This program prepares students for teaching, outreach, and research careers in Extension, community health, and related areas to lead community-based food, nutrition, and health programs for diverse children, families, and older adults.

Graduates 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 956  Community Nutrition (3)
• NUTR 860 Health Behavior Theories and Approaches (3)
• NUTR 805 Research Methods (3)
• NUTR 859 Nutrition: A Focus on Life Stages (3)
• Experiential Learning (12) through community-based practicums, internships, and research

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)
• NUTR 829A Food Security: A Global Perspective (3)
• NUTR 834 Food and Nutrition in Biocultural Perspective (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 8130/9131 Implementing Physical Activity in Diverse Populations (3)

Descriptions of courses within the department can be found here. Graduate courses to meet career goals are also available in other departments.

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)

Undergraduate catalog

The Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is committed to creating an environment that is welcoming to all; where each person feels accepted, valued, and safe. To learn more, visit https://cehs.unl.edu/nhs/nhs-deib/.