What to Expect

Class list for RDN and Nutrition Science Pre-Health professions tracks

Thinking about joining our program? Find out what you can expect as a student at UIC.

Mission of the Didactic in Dietetics Program (DPD)
The DPD mission is to provide students with the skills and knowledge to be confident and competent in their dietetic internship, to communicate and collaborate for human-centered care, and to have the preparation to advance health equity across diverse communities. Graduates of the DPD will be lifelong learners who promote science-based practice to advance the field of nutrition and dietetics.

Goal #1: The UIC DPD will provide academic preparation which supports successful placement into a supervised practice program, as well as subsequent success on passing the Registration Examination for Dietitians.

Goal #2: The UIC DPD will prepare graduates with the nutritional knowledge, communication, and collaboration skills necessary to serve diverse and urban underserved communities.

Goal #3: The UIC DPD will integrate scientific research into the curriculum to advance and disseminate knowledge related to nutrition.

Courses

Understanding the Creative Arts course
3 hours

KN 100Kinesiology and Nutrition: First Year Seminar2 hours
ENGL 160Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts3 hours
BIOS 110Biology of Cells and Organisms4 hours
CHEM 122General Chemistry I Lecture4 hours
CHEM 123General Chemistry Laboratory I1 hour

Opportunities

Volunteer in our award-winning teaching garden!

Follow the UIC teaching garden on Facebook

Follow the UIC teaching garden on Instagram

Join the Student Nutrition Association for volunteering, leadership opportunities, and social events!

Follow SNA on Instagram

Follow SNA on Facebook

Nutrition Science Objectives

  • 30% of alumni who received a dietetic internship participate or work in community nutrition setting in an underserved setting within 2.5 years of graduation.

 

  • 50% of graduates will report participation in food or nutrition related community engagement activities in an underserved area during their time as a DPD student at UIC.

 

  • 90% of students will respond that the program more than adequately prepared them with a strong scientific foundation in the field of nutrition/dietetic.

 

  • All clinical and assessment nutrition courses (HN 302, HN 311, HN 320, HN 420) will include at least two assignments that utilize the Nutrition Care Manual.

 

  • >40% of didactic program alumni will obtain clinical nutrition position within 6 months of completing an accredited internship.

 

  • Annual food and nutrition domain specific scores on the registration exam will exceed the national average.

 

  • At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 5 years (150% of planned program length).

 

  • At least 80% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.

 

  • Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 80% are admitted within 12 months of graduation.

 

  • The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.

 

  • Over 5 years, >80% of dietetic internship directors who respond to our survey will report that the UIC intern was either thoroughly prepared (rating=4) or mostly prepared (rating=3) with an appreciation for the communication skills necessary to work with diverse populations.

Program Data is available upon request. Please contact Kirsten Straughan (kstrau1@uic.edu) for more information.

 

Courses

SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology3 hours

ENGL 161Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research3 hours
CHEM 123General Chemistry II Lecture4 hours
CHEM 125General Chemistry Laboratory II1 hour
MATH 110College Algebra4 hours

Courses

CHEM 232Organic Chemistry4 hours
KN 251Human Physiological Anatomy I5 hours
HN 196Nutrition I3 hours
PSCH 100Introduction to Psychology4 hours

Opportunities

 

Volunteer in our award-winning teaching garden!

Follow the UIC teaching garden on Facebook

Follow the UIC teaching garden on Instagram

Join the Student Nutrition Association for volunteering, leadership opportunities, and social events!

Follow SNA on Instagram

Follow SNA on Facebook

Courses

KN 252Human Physiological Anatomy II5 hours
COMM 100Fundamentals of Human Communication3 hours
CHEM 352Biochemistry3 hours
HN 110Foods3 hours

Courses

Electives
3 hours

HN 201or HN 302Essentials of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health Assessment
or Nutritional Assessment
3 hours
HN 202Culture and Food2 hours
HN 308Nutrition Science I3 hours
HN 318Genetic, Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Chronic Diseases3 hours

Opportunities

 

Participate in research with nutrition faculty to explore topics such as:

  • Intermittent fasting for weight loss, weight maintenance and cardio-protection in obese adults
  • Social, cultural and environmental determinants of dietary behaviors and diet-related diseases in low-income and minority populations
  • Understanding complex diet-disease relationships through the use of epidemiological, clinical, social, behavioral and molecular tools and assessments
  • Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of metabolic liver diseases

Volunteer in sports nutrition experiential learning opportunities with the UIC Flames! Provide nutrition education, cooking classes and grocery store tours to our Division I athletes.

Volunteer in our award-winning teaching garden!

Follow the UIC teaching garden on Facebook

Follow the UIC teaching garden on Instagram

Join the Student Nutrition Association for volunteering, leadership opportunities, and social events!

Follow SNA on Instagram

Follow SNA on Facebook

Courses

HN 309Nutrition Science II3 hours
HN 313Introduction to Community Nutrition2 hours
HN 306Nutrition Education3 hours
Electives3 hours

Courses

HN 300Science of Foods3 hours
HN 311Nutrition During the Life Cycle3 hours
HN 320Clinical Nutrition I3 hours
Electives5 hours

Opportunities

 

Apply to:

Phyllis and Stan Bowen Scholarship provides a financial award to an undergraduate Nutrition Student in the first part of their academic training. Considerations include financial need and an academic track record of excellence.

Kris and Savitri Kamath Scholarship provides financial awards to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in Nutrition upon their graduation. Considerations include a high level of academic performance, demonstrated leadership skills and demonstrated service to the community.

Participate in research with nutrition faculty to explore topics such as:

  • Intermittent fasting for weight loss, weight maintenance and cardio-protection in obese adults
  • Social, cultural and environmental determinants of dietary behaviors and diet-related diseases in low-income and minority populations
  • Understanding complex diet-disease relationships through the use of epidemiological, clinical, social, behavioral and molecular tools and assessments
  • Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of metabolic liver diseases

Volunteer in sports nutrition experiential learning opportunities with the UIC Flames! Provide nutrition education, cooking classes and grocery store tours to our Division I athletes.

Volunteer in our award-winning teaching garden!

Follow the UIC teaching garden on Facebook

Follow the UIC teaching garden on Instagram

Join the Student Nutrition Association for volunteering, leadership opportunities, and social events!

Follow SNA on Instagram

Follow SNA on Facebook

Courses

HN 420Clinical Nutrition II3 hours
HN 423Nutrition Counseling3 hours
HN 440The Research Process3 hours
Electives4 hours