in our Technical Requirements. Must also possess sufficient computer skills to navigate the internet as all classes are accessed 100% online.
Applicants must submit the following materials with their application:
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Admission Essay Questions
- Reasons for pursuing the DCN, including short- and long-term professional goals and research interests, and how the DCN aligns with achieving these goals and areas of research.
- Brief description of professional work experience, specialized training, credentialing, and research interests and how these elements prepare the applicant for pursuing an advanced practice DCN.
- Identification of three potential advanced practice residency sites and mentors.
- Two Professional or Academic References – One from a Supervisor and One from an Academic or Professional Mentor
- Official Graduate Degree Transcript(s)
- Copy of current Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credentialing card with number, or equivalent credential verification that meets U.S. standards by CDR (for international applicants)
- Website Link (URL) to E-portfolio
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.
Doctor of Clinical Nutrition Curriculum
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
- DCN 800: Nutrition Research Theory and Implementation (16 wk)
- DCN 805: Nutrition Assessment and Therapy (16 wk)
- DCN 810: Advanced Methods in Nutrition Research I (16 wk)
- DCN 815: Nutrition Pharmacotherapy (16 wk)
- DCN 820: Counseling and Health Behavior Change (8 wk)
- DCN 825: Adaptive Leadership (8 wk)
- DCN 830: Advanced Nutrition Practice (8 wk)
- DCN 835: Healthcare Ecosystems and Management (8 wk)
- DCN 840: Responsive Business Leadership (8 wk)
- DCN 845: Food Justice and Advocacy (8 wk)
- DCN 850: Advanced Topics in Health Professions Leadership I (16 wk)
- DCN 855: Residency I (16 wk)
- DCN 860: Focus Area Elective (16 wk options)
- DCN 865: Research Practicum (16 wk)
- DCN 870: Advanced Methods in Nutrition Research II (16 wk)
- DCN 875: Residency II (16 wk)
- DCN 880: Fundamentals of Manuscript Preparation (8 wk)
- DCN 885: Advanced Topics in Health Professions Leadership II (8 wk)
Tuition and Fees
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:
- Name badge
- Drug Testing and Criminal Background Check (year 2)
Faculty
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.
Student Support & Resources
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.
FAQ
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.