Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Science

• Convenient hybrid classes, allowing you to balance your certificate coursework with your life demands.
• 8-week course blocks, providing timely course progression and completion of the certificate.
• 12 credit hours of coursework, focused on building your expertise in advanced nutrition topics.
• Continuing education, meeting continuing education requirements for many healthcare professions.
• Culturally responsive curriculum, leading to more well-rounded knowledge of health and disease.
• Small class sizes, providing more interaction and connection with peers and faculty.
• A diverse faculty and student population, encouraging depth of thought in and out of the classroom.

Coursework for the Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Science can be completed in as little as 8 months.

All coursework must be completed within a 5 year timeframe.

Students can be accepted into the Graduate Certificate for either a Fall or Spring start term.

The Application for the Fall 2025 Start is now open!

For Fall 2025, the priority deadline is March 15th. Acceptance after the priority deadline is only granted if space in the program is available. The final application deadline for Fall is May 1st. 

For Spring, the priority deadline is September 15th. Acceptance after the priority deadline is only granted if space in the program is available. The final application deadline for Spring is November 1st.

The proposed tuition for the Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Science is $550/credit hour for residents and $650/credit hour for non-residents. Please note, there will be an increase in tuition for academic year 24-25. Mandatory fee are outlined below.

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Financial aid is not available for Graduate Certificate students due to their non-degree seeking status.

Curriculum in the Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Science focuses on providing advanced nutrition education tailored to current RDN’s, healthcare professionals, and individuals looking to grow personally or professionally through graduate level study.

Courses are offered in 8-week blocks and delivered in hybrid format. Hybrid format partners the best of online education and face-to-face learning. Engaging in the classroom with peers and faculty members will deepen your learning experience, broaden your perspective, and strengthen your professional network. Completing components of each course online will provide flexibility and allow us to meet your needs as a busy individual.

Graduate Certificate Coursework

The Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Science can be obtained through completing 12 credit hours of graduate level nutrition coursework at MSU Denver.

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Full program acceptance requires prerequisite coursework with a grade of C- or higher in:

• Intro chemistry
• Organic chemistry
• Biological chemistry
• Anatomy and physiology (the equivalent of 6 credit hours)
• Upper division human nutrition course with macronutrient and micronutrient metabolism as the focus of the course (minimum of 3 credit hours)
• Medical nutrition therapy (minimum of 3 credits of a combined medical nutrition therapy I and II or equivalent)

Students must have all prerequisites completed prior to their entry term in the Grad Certificate program. 

Recency requirements for prerequisites: The upper division human nutrition metabolism and medical nutrition therapy courses must have been completed within the last 5 years. 

If you have multiple prerequisites to complete, please contact the Nutrition Department to speak with an advisor about the timeline for completing the necessary prerequisites and the best admission semester based on your specific course needs. You can contact the Department of Nutrition at 303-615-0990.

If you are interested in completing your prerequisites at MSU Denver, the Prerequisites for a Nutrition Graduate Program (PNUT) is an undergraduate program that allows you to complete prerequisites for the Master of Science in Nutrition  or the this Graduate Certificate in Nutrition.

The Graduate Certificate program accepts applicants with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university* in any discipline with a minimum 3.0 GPA**.

Application fees for prospective, domestic students to apply to Master’s Programs and Graduate Certificates at MSU Denver will be waived starting 10/1/2023 through 10/1/2025.

Here are the steps to complete an application:

1. Complete the online Graduate Admission Application
2. Submit Official Transcripts directly from all colleges and universities attended to Graduate Admissions at [email protected] *MSU Denver official transcripts do not need to be requested

*Applicants may be completing their bachelor’s degree when they apply: their degree must be conferred prior to their MSND program start term.

**Applicants can be accepted into the MSND program with a GPA under 3.0. However, they will be accepted with requirements including maintaining a 3.0 during their first semester in the program.

Acceptance into the program may be granted if the applicant is in their final semester of prerequisite courses and can submit their final course grades before their start term semester.

Students with a GPA lower than a 3.0 can be accepted into the program. Students accepted into the program with a GPA lower than a 3.0 must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA during the first semester of the program.

For the Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Science, students may transfer in up to three (3) credits of graduate level coursework from a regionally accredited university. Each transfer course must have a minimum grade of “C” and have been completed within 5 years of admission to the program.

Students admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Science are non-degree seeking students. Non-degree seeking students do not qualify for financial aid and must re-apply and pay a new application fee in order to become degree seeking.

Completing coursework as a non-degree seeking student does not guarantee admission into a degree program. Students accepted into the Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Science may take up to 12 credits of graduate level coursework in the program. These credits may also be applied to the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics degree.

In general, no credit is given for prior learning experience derived from employment or other life experience.

No, we do not require the GRE for the Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Science.

Students admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Science are non-degree seeking students. Non-degree seeking students do not qualify for financial aid.

The number of continuing education credits varies based upon your profession and the credentials you hold. For example, according to the Commission on Dietetic Registration, Registered Dietitians can earn 15 CPEU’s for each 1 semester of academic credit taken.

There is not an “all online” option. The Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Science is offered as a hybrid program which includes both online content and face-to-face meeting sessions for each course.

The face-to-face portion of courses in the Graduate Certificate program are typically offered in evenings on weekdays.

If you don’t have a 3.0 GPA from your undergraduate degree, you can still apply to our program. You may be able to be “admitted with requirements.” Requirements to stay in the program include maintaining a 3.0 GPA your first semester of courses.

Yes, you can!

Students accepted into the Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Science take 12 credits of graduate level coursework in the program. All 12 of these credits may also be applied to the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics degree.

However, to transfer from the Grad Certificate program to the Master of Science in Nutrition, students must re-apply and pay a new application fee in order to become degree seeking. Completing coursework as a non-degree seeking student does not guarantee admission into a degree program.