Graduate Certificate in Dietetics

Graduate Certificate in Dietetics Requirements

Applicants for the Graduate Certificate in Dietetics program are required to complete prerequisite coursework; in addition, an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher is preferred. Relevant employment in the field is strongly encouraged; the strongest candidate will have either paid or volunteer experiences in clinical nutrition, community nutrition, and food systems management.

Candidates for the Graduate Certificate in Dietetics can satisfy the prerequisite requirements by completing the following coursework:

Introductory Microbiology
Anatomy and Physiology course(s), covering all body systems
General, Organic and Biochemistry courses
Financial Accounting (Principles of Accounting 1)
Introductory Business course(s) covering principles of business and human resource management
Introductory Psychology
Nutrition and Foods courses, including basic nutrition, food science, food research and production, and community nutrition

Graduate Certificate in Dietetics Curriculum

The Lipscomb Graduate Certificate in Dietetics is a 33-hour program that includes the coursework necessary to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for success in a post-baccalaureate Dietetic Internship or supervised practice program. The program will provide the successful student with a Verification Statement of completion of an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics.

The certificate requires leveling courses in the sciences and in business, and requires 33 graduate hours, after successful completion of which the student will receive a Verification Statement of completion of the program. Coursework includes lifespan nutrition, community nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, sports nutrition, and food systems management. If the student chooses to continue beyond the Graduate Certificate, an additional 12 graduate hours will complete the Master of Science in Exercise and Nutrition Science; the additional 12 hours may be completed in a dietetic internship program or in traditional graduate coursework.

Graduate Certificate in Dietetics Courses

These courses provide the content knowledge necessary for a student to be eligible to apply to accredited supervised practice programs. After successfully completing a supervised practice program, the student will be eligible to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians.