Degree Planning Resources

Here are a few resources for degree and registration planning, including sample plans below!

Degree requirements can vary greatly by catalog year. Students on older degree plans should consult your advisor and Interactive Degree Audit to confirm the remaining requirements.

2024-2026 Catalog: Incoming Freshmen and some transfer students starting in Fall 2024 and later will follow the 24-26 catalog.

Sample Degree Plans:

The sample degree plans are provided by the SoHE Advising Center as an example of a semester layout and are not official degree checklists. Your schedule may also vary depending on class availability. Refer to your Interactive Degree Audit (IDA) regularly to track degree progress and meet with an academic advisor to review your graduation plan!

Also see the Advising Updates page each semester for important major-specific registration information.

Public Health

Option I - Public Health

Option II - Public Health Honors - only available through Dean's Scholars program

Option III - Advanced Program in Public Health: BS/MPH 4+1 Program

For more information, please see your academic advisor.

Nutrition

The Department of Nutritional Sciences offers BS and BSA options.

BS Nutrition:

Option 1 Dietetics: Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)
- With option to apply for Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD)
Option 2 Nutritional Sciences
Option 3 Public Health Nutrition

BSA Nutrition

BS Option 1: Dietetics (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist path)

Students interested in becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) should pursue the Option I Dietetics: Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). The RDN is a nationally recognized credential opening a wide range of opportunities. This option qualifies graduates to apply to a dietetic internship which provides the supervised practice hours required to become an RDN. Note: effective January 1, 2024, the RDN profession requires a Master’s degree for entry into the profession. Many dietetic internship programs are paired with a Master’s degree for a length of about 2 years.

DPD students can also apply to UT's BS/MS Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD) as early as Junior year. This accelerated five-year total program leads to the completion of a BS in Nutrition, Master of Science (MS) in Nutritional Sciences, and supervised practice hours necessary to become an RDN. Students may also apply Fall of their Senior year if needed for 6 years program total. Follow @texasicpd for the latest updates and student accomplishments!

If you are close to graduating or have recently graduated with a different major/option and are interested in becoming an RDN, there are still options! Reach out to SoHE Advising.

Students pursing any health profession are also encouraged to consider this option while including any additional pre-health prerequisites.

Dietetics Degree Planning Notes: See helpful course planning notes attached here!

Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD):

Includes all prerequisites to apply for supervised practice (“dietetic internship”) & Master's degree programs to sit for RDN exam. Several program options are available throughout Texas and out-of-state. UT's ICPD is an accelerated program available through UT Austin (more info below).

Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD): BS & MS Combined

ICPD program website & Instagram

Application required (applications accepted once/year at the beginning of the Fall semester and program begins the following year). Accelerated program format including BS + MS + supervised internship. Students should begin with BS Option 1 DPD to be on track to apply as early as Fall Junior (5 yrs program total) or Fall Senior year at the latest (6 yrs program total).

Note: Must take NTR 371 Medical Nutrition Therapy II (fall-only) during application semester, one year before beginning the program. NTR 371 can be taken before 370 as needed. See sample plan!

BS Option II: Nutritional Sciences

Nutrition Research Requirement: See Degree Audit. Consider options before Senior year!

NTR 355 Undergraduate Research requires pre-approval with a faculty member's lab or with Dr. Ladia Hernandez for the summer culinary camp opportunity. Must provide email confirmation to SoHE Advising to gain access to register.
- "Wet lab" labs (ex. cancer cell research) might require you to be involved with the lab for multiple semesters due to training that may be needed. Plan to reach out sooner rather than later!
BIO 325L Genetics Lab is another potential option, however this is typically reserved for BIO majors during registration. Graduating Seniors interested in this course should talk to their advisor.

BS Option III: Nutrition and Public Health

Approved Substitutions for 2020-2022 and prior catalogs:

6 hrs social science requirement: "two courses chosen from ANT 322M Topic 12: Mexican Immigration Cultural History, SOC 307M, 319, 354K, and 368D"
- SOC 308S/HS 301 Intro to Health & Society is approved. No petition is required.
- ANT 322M is now ANT 322P. Typically spring-only.
- SOC 369K Population & Society: this basically replaced SOC 319 and is approved.
- Other potential options. Submit a petition with an advisor to confirm (based on newer 22-24 catalog options): PSY 301, SOC 302, ANT 302, ECO 304K, 304L, and HDF 313 or 313H and 113L
9 hrs public health option coursework: "9 hrs chosen from" approved list
- PBH 317 Intro to Public Health is approved. No petition is required.
- Other potential options. Submit petition with an advisor (based on newer 22-24 catalog options): GRG 339K, 344K, SOC 324K or 354K, ANT 301, N 309, HDF 304, PSY 304, 308, or GOV 370I

If you have any concerns about fulfilling these requirements, discuss options with your academic advisor. You may submit a petition for a different course to substitute if you feel it aligns with other similar approved options.

BSA Nutrition

For the 12-hour “General Education” requirement: See the Language, Arts, and Culture approved list on the official CNS Degree Checklists.

Human Development & Family Sciences

The Department of Human Development & Family Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) and a Bachelor of Science & Arts (BSA).

Support Course List (2020-2022 and Earlier Catalogs): See the attached Support Course list for approved courses that can be taken to fulfill the 9 hours of support coursework for Bachelor of Science degree options for 2020-2022 catalogs and earlier catalogs. The Honors in Advanced HDFS (HAHDFS) does not follow this support course list.

BS Option - Human Development and Family Sciences Bachelor of Science

BS Option I - Early Childhood

BS Option II - Human Development

BS Option III - Families and Personal Relationships

BS Option IV - Families and Society

BSA

Textiles & Apparel

Visit the Textiles & Apparel website to learn more about coursework and program opportunities.

Bachelor of Science in Textiles and Apparel

BS Option I - Apparel, Functional, and Technical Design

BS Option II - Merchandising and Consumer Sciences

Bachelor of Science & Arts (BSA)

The BSA degree type is available for a Nutrition, Human Development & Family Sciences, and general Human Ecology major.

Learn more about the different CNS degree types including BS and BSA.

General Education (Language, Arts, and Culture):
The Language, Arts, and Culture requirement is listed under the "General Education" section of your Interactive Degree Audit.

See the official CNS Degree Checklist document for approved courses.

Required Minor or Certificate:
A minor or certificate is required for the BSA degree. Learn about available minors and certificates on the CNS website. Some minors and certificates are open and approved and some require a competitive application and approval process. Visit the minor or certificate program website for details and talk with your advisor if you have any questions!

Human Development and Family Sciences

Nutrition

Human Ecology

Honors

CNS offers a few different types of honors programs for the majors within SoHE. For those pursuing Dean's Scholars, Polymathic Scholars, or Health Science Scholars, please see your academic advisor at the CNS Honors Center.

The Honors in Advanced HDFS (HAHDFS) and Honors in Advanced Nutritional Sciences (HANS) are advised through the SoHE Advising Center. Sample degree plans are available below.

Special Departmental Honors is available by application for any student who would like to complete an honors thesis under the supervision of a faculty member in their major and earn a “special honors” designation on their transcript (if requirements are met upon graduation). This process involves identifying a supervising faculty member and submitting a Special Departmental Honors thesis application and proposal form.

Learn more on the SoHE Honors website here.

Honors in Advanced Human Development and Family Sciences (HAHDFS)

Sample Degree Plans:

Additional Resources:

SoHE Honors website
Honors Course Registration (HDF 355H Research & HDF 379H Thesis courses)
HDFS faculty research interests
Health Professions Office (HPO): pre-health prereqs, timelines, application resources

Honors in Advanced Nutritional Sciences (HANS)

Sample Degree Plans:

2022-2024 & 2024-2026 (incoming freshmen starting fall 2022 or later):
- After freshman year, choose any BS Nutrition option.
  - It is okay to switch between options if plans change. HANS can't be done with the BSA option, however always discuss any questions or concerns with your advisor to see what the best path is for you.
  - There are still opportunities to do research and honors thesis with the BSA and earn “special departmental honors” designation on your transcript.
- Add two semesters of NTR 355H Honors Research (Junior year at the latest) followed by two semesters of NTR 379H Thesis (typically Senior year).
  - Some of these will fit into NTR elective spaces within the BS degree plan requirements, and some will count as general electives.
- The 355H course credit can be started any time once you identify & get approval with a lab to begin NTR 355H credit. See website links below about faculty research areas and honors course registration processes. More information will be covered during FIG this semester.
2020-2022

Additional Resources:

SoHE Honors website
Honors Course Registration (NTR 355H Research & NTR 379H Thesis courses)
Nutrition faculty research interests
Health Professions Office (HPO): pre-health prereqs, timelines, application resources