For students pursuing careers in dietetics, additional courses in behavioral and clinical nutrition and food systems management provide the academic preparation required for dietetics practice. The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) meets the coursework requirements that qualify graduates to apply to a dietetic internship. This program is available to all students who choose to major in nutrition. The Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CPD) includes both the coursework and the supervised practice necessary to be eligible to take the dietetic registration examination. Students interested in this program must apply for admission. Both the DPD and the CPD are granted accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), 120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago IL 60606, (312) 899-0040.
    Students in dietetics may select either the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) or the Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CPD). Students who complete the DPD with at least four upper-division nutrition courses completed in residence will receive a verification statement that qualifies them to apply for an accredited dietetic internship. Note: Students with a baccalaureate or higher degree from another institution or with a baccalaureate degree in another major may earn a verification statement from UT by completing the appropriate DPD coursework, with at least four upper-division nutrition courses taken in residence. DPD graduates who complete a dietetic internship may become active members of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and are eligible to write the examination to become a registered dietitian.
    Upon completing the CPD, which includes approximately one thousand hours of supervised practice, graduates immediately qualify for active membership in the ADA and to write the examination to become a registered dietitian. Students interested in the CPD apply for admission in the fall semester of their junior year. Students are selected on the basis of academic performance, completion of required prerequisite courses, work or volunteer experience, leadership, and commitment to the profession of dietetics. Applications are available from the Department of Human Ecology and must be filed at the beginning of the fall semester for entry the following spring semester. Students who are admitted to the CPD should consult the faculty adviser each semester regarding order and choice of work. During the fourth year, the following courses must be taken in the indicated term: fall semester: Nutrition 245C; spring semester: Nutrition 772C, 572F, 373S; summer session: Nutrition 274C and 174P. Because these courses are taught only once a year, a student who does not take them at the indicated time may be unable to complete the program.

Option II: Nutritional Sciences

• Business Sequence - Students can earn a Business Foundations Certificate and seek employment in areas such as sales and customer support in the food industry.
• Communication Sequence - Students can develop skills in public speaking and writing for the lay public along with studying of the role culture plays in food behavior.
• Computer Science Sequence - Students can earn an Elements of Computing Certificate and develop skills for future employment opportunities combining technology with nutrition.
• Exercise and Fitness Sequence - Students can learn more about a variety of factors that combine with nutrition to influence health.
• Nutritional Science and Behavior Sequence - Students gain an in-depth scientific knowledge necessary to better understand eating behavior.