Combined Ph.D. and Registered Dietitian (R.D.) Certification
explore graduate studies in nutritional sciences
To meet the growing needs for translational research expertise in both dietetics practice and policy and to enhance the effectiveness and impact of clinical and public health nutrition, we offer a combined Ph.D / R.D. program. The program is available to highly qualified applicants from any accredited DPD program who have also earned a masters degree. Accepted students begin their doctoral studies in the Graduate Field of Nutrition in the first year, complete the dietetic internship in their second year, and then continue their doctoral studies.
To meet the growing needs for translational research expertise in both dietetics practice and policy and to enhance the effectiveness and impact of clinical and public health nutrition, we offer a combined Ph.D / R.D. program. The program is available to highly qualified applicants from any accredited DPD program who have also earned a masters degree. Accepted students begin their doctoral studies in the Graduate Field of Nutrition in the first year, complete the dietetic internship in their second year, and then continue their doctoral studies.
Hallmarks of the Field of Nutrition at Cornell include:
- an acclaimed faculty with a wide-variety of research interests, which provide an exceptional range of opportunities for multidisciplinary research and
- the preeminence of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell globally for nutrition education, research and service.
Doctoral students can plan their graduate programs to fit their career goals in one of four specializations: molecular nutrition, human nutrition, community nutrition or international nutrition. Combined Ph.D / R.D. students also complete courses in Nutrition in Action: Theory to Practice, Epidemiology, and Translational Research and Evidence-based Practice and Policy and a translational 'field' experience. Funding support is available from a graduate training program.
Graduates of the combined Ph.D / R.D. program are well-prepared to meet the pressing needs in academic, medicine and policy sectors for translational nutrition researchers. They also are well-positioned because of the limited number of R.D.s in the U.S. who also hold a Ph.D. (4%), few of whom have direct translation and evidence-based policy experience.
Combined Ph.D. - R.D. Applications - December 1
This is a program only open to applicants with a graduate degree who have completed or are completing an ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) or ACEND accredited Foreign Dietitian Education (FDE) program. Accepted students begin doctoral studies in year 1 and the Dietetic Internship (DI) in year 2. Following the DI, students are eligible to sit for the CDR examination for RDs. Students continue with doctoral studies following the DI.
Applications must be submitted by December 1 to both the Graduate Field of Nutrition at the Graduate School, (see Admissions) and to the Dietetic Internship (DI) online through DICAS.
- Dietetic internship application requirements are the same as for applicants to only the DI. Please see https://www.human.cornell.edu/dns/academics/graduate/di for details.
- Additional coursework is helpful for molecular nutrition (molecular/cell biology, genetics, etc.) and community nutrition (statistics, social sciences, etc.); significant experience in a developing country is required for international nutrition.
- Prior research experience is advantageous for all specializations.
- Admission by both the Internship and Graduate Field of Nutrition Admissions committees and funding (providing a stipend and tuition waiver) are decided by early March.
- Applicants not selected for the Ph.D./R.D. option may be considered for dietetic internship-only option.
Learn more by visiting our Dietetic Internship page or by contacting the program at dietetics@cornell.edu.
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Have questions? Contact us at dietetics@cornell.edu