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 100 | Kinesiology and Nutrition: First Year Seminar | 2 hours |
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 hours |
| BIOS 110 | Biology of Cells and Organisms | 4 hours |
| CHEM 122 | General Chemistry I Lecture | 4 hours |
| CHEM 123 | General Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 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!
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.
- Program Data is available upon request! Please contact Kirsten Straughan (kstrau1@uic.edu) for more information.
Courses
| CHEM 232 | Organic Chemistry | 4 hours |
| KN 251 | Human Physiological Anatomy I | 5 hours |
| HN 196 | Nutrition I | 3 hours |
| PSCH 100 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 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!
Courses
Electives
3 hours
| HN 201or HN 302 | Essentials of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health Assessment or Nutritional Assessment | 3 hours |
| HN 202 | Culture and Food | 2 hours |
| HN 308 | Nutrition Science I | 3 hours |
| HN 318 | Genetic, Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Chronic Diseases | 3 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!
Courses
| HN 300 | Science of Foods | 3 hours |
| HN 311 | Nutrition During the Life Cycle | 3 hours |
| HN 320 | Clinical Nutrition I | 3 hours |
| Electives | 5 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!