Community Nutrition & Health Promotion Specialization
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nutrition
Graduates from this program will be leaders in enhancing health with expertise to:
- Develop, implement, and evaluate research-based public policies and programs that enhance food security, nutrition, and health in diverse communities
- Address disparities in food, nutrition, and health through health behavior change and multi-level ecological approaches through policy, systems, and environmental change
- Adapt programs in culturally appropriate ways to meet food, nutrient, and health needs across the life cycle
Highly recommended courses (credit hours):
- NUTR 805 Research Methods (3)
- NUTR 859 Nutrition: A Focus on Life Stages (3)
- NUTR 860 Health Behavior Theories and Approaches (3)
- NUTR 956 Community Nutrition (3)
- NUTR 976 Organization and Management in Community Nutrition and Health Promotion (3)
- Experiential Learning through community-based practicums, internships, and research (12)
Other courses and programs of interest include:
- NUTR 950 Integrated Principles of Human Nutrition (3) -very important for students without a strong background in human nutrition
- NUTR 807 Principles of Epidemiology for Nutrition and Public Health (3)
- Graduate Minor in Leadership Education at University of Nebraska-Lincoln (9)
- Graduate Certificate in Public Health at University of Nebraska Medical College (15)
- Graduate Certificate in Gerontology at University of Nebraska-Omaha (12)
- Courses in Physical Activity in Health Promotion at University of Nebraska-Omaha, e.g., KINS 8130/BMKI 9131 Implementing Physical Activity in Diverse Populations (3)
Descriptions of courses within the department can be found online at: https://catalog.unl.edu/graduate-professional/courses/nutr/.
Graduate courses to meet career goals are also available within other departments, find them online at: https://catalog.unl.edu/graduate-professional/courses/.
Total credits required:
- Minimum of 90 semester hours of credit, including 12-55 hours of dissertation
Doctoral Graduate Teaching Assistantship
Available annually starting in the fall.
- Teaching is in the fall and spring semesters, with summer teaching also available.
- Includes partial health benefits and full tuition-waiver of up to 12 credit hours in fall and in spring semesters.
- High priority for students who:
- Are committed to a teaching and research career
- Have an undergraduate or graduate degree in nutrition, dietetics, public health, or health promotion
- Have taught or completed courses in nutrition and metabolism, community nutrition, health promotion, health behavior, and/or dietetics at the undergraduate or graduate level
- Have work experience in community nutrition, health promotion, public health, Extension, teaching, and/or research
- Only students with completed applications will be considered for this graduate assistantship.
For more information regarding assistantships and fellowships, click here.
Preferred Courses Prior to Admission:
To be successful in the program, the following courses are preferred - consult with your advisor.
- Two semesters of general chemistry (CHEM 109A General Chemistry I and CHEM 110A General Chemistry II)
- One semester of organic chemistry with lab (CHEM 251/CHEM 253 Organic Chemistry)
- One semester of biochemistry (BIOC 401/BIOC 401L Elements of Biochemistry or BIOC 431 Biochemistry I: Structure and Metabolism)
- Human physiology with lab (BIOS 213/BIOS 213L Human Physiology)
GRE is not required.
Careers
- Academic Faculty
- Government Scientist
- Health Consultant
- Health Data Analyst
- Health Department Director
- Health Policy Researcher
- National/International Public Health Leader
- Non-profit Health Program Director
- Policy Advisor
- Private Practice Scientist
- Public Health Officer
- Research Scientist
- State Health Program Director
For additional career information, click here.
