Nutritional Sciences (Ph.D.) Program Details

Degree Requirements

    ❱   Required coursework
    ❱   Qualifying or comprehensive examination
    ❱   Graduate School writing proficiency requirement
    ❱   Graduate School Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) requirement
    ❱   Dissertation 
    ❱   Final oral examination/Dissertation defense 

Research Specializations

    ❱   Community nutrition
    ❱   Experimental nutrition

Program Objectives

  • To foster a program of excellence with specialized expertise in the study of human nutritional issues with particular emphasis on the needs of the underserved poor, ethnic minorities, and disadvantaged populations;
  • To prepare competent graduate professionals in human nutrition with the skills and abilities to improve nutritional well-being and the quality of life for individuals and families; and
  • To conduct interdisciplinary research to improve the nutritional well-being and the quality of life of ethnic minorities and the underserved.

Research Areas & Interests 

Faculty Research Interests

A sampling of research interests

  • Nutrigenomics: The role of diet in chronic disease prevention (obesity, diabetes, cancer)
  • The role of exercise in health and disease
  • Impact of sleep on dietary intake
  • Diabetes and cardiovascular disease in minority males
  • Molecular bases for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and metabolic syndrome
  • Bioactive herbal constituents and functional genomics
  • Nutrition education in patients with chronic diseases
  • Risk factors for overweight/obesity
  • Cardiovascular health in faith-based populations
  • Nutrition competencies of health care professionals
  • Use of technology for tailored interventions
  • Regulatory toxicology: Safety evaluation and risk assessment of food ingredients and color additives

Program of Study* 

COMMUNITY NUTRITION TRACK

CORE COURSES (33 CR)

NUTR 516 and 526  Macronutrients I and II (8 CR)

NUTG 517 and 527  Micronutrients I and II (8 CR)

NUTG 284  Community Nutrition (3 CR)

NUTG 316  Evaluation of Nutritional Status (3 CR)

NUTG 318  Techniques in Community (2 CR)

NUTG 503  Nutrition Policy (3 CR)

NUTG 518  Nutrition Health and Disease (3 CR)

NUTG 501  Global Health and Nutrition (3 CR)

ELECTIVE COURSES (29 CR)

A sampling of elective courses

NUTG 310  Graduate Seminar in Nutrition

NUTG 401  Ph.D. Research

NUTG 208  Nutrition for Aging 

PSYC 207  Statistics I 

PSYC 208  Statistics II

HUDE 205  Introduction to Statistical Methods

BIOG  430  Biostatistics 

HUDE 400  Intermediate Statistics

Courses may be selected from graduate courses in NUTG- Nutrition, BIOC-Biochemistry, PSYC-Psychology, SOCI-Sociology, CHEM-Chemistry, EDUC-Education, COMM-Communications, or ANTG-Anthropology level 200 and above. Courses outside of these codes can be considered for approval by the program director. 

DISSERTATION (12 CR)

NUTG 700 Series  Ph.D. Dissertation (Dissertation Writing)

EXPERIMENTAL NUTRITION TRACK

CORE COURSES (32 CR)

NUTR 516 and 526  Macronutrients I and II (8 CR)

NUTG 517 and 527  Micronutrients I and II (8 CR)

NUTG 319   Research Methods in Experimental Nutrition (4 CR)

NUTG 316   Evaluation of Nutritional Status (3 CR)

NUTG 284  Community Nutrition (3 CR)

NUTG 518   Nutrition Health and Disease (3 CR)

NUTG 501  Global Health and Nutrition (3 CR)

ELECTIVE COURSES (30 CR)

A sampling of elective courses

NUTG 310  Graduate Seminar in Nutrition

NUTG 401  Ph.D. Research

NUTG 208  Nutrition for Aging 

HLMN 506  Epidemiology 

NUTG 501  Nutrition Policy 

PSYC 207  Statistics I 

PSYC 208  Statistics II

HUDE 205  Introduction to Statistical Methods

BIOG  430  Biostatistics 

HUDE 400  Intermediate Statistics

NUTG 318  Techniques in Community Nutrition 

Courses may be selected from graduate courses in NUTG- Nutrition, BIOC-Biochemistry, PSYC-Psychology, SOCI-Sociology, CHEM-Chemistry, EDUC-Education, COMM-Communications, or ANTG-Anthropology level 200 and above. Courses outside of these codes can be considered for approval by the program director. 

DISSERTATION (12 CR)

NUTG 700 Series  Ph.D. Dissertation (Dissertation Writing)

*Courses included in the sample program of study are subject to change. Students should consult with their programs regarding their required program of study. 

Admission to Candidacy 

Students are admitted to formal candidacy by the Graduate School when they have completed the required coursework, passed the qualifying or comprehensive examination, submitted an approved topic for research, and been recommended by the Department. Candidates must also have satisfied the Graduate School writing proficiency requirement and Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) requirement.

Graduate Funding 

Admitted students may be eligible to compete for Graduate School competitive awards, which provide tuition remission and a stipend during the academic year. Additionally, graduate research or teaching assistantships may be available at the department level. Research assistants and teaching assistants work no more than 20 hours a week under the program's direction, usually in support of faculty research (research assistants) or in support of assigned courses (teaching assistants). Please see the Funding website for more detailed information.