Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics
The Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics offers the initial phase of a professional program known as the Coordinated Program in Dietetics. Didactic and introductory supervised experiences are part of the curriculum and serve as a foundation for the Master of Dietetics Studies. Students must meet all university and program admission requirements to seek the dual Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Master of Dietetics Studies. Successful completion of both degrees certifies the student as eligible to take the national exam to become a Registered Dietitian (RD). Students admitted into the undergraduate program are not guaranteed placement into the Master of Dietetics Studies unless they maintain a 3.0 grade point average and have completed all degree core, support courses and Texas core with a grade of “C-” or above. Students on the B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics track who are not able to complete the Master of Dietetics Studies, may earn the B.S. degree if they meet University graduation requirements; but are not eligible for the verification statement to take the RD exam.
The minimum number of semester credit hours for the B.S. degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, including the Core Curriculum requirements, is 120. Thirty-nine of the total semester credit hours required for the undergraduate degree must be at the upper-division level.
Program Admission Policy
The requirements for admission into the Dietetics and Nutrition degree are intended to offer a program with high standards for success. Some of the requirements are known to be good predictors of achievement in the graduate professional phase of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics. There is restricted placement in the advanced practicum courses which limits the capacity for admission into the Coordinated Program in Dietetics. Typically, admission into the major as part of a cohort group occurs in fall semester of the junior year. In order to declare a major in Dietetics and Nutrition, a student must meet the following criteria:
- Complete all support courses and most of the University Core Curriculum requirements with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) and be in good standing with the University.
- Complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of “C-“ or better. Detailed information about courses, including the Texas Common Course Numbers, may be obtained from the University Catalog. Prerequisite courses may be repeated only once to meet the grade criteria (see the section on Repeating Courses in the UTSA Information Bulletin).
- Complete all support courses (listed under degree requirements, item B) by the end of the summer semester prior to entering the program in the fall semester.
- Submit a program application, two completed reference forms (program specific) preferably by faculty members and a statement indicating personal career goals, knowledge of the profession, commitment, interests, and motivation.
- Attend a personal interview with the program faculty.
- Transfer students must meet all the above criteria and meet all the UTSA undergraduate admission requirements. Official transcripts from all institutions attended must be submitted.
Criminal Record Check
A criminal background check is a requirement during the semesters in which a student enrolls in field-based practicums. Students will be required to submit to a Criminal Record Check for practicums associated with schools, health care facilities, hospitals and clinics. It is the responsibility of the student to determine if his or her criminal history background will present a problem before applying for admission to the program. Students with problematic criminal history will not be able to complete most of the field-experiences that are required by the program.
Core Curriculum Requirements (42 semester credit hours)
Students seeking the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements. The following courses satisfy both degree requirements and Core Curriculum requirements: BIO 1233 or BIO 1404 and CHE 1103 or CHE 1113 will satisfy the Level I and Level II core requirements in Natural Sciences; ANT 1013, PSY 1013 or SOC 1013 will satisfy a core requirement in Social and Behavioral Sciences. MAT 1073 should be used to satisfy the core requirement in Mathematics. COM 2343 Introduction to Mass Communication is recommended to satisfy the core requirement in World Society and Issues.
For a complete listing of courses that satisfy Core Curriculum requirements, see pages 3-5 of this catalog.
Degree Requirements
- Degree Core Requirements (44 semester credit hours):
NDT 3191 Applied Food Science Practicum
NDT 3203 Introduction to Nutrition and Dietetics Careers
NDT 3292 Food Production Practicum
NDT 3313 Applied Food Science
NDT 3323 Nutrition and Health Assessment
NDT 3333 Nutrition Counseling and Education
NDT 3343 Nutrition in the Life Span
NDT 3353 Production and Foodservice System Management I
NDT 3413 Advanced Human Nutrition
NDT 4091 Community Service Practicum
NDT 4191 Nutrition Care Process Practicum
NDT 4313 Production and Foodservice System Management II
NDT 4323 Medical Nutrition Therapy I
NDT 4333 Community Nutrition
NDT 4343 Nutrition in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
NDT 4353 Medical Nutrition Therapy II
NDT 4363 Current Issues in Nutrition
- Support courses (40 semester credit hours):
BIO 1053 Introductory Microbiology
BIO 1061 Introductory Microbiology Laboratory
BIO 2083 Human Anatomy
BIO 2091 Human Anatomy Laboratory
BIO 2103 Human Physiology
BIO 2111 Human Physiology Laboratory
BIO 3513 Biochemistry
CHE 1103 General Chemistry I
CHE 1121 General Chemistry I Laboratory
CHE 1113 General Chemistry II
CHE 1131 General Chemistry II Laboratory
CHE 2603 Organic Chemistry I
CHE 2612 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
MGT 3013 Introduction to Organization Theory, Behavior, and Management
NDT 2043 Introduction to Nutritional Sciences (or BIO 2043 or an equivalent)
STA 1053 Basic Statistics
ANT 1013 Introduction to Anthropology
or
PSY 1013 Introduction to Psychology
or
SOC 1013 Introduction to Sociology
Course Sequence Guide for B.S. Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics
This course sequence guide is designed to assist students in completing their UTSA undergraduate degree requirements that are part of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics. This is merely a guide and students must satisfy other admission requirements for the Coordinated Program in Dietetics; and meet with advisors in the College of Education and Human Development for individualized degree plans. Progress within this guide depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation, student time management, work obligations, and individual financial considerations. Students may choose to take core and support courses during Summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters. Courses in the Nutrition and Dietetics (NDT) Program are only offered once a year according to the guide below.
B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics (Coordinated Program in Dietetics) – Recommended Four-Year Academic Plan
| YEAR 1 | |||
| Fall | Spring | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CHE 1103 General Chemistry I* (core & major) | 3 | BIO 1233 (or BIO 1404) (core & major) | 3 |
| CHE 1121 General Chemistry I Laboratory* | 1 | CHE 1113 General Chemistry II | 3 |
| MAT 1073 Algebra for Scientists & Engineers (core) | 3 | CHE 1131 General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| WRC 1013 Freshman Composition I (core) | 3 | COM 2343 Introduction to Mass Communication (core) | 3 |
| U.S. History & Diversity core | 3 | WRC 1023 Freshman Composition II (core) | 3 |
| Political Science core | 3 | Political Science core | 3 |
| Total semester hours | 16 | Total semester hours | 16 |
| YEAR 2 | |||
| Fall | Spring | ||
| BIO 1053 Introductory Microbiology | 3 | BIO 2103 Human Physiology | 3 |
| BIO 1061 Introductory Microbiology Laboratory | 1 | BIO 2111 Human Physiology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIO 2083 Human Anatomy | 3 | BIO 3513 Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIO 2091 Human Anatomy Laboratory | 1 | ANT 1013, PSY 1013, or SOC 1013 (core & major) | 3 |
| CHE 2603 Organic Chemistry I | 3 | MGT 3013 Introduction to Organization Theory, Behavior, and Management | 3 |
| CHE 2612 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 2 | NDT 2043 Introduction to Nutritional Sciences (or BIO 2043) | 3 |
| U.S. History & Diversity core | 3 | ||
| Total semester hours | 16 | Total semester hours | 16 |
| YEAR 3 | |||
| Fall | Spring | ||
| NDT 3191 Applied Food Science Practicum | 1 | NDT 3292 Food Production Practicum** | 2 |
| NDT 3203 Nutrition and Dietetics Careers | 3 | NDT 3323 Nutrition & Health Assessment | 3 |
| NDT 3313 Applied Food Science | 3 | NDT 3333 Nutrition Counseling & Education | 3 |
| NDT 3413 Advanced Human Nutrition | 3 | NDT 3343 Nutrition in the Life Span | 3 |
| STA 1053 Basic Statistics | 3 | NDT 3353 Production and Foodservice System Management I | 3 |
| Total semester hours | 13 | Total semester hours | 14 |
| YEAR 4 | |||
| Fall | Spring | ||
| NDT 4091 Community Service Practicum** | 1 | NDT 4191 Nutrition Care Process Practicum** | 1 |
| NDT 4313 Production and Foodservice System Management II | 3 | NDT 4343 Nutrition in Disease Prevention & Health Promotion | 3 |
| NDT 4323 Medical Nutrition Therapy I | 3 | NDT 4353 Medical Nutrition Therapy II | 3 |
| NDT 4333 Community Nutrition | 3 | NDT 4363 Current Issues in Nutrition | 3 |
| Economics core | 3 | Literature core | 3 |
| Visual & Performing Arts core | 3 | ||
| Total semester hours | 16 | Total semester hours | 13 |
* Requires a passing grade on Chemistry Placement Examination or successful completion of CHE 1073.
** Practicum courses involve traveling off campus to affiliation sites. Check the University Schedule of Classes or with the instructor to plan the rest of the course schedule accordingly.
Note: NDT courses are only offered once a year; Fall or Spring based on the plan above.
Posted: February 7, 2013