About the Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics Bachelor’s Program
The nutritional sciences and dietetics bachelor’s degree is intended for students who plan to seek a graduate degree and post-graduate dietetic internship and eventually earn professional credentials as a Registered Dietitian / Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. As a registered dietitian, graduates will find opportunities to work within many types of organizations, including hospitals, clinics, community agencies, private consulting, sports nutrition, long-term care, extension services, food service operations, corporate wellness or fitness centers, research areas, pharmaceutical companies, and food and nutrition-related businesses and industries.
The Didactic Program in Dietetics at Texas Tech University is credentialed by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Ste. 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995. More information can be found by visiting https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend or calling 800.877.1600 ext. 5400. The curriculum is designed to achieve the core knowledge and competencies necessary to prepare graduates for an internship program or to pursue careers in the food, wellness and health, nutrition, or food service industries, such as those listed above. This option requires a strong science background supported with courses in chemistry, biochemistry, human anatomy and physiology, and microbiology/food sanitation. Students will study the science of nutrition, nutrition in the life cycle, medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition, food science, and research methods in nutrition.
Acceptance into the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is granted after completing 60 hours and is based on an overall 3.0 GPA, an average of a 3.0 GPA after the first three NS courses, and a minimum of a 2.0 GPA in the first three chemistry courses required on the degree plan, as well as human physiology. A list of the exact courses and criteria for acceptance may be found at https://www.depts.ttu.edu/hs/ns/undergraduate/nutrition_dietetics.php. Once accepted, students are eligible to complete upper-level NS courses. Students who successfully complete the academic program with a C or better in all major and supporting coursework receive a verification statement that qualifies them to apply for a dietetic internship (such as the post-baccalaureate internship offered at Texas Tech University).
Internship. The dietetic internship consists of a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised practice to gain the competencies needed to practice as an entry-level dietitian. Upon completion of the internship, graduates are eligible to take a national examination to obtain the credential of Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Students who graduate with this degree must earn a C or better in all major and supporting coursework. Any variation from this is subject to department approval. Note: Effective January 1, 2024, a graduate degree is required to be eligible to take the Examination for Dietitians administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
Communication Literacy (CL) Requirement. Communication literacy in Nutritional Sciences is evidenced by competence in locating, reading, interpreting, and presenting nutrition information. This is accomplished through critiquing scientific literature as well as mainstream publications and also through both written communication and public speaking to a variety of audiences with varied educational backgrounds. These communication skills are measured in three required courses. Courses in the CL plan are NS 2380 , NS 4330 , and NS 4350 .
