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 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)
• 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/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)

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/.