Program Overview

The GCPD curriculum is integrated into the first four quarters of the graduate degree curricula, followed by three quarters of the internship. For course requirements,  review curriculum pages for the MS in Nutritional Sciences or MPH in Nutritional Sciences.  Students accepted into the GCPD, along with the degree program, have a high credit load, leaving little time for additional electives. The timing of the PhD curriculum and internship requirements will be coordinated on a case-by-case basis to accommodate their dissertation research projects.

The GCPD offers two concentration areas: Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) and Public Health (PH). MS students usually select the MNT concentration, and MPH students complete the PH concentration: PhD students select the concentration that best supports their career goals.  MPH – Public Health Nutrition students may use the PH concentration as their practicum to meet the School of Public Health degree requirements. Interns work closely with GCPD faculty to select their concentration rotation, while other rotations are assigned.

Learn more about rotations in practice experience.

• Coursework and Internship – Students complete 4 quarters of coursework for both the graduate program and the GCPD.  Students complete 3 quarters of supervised practice January-August of year 2. As an ACEND-accredited program, the GCPD provides 8 months of supervised practice in the following rotations: clinical, ambulatory, WIC/pediatric, management, food service, and MNT or PH concentration.
• Thesis/Capstone/Dissertation – While students may be able to graduate after completing the practice experience, it is not uncommon for a student to take an additional quarter to finish their thesis/capstone. PhD students may require additional time, but will be active in the GCPD for only two years.

Students in the GCPD are subject to the policies of the School of Public Health and Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program, specifically the policies on immunizations, health insurance, and safety training. All students are also subject to a national background check and are required to maintain liability insurance. Students not compliant with immunization or background check requirements will not be allowed to complete practice experience rotations.  Practice experience sites have their own sets of requirements including background checks, orientations, and drug tests.

Students must apply to the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program for the degree (MS or MPH) and the GCPD for the RDN training program. PhD applicants can apply to the GCPD once enrolled in the program. Acceptance into the GCPD is conditional on acceptance to the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program. The GCPD admits 14 students into the program each fall.

To apply: Review eligibility requirements, including specific prerequisites. The GCPD does not participate in DICAS.

• All GCPD offers of admission are contingent on passing a national background check at the applicant’s expense ($50-100).
• While we accept students with undergraduate degrees in nutrition who have also completed dietetic coursework from an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and have a DPD verification form, our average student does not have this background. Students with a DPD verification form do not waive out of GCPD course work.  All students participating in the GCPD complete a degree (MS, MPH, PhD), the dietetic coursework, and the supervised practice necessary to sit for the RDN exam after graduating.

Accreditation

The GCPD at the University of Washington is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 1-800-877-1600, ext. 5400.

Website: http://www.eatrightpro.org/resources/acend

Graduation and Issuance of the Verification Form

Upon successful completion of all requirements of the GCPD, including degree requirements, the student will receive a verification form as required by ACEND.

Graduates sit for the Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) examination after graduation. Washington State does not currently offer licensure to registered dietitians, but they do offer Certification for Dietitian/Nutritionists.

The program has a 100% 1-year pass rate on the RD/RDN examination.

Anne Lund, MPH, RDN, FAND
Director, Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics
MPH Program Director
Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program
School of Public Health
University of Washington

Michelle Averill, PhD, RDN
Associate Director, Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics
Associate Teaching Professor, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
School of Public Health
University of Washington

Lacey Henderson
Student Services Coordinator, Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics
Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program
School of Public Health
University of Washington

Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics
324 Raitt Hall, Box 353410
Seattle, WA 98195-3410
Email: gcpd@uw.edu