Nutrition Sciences
Major: Nutrition Sciences
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Total Credit Hours: 90.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 30.1901
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 11-9121
About the Program
The program mission is to develop scientists who are able to contribute to the scholarly generation of nutrition science knowledge, spanning the overlapping disciplines of human nutrition, nutritional biochemistry, food safety, human physiology, exercise physiology, and community nutrition; and the translation of this knowledge with respect to health, disease prevention, and treatment.
Nutrition scientists who have a PhD can be involved in research, education, industry, community health, and/or clinical practice. With the current epidemic of obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus, the need for PhD-educated nutritionists who can discover and design new treatment interventions is of major public health interest.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must possess a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, chemistry, nutrition, exercise physiology, food science, or a similar area with a strong science base, and have taken an advanced undergraduate course in biochemistry, as well as a course in human nutrition and a course in basic statistics.
- College/University transcripts with a minimal overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE): minimum combined score of 308 on the Verbal and Math sections
- Two letters of recommendation from advisors, supervisors, professors, and/or mentors
- Curriculum vitae
- Personal statement outlining career plan, topic of research interest, and preferred Nutrition Sciences faculty mentor with whom they would like to work
Degree Requirements
The PhD program consists of 90.0 quarter credits. The 90.0 credits include 45.0 credits of course work, 45.0 credits of research, as well as a research dissertation. Additionally, all PhD students will be required to obtain a minimum of 10 contact hours of nutrition-related teaching experience.
Minimum Credits Required for the PhD in Nutrition Sciences
- For students admitted with a bachelor’s degree, a minimum of 90.0 credits is required for the PhD, including all required courses.
- For students admitted with a master’s degree, the minimum number of credits required varies from 75.0 to 90.0.
For students who, as part of their master’s degree, completed courses equivalent to foundation courses in the PhD curriculum, the minimum number of credits may be reduced by up to 15.0 credits. The Graduate Committee of the PhD Program in Nutrition Sciences makes this determination.
| Required Nutrition Courses (18 credits): | ||
| NFS 525 | Nutritional Assessment Through the Life Cycle | 3.0 |
| NFS 601 | Research Methods | 3.0 |
| NFS 602 | Methods of Nutrition Research | 3.0 |
| NFS 680 | Special Topics | 3.0 |
| NFS 810 | Topics in Metabolic Nutrition | 3.0 |
| NFS 811 | Topics in Community Nutrition | 3.0 |
| Required Statistics Courses (9 credits): | ||
| RSCH 759 | Foundations of Biostatistics | 3.0 |
| RSCH 811 | Intermediate Biostatistics | 3.0 |
| RSCH 814 | Intermediate Biostatistics II | 3.0 |
| Required Professional Skills Courses (9 credits): | ||
| RSCH 770 | Foundations in Research Methods | 3.0 |
| RSCH 813 | Measurement Theory in Healthcare | 3.0 |
| RSCH 815 | Scientific Inquiry and Writing | 3.0 |
| Electives: | ||
| 12.0 credits chosen from graduate nutrition, basic science or other courses, as determined by the faculty mentor and/or dissertation committee | 12.0 | |
| Independent Research (30 credits): | 30.0 | |
| Research | ||
| Dissertation Research (12 credits): | 12.0 | |
| Dissertation Research | ||
| Total Credits | 90.0 | |
