Applying

Submitting an application

Our program participates in the Dietetic Inclusive Centralized Application Services (DICAS). This requires that your application be submitted through the central application portal. The ACEND website provides additional information on the centralized application process. Please follow the DICAS instructions for submitting your application. Our program is listed as the “University of Wisconsin Integrated Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics.” The deadline for applications is Jan. 15. Be sure to submit all required DICAS payments.

DICAS application requirements include the following. Please visit the UW IGPND application page in DICAS for more details.

  • Properly completed application form
  • Personal statement
  • Declaration of Intent to Complete or Verification Statement submitted by your DPD Director
  • Official transcript(s) of credit from all universities or colleges showing a cumulative GPA of greater than or equal to 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Reference forms from three professionally qualified persons. This should include two academic references and one from a supervisor of work experience.
  • DICAS application fee
  • GRE scores are not required

We do not participate in the national dietetic internship match through D&D. Upon review of a completed application via DICAS, our selection committee will notify you of their decision by Feb. 14.

If you already hold a graduate degree, please contact Makayla Schuchardt (mlschuchardt@wisc.edu) for more information on the application to the Capstone Certificate in Clinical Nutrition.

Second-round selection

If positions remain open after the Jan. 15 selection round, applications will be accepted via DICAS on a rolling basis until 48 hours after the national DI match through D&D Digital.  Match day is typically the first Sunday in April. Visit the ACEND website for the specific date.

Pre-select admission for UW-Madison students

The Integrated Graduate Program offers a preselect option for senior UW-Madison Dietetics students and Graduate students enrolled in the UW-Madison M.S. Clinical Nutrition degree program who wish to continue their education within the University of Wisconsin system. Interested applicants must schedule an appointment with the MS Clinical Nutrition program manager, Makayla Schuchardt (mlschuchardt@wisc.edu), during the fall semester to review the admission requirements and discuss the application process.

The application and admission process will be conducted during the fall semester annually. The application deadline is the last class day of the fall semester each year. Applicants will receive notification via email from the Program Director of acceptance or rejection into the Program by Jan. 15.  Students in the preselect round also apply via DICAS (see instructions above).   Full acceptance is conditional on maintaining cumulative and major GPAs, as well as graduation and DPD verification for graduating seniors. Up to 5 students will be accepted in the pre-select round (from DPD and MS-CN). Interviews may be conducted.

Eligibility criteria to apply:

  1. Currently enrolled in the Dietetics or MS-Clinical Nutrition programs
  2. Overall GPA of 3.5 or higher
  3. 200 hours (paid and/or volunteer) of nutrition relevant work experience (i.e. experience in a position that is in the same facility as an RDN, overseen by an RDN, or works directly with an RDN)

Pre-select admission for Wisconsin WIC program nutritionists within the Public Health Concentration

  1. Interested applicants must schedule an appointment with the Program Director and their WIG program manager during the summer before their application to review the admission requirements and discuss the completed readiness survey and the application process.
  2. Complete a DICAS application (see instructions above).

Application to UW-Madison Graduate School

Upon acceptance to the UW IGPND, students will also be required to apply to the UW-Madison Graduate School. This application fee is $75. Further instructions will be provided upon acceptance to the UW IGPND.

Selection criteria

Application to the Program requires successful completion of The Academy’s Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) requirements and fulfillment of the application process noted above.

Students are selected based on:

  • Scholastic achievement
  • Conceptual ability
  • Written and oral expression
  • Self-direction
  • Preparation
  • Work experience
  • Professional activities
  • Leadership abilities
  • Professional references

It is ideal that the personal narrative reflects such abilities. In the past, the students selected typically have an overall GPA greater than 3.0 and paid work experience in clinical nutrition and/or food service experience.

Admission requirements

All must meet the following core requirements before they formally begin the program:

  • Official college transcripts with posted degree and completion of all DPD coursework
  • Final verification statement from an ACEND-accredited DPD college
  • Completion of a formal online employment application to UW Hospitals and Clinics
  • Completion of a physical exam at Employee Health Services with proof of titers (blood tests) showing immunity
    • Hepatitis B: 3 dosage series with appropriate dates or Hepatitis B declination
    • Influenza: Injection or intranasal influenza within flu season
    • MMR: Two dosages with appropriate dates of MMR given at least 28 days apart after first birthday or positive titers for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
    • Varicella: Two dosages of Varicella given at least 28 days apart or Varicella titer with positive status
    • Tdap: Recommended within the last 10 years
    • TB skin test
    • COVID-19: Required to be up to date on all doses in the primary series and one booster dose
  • Background check
  • Drug screening
  • Fingerprinting, may be required by various rotation sites
  • Health insurance is strongly encouraged. Tuition costs for the program do not include segregated fees. Therefore, access to University Health Services or health care access to UW Hospitals and Clinics is not provided. Students are responsible for locating access to affordable health care based on their current insurance plan.

International applicants

Applicants must be either citizens of the United States or able to maintain work authorization throughout the program. UW Hospitals and Clinics does not offer visa sponsorship to candidates for the UW IGPND.