Requirements

PhD in Nutritional Sciences Program Degree Requirements

The principal requirements for the PhD degree are listed here:

1) Oral Qualifying Exam for Track-specific prerequisite knowledge.

• The purpose of the exam is to determine mastery of track-specific core Nutrition knowledge and to identify any deficiencies to drive the development of the student’s remaining curriculum.
• Oral qualifying exam subject areas will be given by three committee members from the graduate faculty, coordinated by their advisor, and approved by the Nutritional Sciences Graduate Program Chair. Track-specific content is outlined below:
• Track 1: Human Nutrition- three faculty members to represent subject areas that include Basic Nutrition, Nutritional Biochemistry, and Research Methods.
• Track 2: Food Science- three faculty members to represent subject areas that include Food Chemistry/Microbiology, General Food Science, and Research Methods
• Track 3: Animal Sciences- three faculty members to represent subject areas that include General Animal Sciences, Nutrition and Physiology, and Research Methods

2) Required coursework

• All students are required to enroll in Program Seminar for two semesters for a letter grade of (FSHN 681 or ANSC 641)
• Additional coursework is dependent on BS or MS entry into the program as well as track-specific requirements. Courses are classified as
  • Preparation for the qualifying exam (6 credits required)
  • Advance specialty and research (18 credits)
    • 12 credits FSHN or ANSC 699 research and1 credit FSHN 800 level research are required and fulfill the advance specialty and research requirements
  • At least 12 credits must be at the 600-level or higher, excluding 699 and 800

3) Teaching Experience – All PhD students are required to complete a teaching experience (1 semester for students who posses a masters degree, 2 semesters for students who posses a bachelors degree). The teaching experience is guided by a faculty member. A teaching experience agreement is required. Click here to view the teaching agreement. The reaching Rubric will guide evaluation and be discussed with the student and sent to the graduate chair. If unsatisfactory, another teaching experience will-be completed and re­evaluated.

4) Comprehensive Examination & Dissertation Proposal-    pass a proposal defense & comprehensive exam to demonstrate advanced scholarship in the field

5) Dissertation Defense-  write and defend a doctoral dissertation that presents original, independent research