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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 of our website each semester for major-specific information and important registration announcements.

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, Option 2 Nutritional Sciences, Option 3 Public Health Nutrition
  • BSA Nutrition


BS Option 1: Dietetics (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential 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 will require a Master’s degree for entry into the profession. Many dietetic internship programs are paired with a Master’s degree for a program length of about 2 years.

DPD students can also apply to the 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 current student accomplishments!

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

Students pursing other health professions 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):


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

Application required (Apply beginning Fall Junior for 5 yrs program total, or Fall Senior year for 6 yrs program total). Program begins the following year after applying.

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. See sample plan and note any pre/co-requisites!


BS Option II: Nutritional Sciences

Nutrition Research Requirement: See Degree Audit for info about options. Encouraged to consider before Senior year!

  • NTR 355 Undergraduate Research requires pre-approval with a faculty member's lab to register. See NTR Faculty Research labs and registration instructions here.
    • "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 can 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. 

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:

 

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: