Nutritional Sciences
Assistant Director: Jessica L. Hartke
449 Bevier Hall
905 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-4177
Fax: (217) 333-9368
nutritionalsciences@illinois.edu
Major: Nutritional Science
Degrees Offered: M.S. and Ph.D.
Joint Degree Program: Doctor of Philosophy in Nutritional Science and Master of Public Health
Degrees Offered: Ph.D. and M.P.H.
Medical Scholars Program: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nutritional Science and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) through the Medical Scholars Program
Graduate Degree Programs
The Division of Nutritional Sciences is the interdisciplinary program for graduate education in nutrition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. More than 60 faculty, representing 18 different departments in eight colleges on the Urbana and Chicago campuses, are members of the Division. The Division is a comprehensive program of study leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, alone or in combination with either the M.D. or M.P.H. degrees or the registration in dietetics (R.D.). Flexible graduate programs of study enable students to individualize their coursework and professional training. In addition, extensive research opportunities are available that address the spectrum from research at the level of the genome and proteome to clinical and population-based intervention studies. Specialties are classified into six broad theme areas in which our faculty and students are most active (see Research Interests). These themes best reflect the areas of nutrition research for which the Division is recognized both nationally and internationally.
Admission
Applicants are expected to have an admission grade point average of
3.0 (A = 4.0) for the last two years of coursework and basic courses
in chemistry, biology and mathematics. Deficiencies in
these subjects must be removed during the first year of graduate study.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required. Applicants whose
native language is not English must achieve a minimum paper-based
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550, 213 on
the computer-based test or 79 on the iBT TOEFL. Admission in the fall, spring or summer
will be considered.
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Graduate Programs information and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Science
| Required Courses: | Thesis option - Required Hours | Non-thesis option - Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Enrollment in NUTR 500 (Seminar) each semester a student is registered in the program | 0 | 0 |
| One additional course in general nutrition | 4 | 4 |
| Statistics | 4 | 4 |
| One semester of seminar (FSHN 593 and/or NUTR 590) | 2 | 2 |
| NUTR 510 or 561 | 3-5 | 3-5 |
| Biochemistry (if not taken within 2 years of entry) | 3-8 | 3-8 |
| At least one additional course in general nutrition is required for the non-thesis master's degree | 4 | |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | max 2 | max 4 |
| Thesis Hours Required – NUTR 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 32 | 32 |
Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: |
8, 500 level | 8, 500 level |
Minimum Number of 500-level Hours Required Overall in Program: |
12, not including 599 | 12 |
| Other Requirements:* | Oral final exam | Oral final exam |
| Not more than 4 hours of coursework taken on a Credit-No Credit basis will be counted towards the 32 hours total for the M.S. degree | ||
| Nutritional Sciences courses may NOT be taken on a Credit-No Credit option | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Additional courses are available in human and animal nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, immunology, endocrinology, food science, education, anthropology, psychology, sociology, statistics, and agricultural economics. The non-thesis degree also requires an oral final exam. Students are not admitted directly into the non-thesis program.
Doctor of Philosophy
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| NUTR 500, enrollment each semester and one presentation during program | 1 |
| FSHN 593 and/or NUTR 590 (unless taken during M.S. degree) | max 4 |
| NUTR 510 or 561 | 5-9 |
| NUTR 511 | 4 |
| Two additional courses in general nutrition | 6-8 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | max 2 |
| Thesis Hours Required – NUTR 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 48 or 40 |
| Total Hours | 64 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Coursework: with M.S. degree in Nutritional Science (16) or with MS in other field (24) | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | No, but Masters level requirements must be met (32 additional hours min) |
| Qualifying Exam Required | Yes |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
In addition to maintaining a 3.0 average in formal coursework, Ph.D. students are required to take a qualifying examination, an oral preliminary examination and a final thesis examination. There is no foreign language requirement, but students whose native language is not English are required to demonstrate competence in English.
Internship in Dietetics
Students in the Division of Nutritional Sciences can participate in an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) accredited graduate dietetic internship program administered through the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. The program includes defined graduate course requirements and a six-month dietetic clinical internship. In order to be eligible for the graduate internship program, students must complete all undergraduate course competencies required by the AND for the Registration in Dietetics (R.D.). Students are accepted into the internship by computer matching through the standard dietetic internship application process. More information on the graduate dietetic internship program can be obtained at fshn.illinois.edu/graduate/dietetic-internship/prospective or from the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (260 Bevier Hall; 217-244-4498).
Joint Degree Program
The M.P.H. can be earned jointly with the Ph.D. in Nutritional Science. In the joint program up to 12 hours of coursework may be applied to both degrees, and the degrees are conferred simultaneously at the completion of the program.
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| CHLH 410, 469, 540, 550, 572, 573, 575 and 577 | 32 |
| CHLH 594 Cultural Competence and Health Promotion | 4 |
| CHLH 587 MPH Practicum | 4 |
| CHLH 589 Public Health Capstone Experience | 2 |
| Area of concentration coursework from approved list, min 3 (may be met by Ph.D. core courses) | |
| Electives and seminars, min 3 (may be met by Ph.D. core courses) | |
| NUTR 500, enrollment each semester and one presentation during program | 1 |
| FSHN 593 and/or NUTR 590 | max 4 |
| NUTR 510 or 561 | 5-9 |
| NUTR 511 | 4 |
| Two additional courses in general nutrition | 6-8 |
| Ph.D. Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | max 2 |
| Thesis Hours Required – NUTR 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 40 |
| Total Hours | 100 |
Minimum Number of 500-level Hours Required Overall in Program: |
12 (8 within M.P.H.) |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | No |
| Qualifying Exam Required | Yes |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
Medical Scholars Program
The Medical Scholars Program permits highly qualified students to integrate the study of medicine with study for a graduate degree in a second discipline, including Nutritional Science. Students may apply to the Medical Scholars Program prior to beginning graduate school or while in the graduate program. Applicants to the Medical Scholars Program must meet the admissions standards for and be accepted into both the doctoral graduate program and the College of Medicine. Students in the dual degree program must meet the specific requirements for both the medical and graduate degrees. On average, students take eight years to complete both degrees. Further information on this program is available by contacting the Medical Scholars Program, 125 Medical Sciences Building, (217) 333-8146 or at www.med.illinois.edu/msp.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program.
Faculty Research Interests
The Division is composed of faculty whose research interests cover many disciplines within nutrition. Descriptions of faculty research interests and a listing of recent publications are available at the Division website. Six broad theme areas are: Animal Nutrition; Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition; Community Nutrition, Nutrition Education and Consumer Acceptance; Dietary Bioactive Components; Food Safety and Toxicology; and Human and Clinical Nutrition.
Facilities and Resources
The Division office is located in room 449 Bevier Hall. Office and research laboratory facilities utilized by graduate students in Nutritional Sciences are administered by the home department of the student's adviser.
Financial Aid
Financial assistance is available in the form of assistantships, scholarships and fellowships. Applicants seeking fall admission and expecting to be considered for financial assistance should file their applications before the preceding December 15th. Later applications may be considered, depending on the space and support available.