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Curriculum
The Dietitian Nutritionist Program is a competency-based educational program that integrates experiential learning with didactic coursework. This enables students to demonstrate and develop a higher level of competence that will be needed for future practice as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
Students entering as a junior in the Accelerated MS entry point or with a baccalaureate degree that is not from a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), will complete 93-95 credits during this three-year program.
DPD graduates will complete the second and third years of the program fulfilling a 60-credit course of study.
Curriculum themes cover a variety of topics including:
- Medical nutrition therapy
- Community nutrition
- Food service management
- Evidence-based professionalism and nutrition research
Distance Education
Participating in the program involves a blend of in-person, hybrid and online coursework (through Canvas), however, it cannot be completed entirely online.
The program uses less than 50% distance education in the program. Pitt utilizes an online social annotation platform to increase student engagement and foster community. This facilitates students’ collaborative work outside the classroom and affords the instructor more opportunities to engage the students. Instructors also utilize software applications that allow students to schedule virtual office hours at convenient times.
Plans of Study
Plans of study may vary due to limited capacity in specialty rotations.
Each course is offered only once during the academic year, therefore, any departure from completing a course in its planned sequence (for example: failure, for any reason, to satisfactorily complete a required course; an unresolved “G” or “Incomplete” grade) will result in a one-year delay in completing the course, the remaining program requirements and the year of graduation.
Year 1
Fall Term
- Introduction to Research
- Nutrient Metabolism
- Introduction to Dietetics
- If not taken previously
- Nutrition Assessment
- Life Cycle Nutrition
- Human Physiology
Spring Term
- Food Service Management with Lab
- Principles of Nutrition Education
- Nutrition Critical Thinking OR Food and Culture (if not taken previously)
- Food Application Lab
- Nutrition Therapy
Students must maintain a 3.0 minimum GPA to matriculate from Year 1 to Year 2 of the program.
Year 2
Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) graduates will enter the Dietitian Nutritionist Program here.
Fall Term
- Pathophysiology Across the Life Span
- Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy 1
- Nutrition Focused Physical Examination with Lab
- Evidence-based Professionalism in Dietetics
- Elective, 3 credits – Must be advisor approved
Spring Term
- Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy 2
- Counseling Methods
- Introduction to Functional Nutrition with Lab
- Research Methodology and Applied Statistics
- Elective, 3 credits – Must be advisor approved
Students must maintain a 3.0 minimum GPA to continue to Year 3 of the program.
Accelerated MS students will receive a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science after successful completion of Year 2.
Year 3
Fall Term
- Capstone Project
- Practicum in Dietetics 1
- Experiential Practice 1*
Spring Term
- Capstone Project
- Experiential Practice 2
- Practicum in Dietetics 2
- Experiential Practice 3
All successful students will receive a Master of Science degree at the completion of Year 3.
*As a professional program, the schedule for each of the Supervised Experiential Learning (SEL) courses does not adhere to the University Academic Calendar. The SEL courses are scheduled in the fall and spring terms of the program.
