Prerequisite Courses

To meet accreditation requirements and create the high-performance learning environment our students seek, we set the bar high for our applicants.

Here are the steps you’ll need to take to be considered:

• Complete a baccalaureate degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution before courses begin in the fall
• Earn a recommended GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Complete and submit the DICAS online application by February 1
• Submit official, certified copies of academic records from all colleges and universities you’ve attended. Read additional requirements for international students.
• Prepare a personal statement of your career goals
• Submit three letters of recommendation. (We recommend letters from instructors, professors, and work supervisors who know you and your academic or work performance well.)
• Submit your TOEFL scores if you’re an international student

Prerequisite Courses

Below is a list of prerequisite courses you will need before starting our program. We’ve listed Texas Common Course numbers here as a guide.

• Communication
  • English Composition | 6 Credit Hours
    • ENGL 1301, 1302, 1311, 1312, 2311, 2314, 2315 or equivalent (must include composition; technical writing is also recommended)
• Mathematics
  • College Algebra | 3 Credit Hours
  • MATH 1314 or higher
  • Statistics | 3 Credit Hours
  • MATH 1342 or 2342
• Natural Sciences

  All courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher

  • General Chemistry with Laboratory | 4 Credit Hours
  • CHEM 1411, 1412, or 1413
  • Organic Chemistry with Laboratory | 4 Credit Hours
  • CHEM 2423
  • Biochemistry | 3 Credit Hours
  • Must be upper-division course
  • Microbiology | 3 Credit Hours
  • BIOL 2321 or 2421
  • Human Physiology | 4 Credit Hours
  • Must include all body systems
  • BIOL 2401 and 2402 or 2301 and 2302
  • Nutrition | 3 Credit Hours
  • BIOL 1322, NUTR 1322, or HECO 1322
  • Human Nutrition Elective | 3 Credit Hours
  • No Texas Common Course Number Available
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Psychology, Sociology, or Anthropology | 3 Credit Hours
  • PSYC 2301, SOCI 1301, ANTH 1301 or higher
• Management
  • Principles of Management or Introduction to Business | 3 Credit Hours
    • BMGT 1303 or equivalent, or BUSI 1301 or equivalent

Special note about prerequisites: You can complete your prerequisite courses at most community colleges and four-year universities. If you’re unsure about which courses at your school qualify, please contact the Department of Clinical Nutrition at 214-648-1520 or via email. ClinicalNutrition@UTSouthwestern.edu

If you are accepted to the program, you’ll need to provide these items before courses begin:

• Background check prior to enrollment
• Drug screen
• Immunization records to Student Health Services, in compliance with state requirements