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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