DCN - Clinical Nutrition
DCN 800 Nutrition Research Theory and Implementation (1 Credit Hours)
Foundational knowledge and skills in practice-based nutrition research methods will be established. Topics include ethical research practices, research design, data quality and integrity, choosing the correct analytical tests, and data analysis. Students will generate an initial research question, identify a pre-existing data set for secondary analysis, and conduct post-hoc analysis to ensure the dataset will address the research question in preparation for their DCN 810 research project.
Academic Level: Graduate
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Clinical Nutrition.
Enrollment is limited to First Professional Degree level students.
DCN 801 Nutrition Research Theory and Implementation (3 Credit Hours)
Foundational knowledge and skills in practice-based nutrition research methods will be established. Topics include ethical research practices, research design, data quality and integrity, choosing the correct analytical tests, and data analysis. Students will generate an initial research question, identify a pre-existing data set for secondary analysis, and conduct post-hoc analysis to ensure the dataset will address the research question in preparation for their DCN 810 research project.
Academic Level: Graduate
DCN 805 Nutrition Assessment and Therapy (4 Credit Hours)
Advanced concepts and techniques in nutrition assessment and therapeutic nutrition intervention for complex medical conditions and disease states will be examined. Topics in nutrition assessment include anthropometry and body composition, biochemical indices, metabolic prediction, nutrition-focused physical examination, and malnutrition screening and assessment. Topics in nutrition therapy focus on current and emerging interventions related to macronutrient, micronutrient, and other dietary modification. Students demonstrate advanced practice skills in clinical assessment, interpretation, and decision-making and justify clinical decisions and nutrition services through application of evidence-based guidelines and current scholarly literature.
Academic Level: Graduate
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Clinical Nutrition.
Enrollment is limited to First Professional Degree level students.
DCN 806 Nutrition Assessment and Therapy (3 Credit Hours)
Advanced concepts and techniques in nutrition assessment and therapeutic nutrition intervention for complex medical conditions and disease states will be examined. Topics in nutrition assessment include anthropometry and body composition, biochemical indices, metabolic prediction, nutrition-focused physical examination, and malnutrition screening and assessment. Topics in nutrition therapy focus on current and emerging interventions related to macronutrient, micronutrient, and other dietary modification. Students demonstrate advanced practice skills in clinical assessment, interpretation, and decision-making and justify clinical decisions and nutrition services through application of evidence-based guidelines and current scholarly literature.
Academic Level: Graduate
DCN 810 Advanced Methods in Nutrition Research I (3 Credit Hours)
Advanced skills in scholarly inquiry, critical evaluation of professional literature, doctoral-level research, and writing will be developed. Students conduct a secondary data analysis, comprehensive literature review, and author a manuscript.
Academic Level: Graduate
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Clinical Nutrition.
Enrollment is limited to First Professional Degree level students.
DCN 815 Nutrition Pharmacotherapy (2 Credit Hours)
Key concepts and applications of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products used in traditional and complementary medicine will be examined through a nutritional biochemistry and human metabolism framework. Topics include pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, indications, contraindications, safety, interactions, and administration. Emphasis is placed on the intersection of pharmacology and nutrition therapy in disease management. Students engage in evidence analysis and apply theory to practice through case studies.
Academic Level: Graduate
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Clinical Nutrition.
Enrollment is limited to First Professional Degree level students.
DCN 816 Nutrition Pharmacotherapy (3 Credit Hours)
Key concepts and applications of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products used in traditional and complementary medicine will be examined through a nutritional biochemistry and human metabolism framework. Topics include pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, indications, contraindications, safety, interactions, and administration. Emphasis is placed on the intersection of pharmacology and nutrition therapy in disease management. Students engage in evidence analysis and apply theory to practice through case studies.
Academic Level: Graduate
DCN 820 Counseling and Health Behavior Change (3 Credit Hours)
Advanced theory and strategies in healthcare counseling, coaching, and communication to support health literacy, behavior change, and health outcomes will be explored. Emphasis will be placed on culturally appropriate communication techniques and approaches, including motivational interviewing, across a variety of practice settings and patient populations. Students demonstrate their advanced counseling and coaching skills through role-play and simulations.
Academic Level: Graduate
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Clinical Nutrition.
Enrollment is limited to First Professional Degree level students.
DCN 825 Adaptive Leadership (3 Credit Hours)
Contemporary theories and interdisciplinary perspectives in leadership will be explored to equip students with advanced skills in situational awareness, deliberate and ethical decision-making, innovation, and change management to adaptively navigate complex and dynamic organizational landscapes. Students conduct psychometric assessment of their leadership skills, emotional intelligence, and creative potential to inform their development as an adaptive leader. Students complete an action-based project that demonstrates adaptive leadership in health care settings and practice.
Academic Level: Graduate
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Clinical Nutrition.
Enrollment is limited to First Professional Degree level students.
DCN 830 Advanced Nutrition Practice (3 Credit Hours)
Emerging trends and issues in advanced practice and scholarship will be explored in preparation for the student’s advanced practice residency and doctoral research project. Students generate and defend their doctoral research project proposal.
May be repeated for credit.
Academic Level: Graduate
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Clinical Nutrition.
Enrollment is limited to First Professional Degree level students.
DCN 835 Healthcare Ecosystems and Management (3 Credit Hours)
Challenges and opportunities in contemporary healthcare services, delivery, and management within the context of the broader healthcare ecosystem will be explored. Topics include healthcare policy, technology, financial models, economic and social impact, stakeholder interests, legal and ethical considerations, and key performance indicators. Students engage in advocacy initiatives and propose transformative approaches and collaborative solutions to advance practice, patient care, and health outcomes within the national or global healthcare landscape.
Academic Level: Graduate
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Clinical Nutrition.
Enrollment is limited to First Professional Degree level students.
DCN 840 Responsive Leadership in Practice (3 Credit Hours)
Attributes, behaviors, and practices of proactive, agile, socially responsible, and inclusive leadership will be examined to equip students with advanced skills in strategic planning, systems thinking, team-building, crisis management, and conflict resolution. Students complete an action-based quality improvement project that demonstrates responsive leadership in professional practice.
Academic Level: Graduate
Enrollment is limited to First Professional Degree level students.
DCN 845 Food Justice & Advocacy (2 Credit Hours)
National and global food access, food sovereignty, social justice, and food advocacy initiatives will be examined with an emphasis on the availability, needs, and provision of food-based nutrition services and their impact on nutrition-related health outcomes. Students will propose and defend a grant proposal for governance, advocacy, and direct services solutions to a food justice issue.
Academic Level: Graduate
Enrollment is limited to First Professional Degree level students.
DCN 846 Food Justice and Advocacy (3 Credit Hours)
National and global food access, food sovereignty, social justice, and food advocacy initiatives will be examined with an emphasis on the availability, needs, and provision of food-based nutrition services and their impact on nutrition-related health outcomes. Students will propose and defend a grant proposal for governance, advocacy, and direct services solutions to a food justice issue.
Academic Level: Graduate
DCN 850 Advanced Topics in Health Professions Leadership I (3 Credit Hours)
Current trends and issues in health professions leadership will be examined. Emphasis is placed on leadership development and growth mindset, evidence-based practice, interprofessional practice, cultural humility and health equity, technology in practice, and data-driven decision-making. Students translate theory to practice based on their program focus area.
Academic Level: Graduate
DCN 855 Residency I (2 Credit Hours)
Focused growth and application of advanced nutrition theory and skills, clinical reasoning, decision-making, and scientific inquiry are accomplished through completion of 160 hours of experiential learning. Students are mentored by one or more advanced practice professionals in a professional practice environment. Students demonstrate competence in advanced nutrition practice through delivery of person-centered nutrition care within a chosen area of specialized nutrition practice.
May be repeated for credit.
Academic Level: Graduate
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Clinical Nutrition.
DCN 856 Residency I (1 Credit Hours)
Focused growth and application of advanced nutrition theory and skills, clinical reasoning, decision-making, and scientific inquiry are accomplished through completion of 160 hours of experiential learning. Students are mentored by one or more advanced practice professionals in a professional practice environment. Students demonstrate competence in advanced nutrition practice through delivery of person-centered nutrition care within a chosen area of specialized nutrition practice.
Academic Level: Graduate
DCN 861 Focus Area Elective (3 Credit Hours)
Academic Level: Graduate
DCN 865 Research Practicum (3 Credit Hours)
Advanced practice-based research methods are employed through student conduct of their approved doctoral research project. Students hone their skills in scholarly inquiry by executing their research study. The study (up through all data collection) for the doctoral research project should be completed by the end of this term unless prior permission is received.
May be repeated for credit.
Academic Level: Graduate
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Clinical Nutrition.
DCN 866 Research Practicum (1 Credit Hours)
Advanced practice-based research methods are employed through student conduct of their approved doctoral research project. Students hone their skills in scholarly inquiry by executing their research study. The study (up through all data collection) for the doctoral research project should be completed by the end of this term unless prior permission is received.
Academic Level: Graduate
DCN 870 Advanced Methods in Nutrition Research II (3 Credit Hours)
Doctoral-level practice-based research methods are implemented through student conduct of their approved doctoral research project. Students directly engage in scholarly inquiry by preparing, analyzing, and interpreting data to answer a novel question related to nutrition practice. Students synthesize research findings to draw valid conclusions and produce nutrition practice recommendations. A draft of the doctoral research project will be completed.
May be repeated for credit.
Academic Level: Graduate
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Clinical Nutrition.
DCN 875 Residency II (2 Credit Hours)
Continuation of the nutrition residency experience through furthered growth and application of advanced nutrition theory and skills, clinical reasoning, decision-making, and scientific inquiry in a chosen area of specialized nutrition practice. Students complete their remaining 160 hours of experiential learning through mentorship by one or more advanced practice professionals in a professional practice environment. Students demonstrate competence in advanced nutrition practice through delivery of person-centered nutrition care culminating in comprehensive assessment and documentation of each student’s personal and professional Scope of Dietetics Practice.
May be repeated for credit.
Academic Level: Graduate
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Clinical Nutrition.
DCN 876 Residency II (1 Credit Hours)
Continuation of the nutrition residency experience through furthered growth and application of advanced nutrition theory and skills, clinical reasoning, decision-making, and scientific inquiry in a chosen area of specialized nutrition practice. Students complete their remaining 160 hours of experiential learning through mentorship by one or more advanced practice professionals in a professional practice environment. Students demonstrate competence in advanced nutrition practice through delivery of person-centered nutrition care culminating in comprehensive assessment and documentation of each student’s personal and professional Scope of Dietetics Practice.
Academic Level: Graduate
DCN 880 Fundamentals of Manuscript Preparation (3 Credit Hours)
Advanced skills in scholarly writing, revision, and formatting in order to produce a publication-worthy manuscript will be developed and honed. The course prepares students to work through journal selection, authorship guidelines, and the editorial process. The course is intended for graduate, doctoral, and postdoctoral students who have completed a dissertation, thesis, or other graduate-level research or capstone project through primary or secondary data collection and are engaged in or have completed analysis of their results – typically beyond the midway mark of their project. The introduction, background, methods, and results should be complete. Students will translate their existing work into a complete publication-ready manuscript and submit the manuscript to a peer-reviewed academic journal at the end of the term. Proof of submission is expected.
May be repeated for credit.
Academic Level: Graduate
DCN 885 Advanced Topics in Health Professions Leadership II (3 Credit Hours)
Continued examination of current trends and issues in health professions leadership. Emphasis is placed on action-oriented communication, collaboration, decision-making, and resource mobilization to constructively influence and optimize healthcare policies, practices, and programs. Students translate theory to practice based on their program focus area.
Academic Level: Graduate
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Clinical Nutrition.