Program Mission

DPD Mission, Goals & Objectives

The mission of the Didactic Program in Dietetics at The University of Texas at Austin is to provide excellent academic preparation of students from all backgrounds and perspectives for admission to dietetic internships and/or graduate school through integration of science-oriented education and professional preparation for dietetics practice. This program seeks to develop in students an awareness of economic, social, cultural and psychological influences on behavior necessary for promotion and maintenance of nutritional well-being among individuals and groups in the community.  Guidance in critical thinking and evidence-based analysis of current research are combined with scientific and managerial principles to promote skills needed to create and evaluate sound nutritional care.

Program Goal 1: Program graduates will demonstrate the core knoweldge, critical thinking skills, and technical expertise needed for acceptance into ACEND-accreditited supervised practice programs and /or graduate study.

Objectives:

  1. At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 3 years (150% of the planned program length).
  2. At least 60% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
  3. Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 60% are admitted within 12 months of graduation.
  4. At least 90% of program graduates who apply to a graduate program, either alone or combined with a supervised practice program, upon graduation will be accepted for admission.

Program Goal 2: Program graduates will perform competently in a supevised practice program and successfully complete the CDR credentialing exam to become an entry-level registered dietitian.

Objectives:

  1. At least 90% of program graduates enrolled in a supervised practice program will rate their preparation "good" or better using a 5-point scale, where "3" is "good", in five of seven areas.
  2. At least 90% of supervised practice directors responding to a survey will rate program graduates' preparation for supervised practice as "good" or better using a 5-point scale, where "3" is "good".
  3. The program's one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one yera of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
  4. Mean scaled score of graduates sitting for the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists will be above the national mean for the total exam, and both the nutrition and foodservice managment sections. organizations.

Annual program outcome data is available upon request.