Curriculum

What you’ll learn

The 90-credit-hour Post-professional Doctorate in Nutrition and Dietetics (PPDND) provides a path for registered dietitians to advance their academic training in the field of nutrition and dietetics through a combination of traditional classroom and online courses with the flexibility to be a full- or part-time student.

Up to 30 credit hours of graduate coursework taken within the previous five years before matriculation may be applied to the post-professional degree. Potential transfer credits will be reviewed on an individual basis by the program's graduate admission committee. 

PPDND Curriculum Year One

Semester 1 (Fall) | 15 credit hours

  • BIOL 55600 Physiology I (3 credits)
  • BIOC-B 500 Introductory Biochemistry (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 508 Managing Health Care Accounting Information for Decision Making (3 credits) 
  • PBHL-B 561 Introduction to Biostatistics I (3 credits)
  • Elective (3 credits)

Semester 2 (Spring) | 15 credit hours

  • BIOL 55700 Physiology II (3 credits)
  • NTRD-N 652 Meal Planning for Culturally Diverse Populations (3 credits)
  • NTRD-N 663 Evidence Based Practice in Nutrition and Dietetics (3 credits)
  • NTRD-N 670 Nutrition in Pregnancy and Lactation (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 509 Health Services Financial Management (3 credits) 

Semester 3 (Summer) | 6 credit hours

  • NTRD-N 640 U.S. Public Health Nutrition (3 credits)
  • NTRD-N 650 Food Science (3 credits)

PPDND Curriculum Year Two

Semester 4 (Fall) | 15 credit hours

  • MPAS-M 818 Principles of Medical Pharmacology for Physician Assistants (3 credits)
  • NTRD-N 674 Pediatric Nutrition (3 credits)
  • NTRD-N 751 Human Metabolic Nutrition I (3 credits)
  • NTRD-N 755 Management of Food & Nutrition Systems (3 credits)
  • NTRD-N 760 Personalized Adult Medical Nutrition Therapy I (3 credits)

Semester 5 (Spring) | 15 credit hours

  • NTRD-N 750 Vitamins and Minerals (3 credits)
  • NTRD-N 752 Human Metabolic Nutrition II (3 credits)
  • NTRD-N 762 Personalized Adult Medical Nutrition Therapy II (3 credits)
  • NTRD-N 765 Advanced Pediatric Nutrition (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 507 Management of Individual and Group Behavior (3 credits)

Semester 6 (Summer) | 6 credit hours

  • NTRD-N 740 Nutrition Counseling Techniques (3 credits)
  • NTRD-N 753 Nutrition & The Microbiome (3 credits)

PPDND Curriculum Year Three

Semester 7 (Fall) | 9 credit hours

  • NTRD-N 850 Process Improvement Proposal (3 credits)
  • Electives (6 credits)

Semester 8 (Spring) | 9 credit hours

  • NTRD-N 855 Process Improvement Project (3 credits)
  • Electives (6 credits)

Semester 9 (Summer) | 0 credit hours *(continuation)

  • NTRD-N 855 continues

Potential Electives

One of the unique features of our post-professional doctorate is the ability to customize your curriculum to meet your educational and career goals. By utilizing a wide range of interdisciplinary electives, you and your mentor will create the best plan of study for you.