Graduate Student Handbook (PDF)
Graduate students in the Department of Nutrition &
Health Sciences (NHS) can earn M.S. and Ph.D. degrees through various programs
described below. These programs are diverse and may involve faculty and
resources from other departments, although the programs are administered
primarily through the Department of NHS. Students who apply for admission will use
the general Graduate Studies application, selecting the program of interest
from the "Degree/Major Sought" dropdown list. In some cases, applicants must
also indicate an "Area of Specialization," but only for programs having
Specializations. A limited number of Graduate Assistantships are also available
and require a separate assistantship application (PDF|MS
Word).
Click on the option Code for details regarding each option.
|
Option Code |
Major |
Degree |
Thesis or Dissertation |
Specialization |
||
|
Nutrition & Health Sciences |
MS |
yes |
none |
|||
|
Nutrition & Health Sciences |
MS |
yes |
Nutrition Outreach Education |
|||
|
Nutrition & Health Sciences |
MS |
no |
Community Nutrition and Health Promotion |
|||
|
Nutrition & Health Sciences |
MS |
no |
Nutrition and Exercise |
|||
|
|
Nutrition |
MS |
yes |
none |
||
|
|
Nutrition |
PhD |
yes |
none |
||
|
Human Sciences |
PhD |
yes |
Nutrition and Health Sciences |
|||
Before deciding which degree program is best for you, consider the following focus areas and the careers to which they are best suited. These focus areas reflect the expertise of our faculty and are intended as guidelines to help you choose the best option. Many of our M.S. students enroll in the Nutrition & Health Sciences programs, which provide either a thesis or non-thesis option. The M.S. degree is also available through the Nutrition (Interdepartmental) program and is generally more appropriate for nutrition science students seeking careers in research or medicine, or for students wishing to pursue further advanced degrees. Most of our Ph.D. students enroll in the Nutrition (Interdepartmental) program and is appropriate for students in any of our focus areas. The Ph.D. in Human Sciences tends to favor students interested in the behavioral aspects of food and nutrition, such as Food Service Administration.
Focus areas reflecting Faculty expertise:
Community Nutrition and Health Education. Careers in this area of emphasis include nutrition counseling and educational program development. Graduates pursue careers in public health and consumer education, Cooperative Extension, corporate wellness programs, resorts and health clubs, sports nutrition, and private medical practices. Some of our graduates in this area are also Registered Dietitians.
Medical Nutrition Therapy. All graduates with this emphasis are Registered Dietitians who pursue careers in clinical health care settings. Clinical dietitians work in hospitals, private medical practices, extended care facilities, dialysis centers, and home health care programs.
Nutrition and Exercise. Graduates with this emphasis pursue careers such as cardiac rehabilitation specialists, exercise technicians, health and fitness directors, fitness instructors, and fitness program managers. Students holding masters degrees in this focus area may also enter professional schools such as medicine, physical therapy and nursing or they may continue in graduate school for advanced study.
Molecular and Biochemical Nutrition. Graduates with this emphasis pursue careers in research and development with food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies. Masters degree recipients are also well prepared for entry into professionals schools such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and physical therapy. This focus area is well suited for students desiring research careers in academia.
Food Service Administration. Possible careers include restaurant owner or manager, food and equipment distributor, food broker, purchasing specialist, food service manager, facilities designer, hotel food and beverage director, research chef, catering and banquet manager, club manager, and test kitchen product developer.
Food Science and Food Safety. This focus area targets careers in the food industry, including product research and development, quality control, and food analysis.
For more information, please contact Dr. Timothy Carr or CEHS Graduate Support Services
