The Lactation Consultant Training Program-Graduate Certificate is for students who wish to receive the necessary education and skills to be an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). The graduate certificate program consists of NUT 5950-3 credits, NUT 5970-3 credits, and NUT 5990-12 credits. Students need to complete the required pre-requisite courses prior to applying for the certificate program. These courses are not considered as part of the credits for the certificate itself and will be evaluated as pre-requisites for acceptance into the graduate certificate program.
The goal of this certificate is to prepare competent entry-level lactation consultants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains.
Application Deadlines- Students will be admitted into the certificate program using a rolling application deadline. All applications will be accepted and reviewed by the Nutrition Department at MSU Denver.
- Application fee- $50 to MSU Denver.
- Graduate application- All students must complete an application to the university and to MSU Denver Nutrition Department Lactation Certificate Program.
- Minimum Degree Requirements- Program acceptance requires students to have a Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited university.
- Minimum GPA- Minimum of 3.0.
- Entrance Exam Required with Recommended Scores- none
- Official Transcripts - Students must submit official transcripts from each college or university they have attended. Official transcripts must be mailed or sent directly from the previous colleges/universities in a signed sealed envelope. Institutions may also send official electronic transcripts to gradtranscripts@msudenver.edu.
- No writing sample required for application
At least one letter of recommendation or contact information from someone who would recommend the applicant is required.
Currently this program is not approved to accept international students
In each of the following 8 subjects, applicants must complete a minimum of one course. Applicants must demonstrate a passing grade in each of the courses and the courses must be a minimum of one academic credit session (e.g. semester, trimester, quarter, etc.) in length and provided by an accredited institution of higher learning
- Human Anatomy
- Human Physiology
- Infant and Child Growth and Development
- Introduction to Clinical Research
- Psychology or Counselling Skills or Communication Skills
- Sociology or Cultural Sensitivity or Cultural Anthropology
For the remaining 6 subjects, applicants may complete courses offered by an institution of higher learning or they may complete continuing education courses.
- Basic Life Support
- Medical Documentation
- Medical Terminology
- Occupational Safety and Security for Health Professionals
- Professional Ethics for Health Professionals
- Universal Safety Precautions and Infection Control
Transfer Students- All prerequisite coursework may be transferred into MSU Denver. The graduate certificate program will also accept transfer of coursework equivalent to NUT 5950.
Non-Degree Seeking Students- The number of courses a student may take as a non-degree seeking student cannot exceed one-third (1/3) of the total credit requirement for the certificate.
Students may be admitted to any of the graduate degree programs with a non-degree-seeking status. 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. These credits will count toward transfer credits if the student is admitted as a degree-seeking student.
- Readmission- Readmission to the program will be determined by reapplication to the certificate program.
- Financial Aid- Financial Aid may be available for graduate students. Visit https://msudenver.edu/financialaid/graduate/ for information.
- Minimum overall GPA requirements- 3.0.
- Maximum course load-Students may enroll in no more than 15 credits per semester for fall and spring semesters without department approval. The maximum load for a two-week Winterim or Maymester term is 3 semester hours, excluding short-term study abroad courses.
- Clinical Lactation Internship requirements: After the completion of NUT 5950 and NUT 5970, each student will complete 500 clinical lactation internship hours. These internship hours will be under the direct supervision of an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Students will register for NUT 5990 during the semesters they plan to complete their clinical lactation internship. Each 1 credit of NUT 5990 will result in 42.5 hours of clinical lactation internship placement at a hospital, community health center, or outpatient lactation practice under the supervision of an IBCLC. MSU Denver’s Lactation Program will secure all clinical placements for students at partner organizations. Students are required to pass a drug screening and background check along with completing PreCheck and My Clinical Exchange before receiving lactation internship placement.
- Duplicative Coursework- No course may count toward both a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree.
- Timeline for completion of degree- Students must complete the certificate within five calendar years from the term they initially enroll.
- Program Specific Requirements
- Advancement to Candidacy- Students must complete all coursework and the clinical lactation internship in 5 years. The minimum passing grade for all courses included in this certificate is an earned grade of “C”.
