Here are a few resources for reviewing degree requirements and preparing for registration:
- Sample Degree Plans (below): These are provided as an example of a semester layout and are not official degree checklists. Your schedule may vary depending on class availability.
- CNS Degree Checklists (click here) & University Catalog (click here): Official degree requirements and policies.
- Interactive Degree Audit (click here): The IDA is an official tracking of degree progress. All students are encouraged to check their IDA each semester. Create audit using "Audit Request" and view results on "Audit Results" by clicking the Audit ID hyperlink.
- Health Professions Office (click here): The HPO website includes lists of prerequisites, course timelines, Health Professions Coach appointment scheduling, and other application resources.
- Minors & Certificates: List of available minors & certificates for 2020-2022 catalog (click here) and 2022-2024 catalog (click here). Application processes are different depending on the program. Search for each program's individual website for more details about any application requirements and deadlines.
Degree requirements for each plan can vary greatly by catalog year. For students on older degree plans, consult your advisor and your degree audit to confirm remaining requirements since course offerings may have changed.
Sample Plans:
BS NTR
The Department of Nutritional Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Science & Arts (BSA) degree. See the BSA tab above for this option.
For additional NTR registration updates, see Departmental Information on lefthand menu or click here.
BS Nutrition:
- Option 1 Dietetics: Didactic Program in Dietetics & Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics
- Option 2 Nutritional Sciences
- Option 3 Nutrition and Public Health
- Option 4 International Nutrition (available 20-22 and prior catalog only)
Option 1: Dietetics
- Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)
- Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD). Application required.
Students interested in becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionst (RDN) should pursue the Option I Dietetics: Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) that will qualify 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. Those graduates who have not completed a dietetic internship by January 1, 2024 will need to meet this requirement. Many dietetic internship programs are paired with a Master’s degree. Students also have the option of applying to the Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD) as early as Junior year which is an accelerated five-year program leading to completion of a BS Nutrition, Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences, and supervised practice hours necessary to become an RDN.
The Option 1 Didactic Program in Dietetics is a great program if you are unsure what you would like to do with your nutrition degree. Students pursuing health professions are also encouraged to consider this path as an alternative/parallel plan.
If you are close to graduating/have recently graduated with a different major or Nutrition degree option and have become interested in becoming an RDN, there are still options! Please reach out to the Human Ecology Advising Center for more information.
Please also review the information on these websites and seek regular academic advising each semester:
-Department of Nutritional Sciences Dietetics website (click here)
-School of Human Ecology Advising Center website with DPD & ICPD overview (click here)
Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD):
Dietetics program website: click here
For a summary about DPD vs. ICPD, see the SoHE Advising Center website here: click here.
DPD Nutrition Research Requirement: This is important to consider before Senior year to plan accordingly. The 22-24 catalog requires 6 hours/two courses chosen from two specific options. See more information on your Degree Audit and the Human Ecology Advising Center website. Note this requirement is not required for ICPD.
Course Planning Notes: The DPD and ICPD sample plans are similar through the Sophomore year to help stay on track if you decide to apply to ICPD. If you know that you are not applying though, classes can be spread out more into Junior and Senior years. Keep the following in mind for course planning:
- NTR 317L Intro Nutrition Assessment and Education: Prioritize immediately after NTR 312, or as soon as possible if recently changed majors. See sample plan.
- If applying to ICPD, this must be taken no later than Spring semester before applying (ex. take during Fall or Spring Sophomore) due to prereqs for other courses.
- NTR 162: Highly recommended by Fall or Spring Soph year to learn about RDN process.
- NTR 334 & 234L Foodservice Systems Mgmt with Lab: Best to complete Fall or Spring Junior year to avoid time conflicts with other NTR courses.
- Note this often conflicts with NTR 342 (if 234L lab is only offered T/TH) and with NTR 365.5 & 365L Community Engagement gardening class (details here).
- Sequence Tip: Take NTR 326 --> BCH 369 --> NTR 342 --> NTR 343 back to back.
- Fall/Spring Only: NTR 370 Medical Nutrition Therapy I is Spring only, and NTR 371 Medical Nutrition Therapy II is Fall only. They can be taken in either order as needed.
Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD): Application Required
The ICPD is an accelerated five-year program including the BS Nutrition, MS Nutritional Sciences, and dietetic internship rotations to be eligible to sit for the RDN exam. ICPD website: click here.
Students can apply as early as Fall Junior (5 yrs program total), or as late as Fall Senior year (6 yrs program total).
For a summary about DPD vs. ICPD, see the SoHE Advising Center website here: click here.
Course Planning Notes:
- NTR 317L Intro Nutrition Assessment and Educ: Prioritize immediately after NTR 312 or as soon as possible if recently changed majors. Must take no later than during the Spring semester before applying due to prereq sequencing with other courses.
- NTR 162: Required for DPD only, however still highly recommended Sophomore year to learn about RDN process and program options.
- Fall/Spring Only: NTR 370 Medical Nutrition Therapy I is Spring only, and NTR 371 Medical Nutrition Therapy II is Fall only. They can be taken in either order as needed.
- ICPD applicants should take NTR 371 no later than during the application semester according to sample plan.
- Note that if you end up not doing ICPD, there are a few courses required for DPD that aren't listed on the ICPD plan.
- A few undergraduate courses are covered by MS graduate courses in this program. Delay taking the following until after you apply according to sample plan: NTR 339L, NTR 338W, NTR 343, SDS 324E, Nutrition Research. If applying Fall Senior year instead of Junior year, some of these may need to be completed earlier to be able to graduate on-time with DPD if needed - refer to DPD sample plan.
Option II: Nutritional Sciences
Nutrition Research Requirement: See your Degree Audit and Human Ecology Advising Center website for more info about course options. It's helpful to consider these options before Senior year:
- NTR 355 Undergraduate Research requires pre-approval with a faculty member's lab in order to register. See NTR Faculty Research labs here 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 if interested in this type of lab and expect to maybe volunteer before doing it for 355 credit.
- 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 about requesting a seat during registration for their final semester. Check Course Schedule to confirm available flags.
Option III: Nutrition and Public Health
Approved Substitutions (for 20-22 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 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 petition with 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
- 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 required.
- Other potential options. Submit petition with 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.
Option VI: International Nutrition
**Please Note: This degree will no longer be available in the 2022-2024 catalog, therefore freshman starting in fall 2022 will not be able to select this option. Stay tuned for more updates!**
