Doctor of Clinical Nutrition

The Doctor of Clinical Nutrition program is designed for nutritionists, registered dietitians, other clinicians, educators, and researchers, who seek the high-level knowledge and skills to work in cutting-edge private practice or integrative medicine settings and contribute to the advancement of functional nutrition as a core discipline in healthcare. The program is open to individuals who hold specific master’s degrees (details below) and to registered dietitians (RDs)/registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) whose highest degree is a bachelor’s degree. RD/RDNs can enter the program without first earning a master’s degree.

Graduates are equipped with the tools they need to expand the types of clients and cases they work with, including individuals with complex clinical conditions. Graduates will hold the title doctor (Dr.), enhance their stature with clients and other healthcare professionals, and expand their job opportunities and career paths.

The Doctor of Clinical Nutrition program is a professionally-oriented, clinical doctoral program designed to educate students in all aspects of functional nutrition. Functional nutrition uses a holistic, flexible, and personalized approach to address each individual’s unique health goals and needs. Functional nutritionists consider the root causes of symptoms, the relationship between environmental and lifestyle factors, genetic predisposition, core biological functions and imbalances, and disease expression to inform clinical assessment and recommendations.

The program reinforces and builds on students’ existing skills and knowledge in research literacy, ethics, and foundational nutrition; provides specialized coursework in nutritional genomics, environmental health, nutrition-focused physical exam, and case report writing; and explores advanced functional nutrition care in gastrointestinal, immune, cardio-metabolic, neurological, energy metabolism, and endocrine health. The program culminates with either applied practice within a clinical setting or an advanced clinically-oriented project.

There are two entry pathways for this program:

• Master’s Degree/Doctoral Degree Pathway
• RD/RDN Bachelor’s Degree Pathway

Required Courses

This program consists of 44 credits of required courses.

• MUIH500 University-Wide New Student Orientation (0 cr)
• MUIH550 Academic Research & Scholarship (0 cr)
• NUTR705 DCN Orientation (0 cr)
• NUTR801 Principles of Integrative & Functional Nutrition (3 cr)
• NUTR802 Nutritional Approaches to Detoxification (3 cr)
• NUTR822 Epigenetics and Nutritional Genomics (3 cr)
• NUTR823 Ethics in Clinical Nutrition (1.5 cr)
• NUTR824 Research Literacy in Nutrition (3 cr)
• NUTR831 Integrative and Functional Nutrition in Gastrointestinal Health and Disease (3 cr)
• NUTR832 Integrative and Functional Nutrition in Immune Health (3 cr)
• NUTR833 Integrative and Functional Nutrition in Cardio-Metabolic Health (3 cr)
• NUTR834 Integrative and Functional Nutrition in Neurological Health (3 cr)
• NUTR835 Integrative and Functional Nutrition in Endocrine and Energy Health (3 cr)
• NUTR837 Integrative and Functional Nutrition for Complex Cases (3 cr)
• NUTR850 Nutrition Focused Physical Exam (1.5 cr)
• NUTR898 Nutrition DCN Comprehensive Exam (0 cr)
• RSCH811 Case Reports in Integrative Health (3 cr)
• RSCH850 Research Manuscript I (1 cr)
• RSCH851 Research Manuscript II (1 cr)

Choose one of the following for 3.0 credits:

• NUTR904 Advanced Nutrition Clinic I (3 cr)
• NUTR910 Advanced Nutrition Final Project I (3 cr)

Choose one of the following for 3.0 credits:

• NUTR905 Advanced Nutrition Clinic II (3 cr)
• NUTR911 Advanced Nutrition Final Project II (3 cr)

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions are available in the Academic Catalog.

Advanced Standing for Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) Certified Practitioners

Individuals who are Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) Certified Practitioners are eligible for 3 credits of advanced standing and will only need to complete 41 credits of coursework at MUIH. Such students are exempt from taking NUTR801 (3 cr). Advanced standing recognizes students’ certified learning in nutrition at the doctoral level. Advanced standing reduces credits, costs, and time to program completion for IFM Certified Practitioners.

To receive advanced standing, students MUST submit official documentation of their IFM certification BEFORE starting their first class at MUIH. Such documentation is only required to receive advanced standing; it is not required for admission into the program.

Students who complete the Doctor of Clinical Nutrition program will be able to:

• Apply principles of integrative and functional nutrition to provide advanced nutrition care in the areas of gastrointestinal, immune, cardio-metabolic, neurological, nutritional genomics, energy metabolism, and endocrine health.
• Evaluate data from the client history, diet history, nutrition-focused physical examination, lifestyle, anthropometrics, genomics, environmental impacts, and laboratory findings to provide a comprehensive client assessment.
• Synthesize didactic and clinical knowledge and skills and translate this into personalized nutrition care plans.
• Apply principles of research methodology, bioethics, academic journal writing, and case studies in practice and research settings.
• Promote nutrition and lifestyle interventions for disease prevention and health optimization as part of a collaborative healthcare team.

Program Format

This program is offered in the online format. Click here to view MUIH’s definition of online, hybrid, and on-campus course and program formats.

The program includes 1-2 weekends where you may be expected to participate in a synchronous (real-time) online classroom.

Program Schedule

For trimester start and end dates, see the Academic Calendar.

The program can be completed in 8-10 trimesters, depending on students’ start date.

• Fall Start Date: 8 trimesters
• Spring Start Date: 10 trimesters
• Summer Start Date: 9 trimesters

There is a unique schedule of classes for each start date.

As an advanced degree in nutrition, the Doctor of Clinical Nutrition program is not designed to meet entry-level requirements for licensure or certification. The prerequisite for admission is CNS certification, the RDN credential, or meeting the educational requirements (degree and coursework) to earn the CNS credential. Those seeking initial licensure or certification in the field of nutrition should enroll in the Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health program.

The Doctor of Clinical Nutrition prepares students for careers in integrative health practices and health care organizations; to serve as educators in communities, in schools and in colleges and universities; to work in government agencies and/or policy settings; and to be leaders in the field of integrative and functional nutrition. Graduates will hold the title doctor (Dr.), enhance their stature with clients and other healthcare professionals, expand the types of clients and cases they work with, and expand their job advancement opportunities. 

Graduates of MUIH’s nutrition programs are employed in a variety of settings including private practice; integrative group practices; nutrition clinics; health care systems; hospitals; community, non-profit, and outreach organizations; state and local health departments; school systems; culinary organizations; athletic and recreational organizations; and colleges and universities. Many graduates chose to have a portfolio career in which they have multiple positions and employers within one or more professions, rather than one full-time job. A portfolio career provides such individuals with variety in their work life and the opportunity to develop a wide and varied professional network.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics indicates jobs for nutritionists and dietitians are projected to grow 7% from 2021 to 2031. The role of food in preventing and treating diseases, such as diabetes, is now well known. More dietitians and nutritionists will be needed to provide care for patients with various medical conditions and to advise people who want to improve their overall health.

View more about career opportunities.

Contact the Department:

James Snow D.C.N.
Department Chair

Elizabeth Owens, M.S.
Director, Experiential Programs

Rachel Voss, M.P.A.
Department Manager

Casey Opperman, M.A.
Academic Advisor

Crystal Hoyte, M.S.
Associate Director of Academic Advising

Click here to view the faculty.