Admission Requirements
The admissions process for the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Certificate Program at UC varies depending on your student status. Please review the information below to understand the specific requirements and steps based on your situation.
General Admission Requirements
You must have a baccalaureate degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all prior coursework to be eligible for admission into the DPD Certificate Program.
Students who complete the DPD Certificate earn a DPD Verification Statement. Completion of the DPD Certificate meets the academic requirements set forth by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition & Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (AND). This option provides you with the didactic requirements necessary to apply for an accredited post-baccalaureate dietetic internship. After also obtaining a master's degree, students are eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration credentialing exam and become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) after passing the exam. Many states require additional licensure to practice as an RDN. Our Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences - Clinical Nutrition concentration was designed for students, who have a DPD Verification Statement and want to obtain the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential and need a master's degree option.
Admission Steps Based on Your Student Status
Step 1
For applicants who have not attended UC: Official copies of transcripts are required from ALL colleges/universities outside of the University of Cincinnati that you have ATTENDED. Please send official transcripts which include courses from your most recently completed term. Also, transcripts should show any courses you are enrolled in during the semester of the application deadline.
Any applicant accepted into the DPD Certificate Program, must send official transcripts prior to the start of the program. The transcripts must include any courses that have been taken outside of UC so that we can verify any grades that have been sent unofficially or not shown on previous transcripts.
Send all official transcripts to the DPD program, not UC Admissions. Whenever possible, we prefer to receive electronic transcripts sent to nutrition@ucmail.uc.edu. If you must send paper transcripts, have them mailed to the DPD program:
University of Cincinnati
Didactic Program In Dietetics
PO Box 670394
Cincinnati, OH 45267-0394
Attention: DPD Certificate Admissions
Step 2
You will complete the Basic Data Form after confirmation that we have reviewed your transcripts.
Step 3
You will receive an email with your M# and UC email address. Forward this email to nutrition@ucmail.uc.edu and wait for further instructions.
Step 1
*The certificate program does not meet federal requirements for international students planning to attend on a visa. International students with questions should contact UC's International Services at 513-556-4278.
All non-US transcripts require an accompanying course-by-course evaluation by a member of the National Association of Credit Evaluators (naces.org), such as World Education Services (wes.org). The evaluation must include the number of credit hours taken and a cumulative GPA. Have the evaluator send both the original official transcripts and the course-by-course evaluation.
Additionally, if you have taken courses at UC or at other US institutions, please follow the Transcript directions for each respective category.
Send all official transcripts to the DPD program, not UC Admissions. Whenever possible, we prefer to receive electronic transcripts sent to nutrition@ucmail.uc.edu. If you must send paper transcripts, have them mailed to the DPD program:
University of Cincinnati
Didactic Program In Dietetics
PO Box 670394
Cincinnati, OH 45267-0394
Attention: DPD Certificate Admissions
Step 2
You will complete the Basic Data Form after confirmation that we have reviewed your transcripts.
Step 3
You will receive an email with your M# and UC email address. Forward this email to nutrition@ucmail.uc.edu and wait for further instructions.
If you are ready to declare the DPD certificate, please review the Declare a Certificate instructions and complete your application.
Once you are admitted, you will be prompted to confirm your admission via email.
Deadlines
Declaration of intent for certificate programs must be submitted by the following days during the following semesters:
- Fall: July 1st
- Spring: November 1st
- Summer: March 1st
If you are accepted, please confirm your acceptance by the following days during the following semesters:
- Fall: August 1st
- Spring: December 1st
- Summer: April 1st
Transfer credits from previous degrees
Undergraduate transcripts submitted with the DPD Certificate application will be evaluated by the University of Cincinnati Center for Transcript Evaluation to determine which courses are acceptable for transfer into the DPD Certificate.
The Department of Rehabilitation, Exercise, and Nutrition Sciences has established recency requirements for biochemistry and medical nutrition therapy, which must be taken within the last seven years and five years, respectively. In addition, the program does not permit the transfer of courses with grades below a “C-. Additional coursework may be waived on an individual basis if it is determined that the prospective student is competent in the ACEND Foundation Knowledge and Learning Outcomes in this area.
Program Completion Requirements
To remain in the program, students must:
- Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA with no less than C- in any DPD course,
- Adhere to policies and procedures, and
- Conduct themselves in a professional manner, adhering to the Student Code of Conduct
To complete the program, students must:
- Complete all certificate didactic course requirements,
- Have a minimum 3.0 GPA in the DPD Certificate Program and
- Have no outstanding financial or other program obligations.
Students can complete the certificate at their own pace. The certificate is not limited by a maximum amount of time to completion.
