The DPD curriculum provides the foundational knowledge and skills to prepare students for successful entry into a supervised practice program (dietetic internship) and/or in support of employment in a health-related field. The DPD will provide courses and educational experiences in the basic sciences of biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, and microbiology, and also nutrition sciences - including introductory nutrition, food science, advanced human nutrition, community nutrition, foodservice systems management, and nutrition in the prevention and management of diseases, as part of Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) and the Nutrition Care Process - as well as statistics and the social sciences, such as sociology, behavioral change, and educational psychology.
Sample Plan of Study
The DPD program curriculum plan is suggested for students based on a student’s successful application to the DPD program, with “Semester 1” reflecting the first semester the student begins work on completing DPD requirements rather than academic year; “Semester 1” may be the Fall semester of a student’s junior academic year. Individual student’s DPD curriculum plans - when DPD courses are taken according to semester - may vary based on when a student enters the DPD program, after application, and the student’s overall academic and major program(s) requirements.
The following shows DPD courses and credit hours:
Semester 1
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
NTRN 201 - Nutrition or NTRN 401 - Nutrition for Community and Health Care Professionals | 3 |
BIOL 216 - Development and Physiology OR BIOL 340/346 - Human Physiology/Human Anatomy | 3 |
| SOCI 101 - Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
ANTH 215 - Health, Culture, and Disease: An Introduction to Medical Anthropology or SOCI 311 - Health, Illness, Social Behavior | 3 |
| Semester total: | 12 |
Semester 2
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| NTRN 337/437 - Nutrition Communication, Counseling, and Behavior Change Strategies | 3 |
| NTRN 343 - Dietary Patterns | 3 |
| NTRN 351/451 - Food Service Systems Management | 3 |
| CHEM 223 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| BIOL 343 - Microbiology | 3 |
| Semester total: | 15 |
Semester 3
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| NTRN 342 - Food Science | 3 |
| NTRN 342L - Food Science Lab | 2 |
NTRN 363 - Human Nutrition I: Energy, Protein, Minerals or NTRN 433 - Advanced Human Nutrition I | 3 |
| BIOC 307 - Introduction to Biochemistry: From Molecules To Medical Science | 4 |
| STAT 201 - Basic Statistics for Social and Life Sciences (or equivalent*) | 3 |
| Semester total: | 15 |
Semester 4
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
NTRN 364 - Human Nutrition II: Vitamins or NTRN 434 - Advanced Human Nutrition II | 3 |
| NTRN 365 - Nutrition for the Prevention and Management of Disease: Pathophysiology (MNT) | 4 |
NTRN 350 - Community Nutrition or NTRN 538 - Public Health Nutrition | 3 |
| UGER Experience (Writing) Portfolio | |
| Semester total: | 10 |
*Equivalent courses for STAT 201 are STAT 312 or 313, PQHS 431, ANTH 319, PSCL 282, or SOCI 307
Note: Nutrition electives and Nutrition Department major requirements and other courses are also included in a student’s overall academic plan of study.