Dietetics Info:

Contents:

-Overview: Didactic Program in Dietetics & Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics
-ICPD Announcements
-Dietetics Faculty Contact Info
-Dietetics Email Listserv
-Requirement Updates (effective spring 2021): NTR 355M replaced w/ MAN 320F; ACC 310F waivers

Dietetics Degree Options overview (DPD & ICPD)

 
See the Degree Plans page for sample degree plans for: BS Nutrition (Dietetics): Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and the Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD).

Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Overview:

• See the Dietetics page of the Human Ecology website for more information.
• The DPD degree option includes all required courses to be eligible to apply for a supervised practice/dietetic internship program (often 9-12 months) & Master's program - the supervised practice & Master's would be completed after graduating from UT, or students may apply to UT's Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD) to complete these requirements.  See ICPD details below.
• The DPD degree option does not require an application process to declare (just let your advisor know that you want to do this option).  However, the supervised practice/dietetic internship & Master's programs require a competitive application process.  Students may apply for these programs as they approach their final semester or later.  This occurs via a matching application system, and information about the process is covered in a required class taught by the DPD Director (NTR 162).
• Students interested in Dietetics are encouraged to:
  • Visit with their academic advisor each semester
  • Email Dr. Sara Sweitzer (DPD Director) to make an appointment to learn more about this path, including ways to prepare to be a competitive applicant for supervised practice programs. 
  • Join the Dietetics email list: Dr. Sara Sweitzer also manages an email list where she sends out work/volunteer opportunities.  Join by going to UT Lists, log in with email and UT EID password, search for "dietetics" in the search bar, and subscribe.  Or, email Dr. Sweitzer to request to be added.
• It is very important to begin gaining experience via volunteering, shadowing, part-time jobs in nutrition-related areas. The application process for dietetic internships or the ICPD program is competitive! 
• Students who are graduating/have graduated under a different Nutrition degree option from UT are still able to pursue becoming an RDN by taking remaining dietetics courses after graduation or applying to certain types of Master's programs - talk with your advisor and also Dr. Sara Sweitzer to determine the best plan for you based on your remaining time at UT.

UT also offers an Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD) by application.  This is a unique program option for completing the supervised practice/dietetic internship & Master's degree through UT Austin in an accelerated 5-year timeline!  This would be one option for completing those additional components to become an RDN.  The coursework is very similar to DPD with the exception of a few courses unique to DPD only (NTR 162, NTR 337 or 365 topic, and 3 hrs NTR research).  See more details on the ICPD program website here, and see the sample degree plan below to view the program timeline and course layout.

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

• The ICPD Program is by application only and includes all componenets necessary to sit for the dietitian exam after 5 years: BS Nutrition (Dietetics) + supervised practice/dietetic internship + Master of Science (MS) in Nutritional Sciences from UT Austin.  Students are eligible to take RDN exam upon completion of this program. 
  
  
• With the addition of the MS degree, this now adds one additional year to the program (5 yrs program total if applying Junior year, or 6 hrs program 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 other program options out there that are with different subjects, so be sure to research options.  Taking NTR 162 can help with that!
  • The MS Nutritional Sciences graduate coursework will cover the undergraduate SDS 324E, NTR 342 Advanced Nutritional Sciences and NTR 343 Vitamins & Minerals requirements.  Therefore, students interested in applying to ICPD are encouraged to delay these courses until finding out about admission to ICPD.  
  • Graduation with both BS & MS degrees occurs at the very end of the ICPD program.  
    
    
• Application Timeline:
  • Students interested in this program will start on the Option 1 Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) plan noted above and must be admitted into ICPD via a competitive application process.  The application cycle occurs in early September each year.
  • Students may apply at the beginning of fall of Junior year at the earliest (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 link above also shows what courses should be completed by time of application.  See your academic advisor to discuss any concerns about mapping out your clsses and determine the best time to apply.
    
    
• Note about coursework:
  • Coursework taken freshman and sophomore year is similar on the DPD or ICPD plans.  After the ICPD application cycle, the coursework timeline for ICPD can slightly vary for remaining requirements. Students are encouraged to visit every semester with their academic advisor for course planning.
  • If applying to ICPD, it is advised to delay taking SDS 324E, NTR 342 and NTR 343 until after you find out about your plans (since these are covered by Master's courses).  If applying in fall of Junior year, it is advised to take NTR 371 Medical Nutrition Therapy II during the fall of Junior year to be on track with coursework timeline. 
  • NTR 162 is a required course for the DPD option only, however students learn about the process and program options available for becoming an RDN.  Although this course is only required for DPD, it is still strongly recommended to take during sophomore year (or as soon as possible) even for those interested in applying to ICPD.  The assignments also help to prepare for the ICPD application. 
    
    
• Alternatively, students would remain on the DPD degree plan noted in the section above & may apply for
  supervised practice programs & Master's programs to complete after graduation if they wish to pursue becoming an RDN.  It is not required to apply for ICPD; you may also just plan to graduate with the DPD degree and complete the remaining process to become an RDN after graduation from UT.  It is also okay to gain some work experience and then apply to programs.  
  
  
• Students who have already graduated with a BSA or BS in Nutrition from UT Austin are not eligible to apply to the ICPD.  Options can be discussed with your advisor, and we also encourage that you make an appointment with Dr. Sara Sweitzer (DPD Director) to possible routes. 
  
  

ICPD Announcements 

Fall 2022 Applicaton Cycle: The Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD) application deadline has now passed. The next cycle will open next 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.  However, it is also okay to have taken SDS 332/324E already or currently as it will be good preparation for the graduate stats course that will be taken once the program starts!
  • 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.  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 degree plan.  If you have any concerns or questions, stay in touch with your academic advisor!

Important Contacts:

• Dr. Sara Sweitzer (DPD Director): All students interested in learning more about becoming an RDN are encouraged to make an appointment directly with Dr. Sweitzer, along with visiting your academic advisor.  You can reach out to her via email, and also request to join her Dietetics email listserv.  She teaches the NTR 162 course that is recommended to take sophomore year or as soon after as possible, and she is also very familiar with the ICPD program.  
  
  
• Monica Milonovich (ICPD Director): For questions related to the ICPD program specifically, you are also welcome to reach out to Ms. Milonovich.  
  
  

Dietetics Email Listserv

Join the Dietetics email list: Dr. Sara Sweitzer also manages an email list where she sends out work/volunteer opportunities.  Instructions to join:

• Go to UT Lists
• Log in with email and UT EID password
• Search for "dietetics" in the search bar
• Subscribe
  
  Or, email Dr. Sweitzer directly to request to be added!
  
  

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

A few important updates were shared via email with all Nutrition students on Wednesday April 7th, 2021.  This relates to any student pursuing a Dietetics degree, or for HANS students completing Dietetics requirements:

NTR Prereq Updates

Prerequisite Updates (spring 2023)

See Course Schedule for all required prerequisites. Notes below are for any corrections/clarifications for certain classes.  Prereqs listed below will be enforced & checked after registration, even if the system allows you to register without the listed prereqs.

Also see the NTR 365 Topics tab above for more details about the NTR 365 topic courses.

Email headvising@austin.utexas.edu if you have trouble registering for a NTR course that you think you meet prereqs for.  Include the course details & your EID.

NTR 312 Intro Nutritional Sciences: 

• Requires statistics as a prerequisite (SDS 302/302F; or AP or transfer credit for 20-22 and prior catalogs).  
  • If you claimed AP or transferred credit for stats (20-22 and prior catalog only), you will need to email to request a "prerequisite waiver" before you can add NTR 312: headvising@austin.utexas.edu (include name & EID).

NTR 334 Foodservice Systems Management & NTR 234L Lab

• NTR 307 & 107L Intro Food Science, NTR 326, and MAN 320F with C- or better. Concurrent registration in NTR 234L lab (for NTR majors; add lab first before 334).
• Offered fall and spring
• If you had planned to take NTR 334 & 234L in fall 2022 but will not have MAN 320F completed by then, visit with your academic advisor to see if you can shift NTR 334 & 234L to a later semester without any impact to your graduation plan. 

NTR 365 Nutrition & Genes 

• NTR 326 or BIO 325 with C- or better (both recommended)
• Offered spring semesters only
• Counts for:
  • BS degree options: "NTR 365" requirement
  • BSA degree: upper-division NTR hours 
    
    

 NTR 365 Obesity & Metabolic Health (Topic 2): 

• NTR 326 with C- or better  
  • The course schedule lists BIO 365s, however this is not required.
• Typically spring-only but depends on the year
• Counts for:
  • BS degree options: "NTR 365" requirement 
  • BSA degree: upper-division NTR hours 

NTR 365L Experiential Learning in Community Engagement

See promo video here!

• NTR 312 with C- or better, or NTR 306 (if taken before becoming NTR major). Soph, Junior, or Senior.
• Spring-only course. 
• Next year, the course will return to being a required two-semester sequence of NTR 365 Topic 5 & NTR 365L.
• See more details on the "NTR 365 Topics" tab above for how this can count towards NTR degree plans.

Note in fall semesters, NTR 365 Sports Nutrition is also usually available (prereq NTR 326 with C- or better). 

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:
  • NTR 312 Intro Nutritional Sciences
  • NTR 338W Issues in Nutrition & Health

Please note that BIO 325 Genetics now requires a pre or co-requisites of SDS 302F or 320E effective fall 2022, and SDS 301 is not allowed to count (if you already took genetics, disregard).

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

NTR 365 Topic Details (spring 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 in spring only: NTR 365 Obesity & Metabolic Health; NTR 365 Nutrition & Genes
• Typically offered fall only: NTR 365 Sports Nutrition; NTR 365 Topic 5 Principles/Applications in Community Engagement 

If your degree plan requires 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 Nutrition & Genes (Topic 2)  - #53565 

• Correct prerequisite: NTR 326 or BIO 325 with C- or better (both are recommended)
• Spring only
• Counts for:
  • BS degree options: "NTR 365" requirement 
  • BSA degree: upper-division NTR hours 

NTR 365 Obesity & Metabolic Health (Topic 4) - #53570

• Correct prerequisite: NTR 326 with C- or better
• Typically a spring class but varies.
• Counts for:
  • BS degree options: "NTR 365" requirement 
  • BSA degree: upper-division NTR hours 

NTR 365L Experiential learning in COmmunity Engagement - #53575

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.

See promo video by instructor with more info about course & student feedback: https://prezi.com/v/view/wtLMcDq0Ixm0Si33WiFr/

For the 2022-2023 academic year only: The class will be temporarily modified, and NTR 365L will be offered in spring 2023 as a stand-alone spring class.  Note that in the following 2023-2024 academic year, this course will return to a two-semester sequence that starts in the fall semester only.  

• NTR 365 Topic 5: Principles/Applications in Community Engagement (will resume fall 2023) and
• NTR 365L Experiential Learning in Community Engagement (spring)

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
  
  
• NTR 321 International Nutrition: Developing World*
  
  
• NTR 365 topics vary each semester
  • NTR 365 Sports Nutrition is typically fall-only
  • NTR 365 topic 5: Principles & Applications in Community Engagement starts in a fall semester only and is a two-semester seqeunce (NTR 365 & NTR 365L).   Note in fall 2022: this topic will not be offered, however NTR 365L will be offered in spring 2023 as a stand-alone class.  See details on the NTR 365 Topics tab above.  The two-semester sequence will resume for the 2023-2024 school year.
    
    
• 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 in order 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 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 324 & 124L Advanced Food Science
  • Beginning fall 2023, this class is no longer going to have the Writing flag but will still have the Independent Inquiry flag.
    
    
• NTR 338W Issues in Nutrition and Health - Required for all BS Nutrition degrees. Optional for BSA Nutrition degree. 
  
  

ETHICS FLAG  (E)

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

INDEPENDENT INQUIRY FLAG (II)

• NTR 324 & 124L - Advanced Food Science
  
  
• 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 NTR classes can count for upper-division NTR hours.

NTR options (see your degree audit for approved Classes for B.S. degrees):

• NTR 324 & 124L Advanced Food Science with Lab
  • No pre-approval required; available fall & spring
  • Research option for Option 1 Didactic Program in Dietetics & Option 3 Nutrition/Public Health degree plans only (although please note that it requires NTR 307 & 107L as a strictly enforced prereq).
    
    
• 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
  • Approval required from supervising professor - see registration 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, 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 you.
  • This course has online assignments throughout the semester while you are volunteering a certain # of hours per week in the community.  You must find a NTR professor to agree to supervise for this credit, and provide some idea of what your volunteering would entail. 
  • Approval required from supervising professor to register - see registratoin details in section below.
    
    
• NTR 365L Principles & Applications in Community Engagement (spring semesters only).  This course involves learning how to build a community garden, and implementing a garden and nutrition lessons at a local elementary school. 
  • Note that during the 2022-2023 school year: the fall NTR 365 portion will not be offered, but students can still do NTR 365L in spring 2023 as a stand-alone class.  Next school year, it will resume to a two-semester sequence.
  • See the NTR 365 Topics tab above for more details & a promo video by the instructor!
  • How will this count? 
    • 20-22 and prior catalogs: 3 hours of NTR Research credit (BS degrees) or upper-division NTR hrs for BSA
    • 22-24 catalog (new freshman this yr): can count towards BS Didactic Program in Dietetics research requriement, or additional NTR hrs for BSA

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.