Degree Requirements

Degree requirements provide sufficient flexibility to enable students to pursue study in one of several areas of specialization within nutritional sciences. General requirements for the degree in Nutritional Sciences include courses in general biochemistry, advanced courses in nutrition, and a graduate seminar course. Students may select additional courses from human and animal nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, immunology, food science, education, anthropology, psychology, sociology and statistics.

M.S. Degree:

The minimum requirement for the M.S. degree with thesis is 32 hours, which is comprised of 24 hours of coursework and 8 hours of thesis research. In addition, students must pass an oral M.S. thesis defense. Students completing a non-thesis M.S. degree must complete 36 hours of coursework and must pass an oral final exam. Information on specific degree requirements, including course requirements, oral exams and thesis preparation can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook.

Ph.D. Degree:

The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 96 hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. For students entering from the baccalaureate degree, the 96 hours are divided into 40 hours of coursework and 56 hours of thesis research. In addition, successful completion of an oral preliminary examination and an oral defense of the Ph.D. dissertation are required.

Students entering into the Ph.D. program directly from the B.S. can by-pass the M.S. degree by successfully completing an oral qualifying exam.

Students entering into the Ph.D. program with a M.S. degree must complete 64 hours (96 hours - 32 hours from the M.S. degree). Sixteen hours will be coursework and 48 hours will be thesis research if the M.S. degree is in Nutritional Sciences, and 24 hours will be coursework and 40 hours will be thesis research if the M.S. degree is not in Nutritional Sciences.

All students are expected to have oral and written competence in English, and must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average (A=4.0) in formal coursework. There is no foreign language requirement.

Specific degree and course requirements and additional information on the oral examinations can be found in the Nutritional Sciences Graduate Student Handbook.