NTR Prereq Updates

Prerequisite Updates - fall 2023

Chart below is for corrections/clarifications for certain classes. See Course Schedule for all other courses and required prerequisites. Prereqs listed below will be enforced & checked after registration.

For NTR 365 Topics class information, see the NTR 365 Topics tab above for more details.

Email headvising@austin.utexas.edu if you have trouble registering for a NTR course that you think you meet prereqs for. Include your EID and course you are trying to register for.

Last edited 3-30-23 (PDF version here):

Prerequisite Waiver must be requested in these situations:

You will need to request a Prerequisite Waiver in the situations below to avoid issues during registration.  

Email headvising@austin.utexas.edu before or during registration.
Subject Line: Prereq Waiver for [Course You Are Adding] - Name & EID

• Claimed AP or transferred Statistics credit ("SDS 301"), and you need to register for the following courses.
  This is applicable to 20-22 and prior catalogs only. Students on 22-24 catalog must take SDS 302F or 320E.
  • NTR 312 Intro Nutritional Sciences
  • NTR 338W Issues in Nutrition & Health
    
    

• Took NTR 306 Fundamentals of Nutrition with grade A (before becoming NTR major) and need to register for:
  • NTR 307*
  • NTR 317L (previously NTR 218 & 118L)
  • NTR 326
  • NTR 334*
    
    *must be registered into the corresponding lab first before waiver can be given

NTR 365 Topics - Fall 2023

The prerequisites listed below will be checked at the end of this semester.  Students will be dropped if they don't meet the required prerequisites listed below (ignore the Course Schedule prerequisites for these).

• Typically offered Fall only: NTR 365 Sports Nutrition; NTR 365 Topic 5 Principles & Applications in Community Engagement 
• Typically offered in Spring only: NTR 365 Nutrition & Genes; NTR 365 Obesity & Metabolic Health (varies)

For 20-22 and prior catalogs that require a NTR 365 topic, any topic can count. For the new 22-24 catalog, there are some specific exclusions depending on degree option (see your Interactive Degree Audit for details). 

NTR 365 sports nutrition - fall only

• Correct prerequisite: NTR 326 with C- or better
• Counts for:
  • BS degree options: "NTR 365" requirement 
  • BSA degree: upper-division NTR hours 
     

NTR 365 Topic 4: Obesity & Metabolic Health - cancelled for fall 2023

• Will be taught in spring 2024, along with NTR 365 Topic 2 Nutrition & Genes
• Prereqs: NTR 326 with C- or better

NTR 365 Topic 5: Principles & Applications in COmmunity Engagement "Gardening Class" (fall only; two-semester sequence)

This is an exciting experiential learning course that provides experience in building/implementing a school garden in a public school setting and teaching nutrition-related lessons to elementary kids and parents.

Note in the upcoming 2023-2024 academic year, this course will return to a two-semester sequence that starts in the fall semesters only.  Both NTR 365 Topic 5 (fall) & NTR 365L (spring) are required.

See promo video by instructor with more info about course & student feedback. See more info about how this will count in your degree plan below too for clarification:
https://prezi.com/v/view/OFarMCdzQacPaLhug9Lu/

• Fall 2023: NTR 365 Topic 5: Principles/Applications in Community Engagement and
• Spring 2024: NTR 365L Experiential Learning in Community Engagement 

 
Jump to:

• Overview: Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) & Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD)
• Dietetics Program Directors: Contact Information & DPD Office Hours
• Dietetics Email Listserv
• ICPD Announcements
• Extracurricular Resources
• Requirement Updates (effective spring 2021): NTR 355M replaced with MAN 320F; ACC 310F waivers

Dietetics Degree Options overview (DPD & ICPD)

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. If you are currently pursuing a different Nutrition degree option and unsure of your graduation timeline for the Dietetics option, touch base with your academic advisor and the DPD Director (contact details below) and review the information below. 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.

For more information about the process to become an RDN, see the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) website and the Dietetics page of the Department of Nutritional Sciences website.

Students have the option of applying to UT's Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD) as early as Junior year which is an accelerated five-year program leading to completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences, and supervised practice hours necessary to become an RDN.

Students under the DPD degree option will have access to a new DPD Canvas resource page. If you have recently changed to the DPD option or have further questions about accessing the Canvas page, contact the DPD Director Diane Papillion or attend DPD office hours (see below).

For sample degree plans for both DPD & ICPD, see the Degree Plans page of the Advising Center website. Note this is only a sample layout, and it is recommended to meet with your academic advisor each semester. 

Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Overview:

• Updates for Spring 2023:
  • DPD Director: Diane Papillion MPH, RD: d.papi@austin.utexas.edu
  • DPD Office Hours for Fall 2023: TBD
  • New DPD Canvas resource page - students who are declared on the BS Nutrition: Didactic Program in Dietetics degree option will be added to a new Canvas resource page managed by Diane Papillion. If you have questions about accessing the Canvas page, contact her directly or attend DPD office hours.
    
    
• The DPD degree option includes all required coursework for graduates to be eligible to apply for a dietetic internship program which provides required supervised practice hours to become an RDN.  A dietetic internship & Master's degree would be completed after graduating from UT, and many dietetic internship programs are paired with a Master's degree (typically about ~2 year program).  For more information including the DPD curriculum and handook, see the DPD website. 

• The DPD degree option does not require an application process to pursue. Talk with your academic advisor to let them know you would like to "declare" this option. (If you are not already a CNS student, you must apply to CNS through the internal transfer application process, or you may complete DPD coursework as a non-degree seeking student if you are completing/already have a degree in another subject). However, dietetic internship & Master's programs require a competitive application process. Students may apply for these programs during their final year or later. Detailed information about this process is covered in NTR 162 Standards, Ethics, and Credentialing for Dietetic Practice which is a required course taught by the DPD Director. It is highly recommended to take this course during Sophomore year.
  
  
• It is very important to begin gaining experience through volunteering, shadowing, part-time jobs in nutrition-related areas. The application process for dietetic internships or the ICPD is competitive! 
  
  
• Students who are graduating/have graduated under a different major or Nutrition degree option from UT are still able to pursue becoming an RDN. You could either take remaining DPD coursework after graduation to be eligible for a traditional dietetic internship program, or there are certain types of Master's programs with less prerequisites that include a Master's and dietetic internship (the options are currently very limited in Texas for this program type referred to as "future education model graduate programs"). Reach out to the Human Ecology Advising Center and DPD Director to determine the best plan for you based on your remaining time at UT.

Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD) Overview - Application Required

• The ICPD Program is by application only and includes all components necessary to sit for the dietitian exam after 5 years: BS Nutrition + supervised practice/dietetic internship + Master of Science (MS) in Nutritional Sciences. Students are eligible to take RDN exam upon completion of this program. 
  
  
• With the addition of the MS degree, this adds one additional year to the program. It is now 5 years total if applying Junior year, or 6 years total if applying Senior year.
  • Please note that the upcoming Master's requirement to become an RDN allows for the Master's degree to be in any subject! The ICPD program at UT is specifically combined with an MS in Nutritional Sciences, so you need to be interested in taking more nutritional sciences coursework for this to be a good fit for you! There are many program options out there, so be sure to research options. For example, some dietetic internship programs are paired with a Master of Public Health (MPH), or a Master's in nutrition that is more focused on community education. Although NTR 162 Standards, Ethics, and Credentialing for Dietetic Practice is a required course for the DPD program only, it is extremely beneficial to still take this before applying to ICPD as it guides you to learn more about program options (it also helps with preparing for the ICPD application too)!
  • Graduation with both BS & MS degrees occurs at the very end of the ICPD program.  
    
    
• Application timeline:
  • Students start on the BS Nutrition: Option 1 Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) noted above and must then be admitted into ICPD through a competitive application process. The application deadline occurs each year in early September.
  • Students may apply at the beginning of fall of Junior year at the earliest (for 5 yrs program total), or fall of Senior year at the latest (6 yrs program total). See the ICPD program website for more details about the prerequisite requirements and timeline. The sample plan on the Degree Plans page of the advising website also shows what courses you should aim to complete by time of application. See your academic advisor to discuss degree planning and the ICPD application timeline.
    
    
• Note about coursework:
  • Coursework taken freshman and sophomore year is similar on the DPD or ICPD plans. After the ICPD application cycle, the coursework can vary slightly for remaining requirements. Students are encouraged to check their Interactive Degree Audit frequently and visit with their academic advisor every semester for course planning.
  • The MS Nutritional Sciences graduate coursework will fulfill the following undergraduate requirements: SDS 324E Regression Analysis, NTR 342 Advanced Nutritional Sciences, and NTR 343 Vitamins & Minerals.
    • Therefore, students interested in applying to ICPD could delay these courses until finding out about admission to ICPD. It can still be beneficial to take some of these to prepare for the Master's level coursework if you have space, and this could be discussed with your advisor and the ICPD Director.
  • It is required to take NTR 371 Medical Nutrition Therapy II during the fall semester that you are submtting your application (ex. fall Junior) to be on track with the coureswork layout. It is allowed to take NTR 371 Medical Nutrition Therapy II (fall-only course) before NTR 370 Medical Nutrition Therapy I (spring-only course).
  • NTR 162 Standards, Ethics, and Credentialing for Dietetic Practice is required for the DPD option only, however students learn about the process and program options available for becoming an RDN. It is still strongly recommended to take during sophomore year even for those interested in applying to ICPD.
    
    
• Alternatively, students would remain on the DPD degree option and may apply for
  dietetic internship & Master's programs to complete after graduation if they wish to pursue becoming an RDN. This will probably be about a 2-year program to complete these remaining steps before eligible to take RDN exam.  
  
  
• Students who have already graduated with a BSA or BS in Nutrition from UT Austin are not eligible to apply to the ICPD. However, there are different routes to becoming an RDN that you can still pursue. Options can be discussed with your advisor and DPD Director.  
  
  

Dietetics Program Directors 

• Diane Papillion, MPH, RD (DPD Director): Diane Papillion is the new DPD Director starting in spring 2023.
  • All students listed under the DPD degree option will be added to a DPD Canvas resource page that includes helpful information about the degree option and process of becoming an RDN. The Canvas page will also be used to share opportunities for current students like part-time job, internship, volunteering.
  • Professor Papillion teaches NTR 162 which covers the process and program options for becoming an RDN including UT's ICPD program (recommended to take sophomore year or as soon as possible).

• Monica Milonovich, MS, RDN, LD (ICPD Director): For questions related to the ICPD program specifically, you are also welcome to reach out to Ms. Milonovich.  
  
  

Dietetics Email Listserv

The Dietetics email list is now geared towards full-time opportunities more appropriate to seniors and alumni. See instructions below or contact Diane Papillion directly to request access.

Opportunities for current students will now be posted through the DPD Canvas page (part-time job, internship, volunteering for building your experience):

• Go to UT Lists
• Log in with email and UT EID password
• Search for "dietetics" in the search bar
• Subscribe

ICPD Announcements 

Fall 2022 Applicaton Cycle: The Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD) application deadline has now passed. The next cycle will open during summer 2023. 

ICPD Advising Updates - Fall 2022

• SDS 324E & ICPD Master's Stats Update: The undergraduate "SDS 324E" class requirement can be fulfilled by a Master's degree statistics course for any student accepted to ICPD in the fall 2022 application cycle and later.  
  • 20-22 and prior catalogs: This is referring to the "SDS 332/324E or calculus" requirement
  • 22-24 catalog (relevant for new incoming freshmen only): This is referring to the "SDS 324E" requirement, which is the second stats required after taking SDS 302F.  Freshmen would typically not apply to ICPD until fall Junior year, but this is something to keep in mind when planning out classes!

• Note about the new 22-24 catalog/degree plan: this is only relevant for incoming freshmen in fall 2022.  The 22-24 catalog for all BS Nutrition degrees now includes "BIO 311D" and "NTR 337".  This is only required for the new incoming freshmen or transfer students on the 22-24 catalog.
  • If you're on the 20-22 or prior catalog, you will not need to take these specific requirements since they are not part of your original degree plan.  If you have any concerns or questions, stay in touch with your academic advisor!

Extracurricular Resources

UTexas Nutrition: 

• SoHE-sponsored student organization. GroupMe link
• Guest speakers, volunteering, leadership roles

UHS Nutrition Services (meet with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at UT!):

• For your own personal health, concerns about food/body image, or general dietary advice, our Registered Dietitians are great to meet with: https://www.healthyhorns.utexas.edu/dietitian.html 

Dietitians of Central Texas (DCTX): 

• Local dietitian professional organization meetings. Student membership rate available. https://dietitiansofcentraltexas.org/ 

Diversify Dietetics: 

• National organization for mentoring & scholarship opportunities. Aim is to provide a community dedicated to increasing diversity in the field of dietetics. https://www.diversifydietetics.org/ 

CNS Career Services: NTR Career Guides

• Industry map, alumni data, etc: https://careerservices.cns.utexas.edu/explore-careers/career-guides-major/nutritional-sciences 

Dietetics Degree Requirement Updates for NTR 355M & ACc 310F:

A few important updates were shared via email with all Nutrition students on 4/7/21.  This relates to any student pursuing a Dietetics degree, or for HANS students completing Dietetics requirements:

fall & spring only Courses

Some NTR courses are taught in the fall semester only or spring semester only.  NTR courses not listed below are typically offered every fall and spring. 

Fall SEmester Only

• NTR 316 Culture & Food - cancelled for fall 2023, planned to be offered spring 2024
  
  
• NTR 321 International Nutrition: Developing World*
  
  
• NTR 365 topics vary each semester
  • NTR 365 Sports Nutrition: typically fall-only
  • NTR 365 Topic 5: Principles & Applications in Community Engagement starts in a fall semester only and is a two-semester sequence (NTR 365.5 & NTR 365L). Details on NTR 365 Topics tab above.
    
    
• NTR 371 Medical Nutrition Therapy II 
  • Could be taken before NTR 370 if you are in your senior year and need to take NTR 371 first to graduate on time.
    
    

Spring semester Only

• NTR 331 International Nutrition: Social & Environmental Policies*
  
  
• NTR 365 topics vary each semester
  • NTR 365 Nutrition & Genes is typically spring-only
  • NTR 365 Obesity & Metabolic Health is typically spring-only and may not be offered every year.
    
    
• NTR 370 Medical Nutrition Therapy I 
  • Could be taken after NTR 371 if you are in your senior year and must take NTR 371 first in order to graduate on time. 
    
    
• NTR 365L Experiential Learning in Community Engagement: Part 2 of required fall & spring sequence (NTR 365.5 & NTR 365L)

*NTR 321 and NTR 331 are different topics of International Nutrition, and they count as separate courses.  They would each count as 3 hours of upper-division NTR credit.

NTR with Flags

The following flag requirements must be fulfilled before graduation. Please see the Center for the Skills & Experience Flags website for more details about each flag.

Specific courses required for your degree may already fulfill some of these flag requirements, however you will need to select courses that contain any remaining flags needed by the time you graduate. Flags can be fulfilled by courses taken for other degree requirements.

The following NTR courses contain flags as of fall 2021 (subject to change).  Please check the Course Schedule each semester to confirm available flags that semester and to check pre-requisites. 

WRITING FLAG (Wr)

• NTR 338W Issues in Nutrition and Health: Required for all BS Nutrition degrees. Optional for BSA Nutrition degree (required for 22-24 catalog).  Also carries Independent Inquiry (II) flag and can fulfill both flags.
  
  

ETHICS FLAG  (E)

• NTR 331 International Nutrition: Social/Environmental Policies: Taught spring semester only. Cancelled for spring 2023.

INDEPENDENT INQUIRY FLAG (II)

• NTR 327L (previously NTR 324 & 124L) Advanced Food Science Laboratory: now offered fall and spring, no longer carries Writing flag beginning fall 2023 
  
  
• NTR 355 Undergraduate Research: Must receive permission from supervising faculty member to enroll. 
  
  
• NTR 338W Issues in Nutrition and Health: Required for all BS Nutrition degrees. Optional for BSA Nutrition degree, however must meet prerequisites stated in the Course Schedule. 
  
  
• NTR 379H Honors Tutorial Course: Required for/restricted to BS Honors in Advanced Nutritional Sciences or students pursuing Special Departmental Honors.

Your specific degree option determines what classes you are able to choose from for your NTR Research requirement (for BS degrees).  See your Degree Audit for more details about your course options, because there may be both NTR classes plus also other science class options.  Also, speak with your advisor for clarification about possible additional options not listed on your degree audit.

For BSA students, all of these can count for upper-division NTR hours.

NTR options (see your degree audit for approved Classes):

• NTR 327L Advanced Food Science Laboratory (previously NTR 324 & 124L through spring 2023)
  • No pre-approval required; available fall & spring
  • Research option depending on catalog and degree option
  • The NTR 337 prereq listed in the course schedule is NOT enforced. No waiver required to register, but the NTR 307, 107L, 326 prereqs must be met by the start of the semester to stay in the class.
  • For 22-24 BS Nutrition: Didactic Program in Dietetics (Option 1): 6 hrs of NTR Research are required selected from two options:
    • (A) NTR 327L plus one more class from a list of options (see degree audit)
    • or (B) NTR 365 Topic 5 & NTR 365L Community Engagement gardening class sequence
      
      
• NTR 366L Research Methods in Nutritional Sciences
  • No pre-approval required; available fall & spring
  • For the 20-22 & 22-24 BS Option II Nutritional Sciences catalog: NTR 366L plus an additional 3 hrs NTR research is required (see degree audit for options)
    
    
• NTR 355 Undergraduate Research
  • Email approval required from supervising professor to gain registration access for this course - see registratoin details in section below.
  • Look up NTR Faculty Research Areas. Initiate contact via email to ask if they have any opportunities for you to help in their lab for NTR 355 credit. Become familiar with their research before reaching out by reading their profile on the NTR Department website, and consider being available to volunteer a bit before doing it for credit. Sometimes you have to get trained and they may not have availability for just a one-semester committment. 
    
    
• NTR 352 Field Experience in Nutrition
  • See audit to confirm if this is an avialable option for your degree plan. Counts as 3 hrs upper-division NTR for BSA.
  • This course has online assignments throughout the semester while you are volunteering a certain # of hours per week in the community or assisting a faculty member with a project. You must find a NTR professor to agree to supervise for this credit. When emailing them, provide them with some idea of what your volunteering would entail. 
  • Email approval required from supervising professor to gain registration access for this course - see registratoin details in section below.
    
    
• NTR 365L Experiential Learning in Community Engagement (spring semesters only; second part of two-semester sequence).  This course involves learning how to build a community garden, and implementing a garden and nutrition lessons at a local elementary school. 
  • See the NTR 365 Topics tab above for more details about this sequence.
  • Note that during the 2023-2024 school year, this course will resume to a required two-semester sequence: Both NTR 365 Topic 5 (fall) and NTR 365L (spring) are required.
  • Promo video: https://prezi.com/v/view/OFarMCdzQacPaLhug9Lu/
  • How will this count towards my degree?
    • For the 20-22 or earlier catalogs:
      • BS Nutrition (anyoption except HANS): NTR 365 topic credit and 3 hrs Nutrition Research. This will count even though this particular topic/course numbers are not listed on the degree audits.
      • BSA Nutrition: 6 hrs upper division NTR
      • For HANS: 6 hrs additional nutrition or upper-division elective 

    • For the 22-24 catalog:
      • BS Nutrition, Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) option: 6 hrs Nutrition Research
      • BSA: 6 hrs additional NTR 

    
    For BS Nutrition degrees, check your Interactive Degree Audit to confirm other options for your Research requirement.

    
    For any degree plan, this can also count as 6 hrs general electives.

NTR 355 Research & NTR 352 Field Experience Registration Process

These classes are "reserved" (restricted) courses and require confirmation from the supervising professor to grant registration access:

Registration Process: 

A confirmation email from the supervising faculty member must be sent to the Human Ecology Advising Center at headvising@austin.utexas.edu to gain registration access (either by the supervisor or forwarded from the student).  The course will remain 'reserved' (basically restricted) until you receive confirmation with a specific supervising professor. The email confirmation must include:

• Subject Line: Course # - Name & EID - Supervising Professor's Name
• Direct or forwarded email from supervising professor
• Semester indicated somewhere in the email (ex. spring 2022)

Once the confirmation email is received, you will be given access to register for the course. It is ideal that we receive this before the 4th class day of the semester that you want to take it, if you hope to enroll in the course.  So, it's okay to add this later during "add/drop" time frames if you don't get confirmation by the time you initially register.  As needed, you could add a filler class for hours while you are still waiting to figure this out.