FOOD SCIENCE AND HUMAN NUTRITION

Interim Head of the Department: Hans P. Blaschek

Correspondence and Admission Information: Scott Martin, Graduate Admissions Coordinator, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, 486 Animal Sciences Lab, 1207 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 244-2877; E-mail: fshn@uiuc.edu

URL: www.aces.uiuc.edu/~fshn/gpro.html

GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition offers graduate programs leading to the master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees. In addition to receiving training in the general field of food science or human nutrition, students have the opportunity to conduct resear ch in the following areas of specialization: food processing and food engineering, food packaging, food chemistry, food biochemistry, food microbiology, food safety, biotechnology, human nutrition through the life cycle, nutritional aspects of exercise, nutrient metabolism, nutrition and disease interactions, nutrient composition of foods, sensory and instrumental evaluation of food quality, community nutrition, and clinical nutrition.

ADMISSION

In addition to meeting the Graduate College admission requirements, a student planning to pursue a graduate degree in the department should have a baccalaureate degree in a recognized field of biological, physical, agricultural, or engineering science. Background deficiencies may be removed with graduate credit courses designed for this purpose. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required of all applicants, and the minimum recommended Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score is 580 on the paper-based test (237 on the computer-based test). Students can be admitted to start in fall, spring, or summer semesters.

Graduate Teaching Experience

Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program.

MASTER OF SCIENCE

To obtain a master's degree, a total of eight units of graduate work must be completed. At least three of the eight units must be at the 400
general engineering
level. A thesis is usually required. A nonthesis degree is considered a terminal degree, and requires a committee as well as an adviser.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

For candidates for the doctor of philosophy degree, a total of 24 units of graduate work must be completed; no more than 12 units of thesis research may be applied to the requirements. If a candidate has a master's degree in a related area, a minimum of 16 units, including up to ten units of thesis res earch, must be completed. In consultation with the adviser, the remainder of the 16 units required for the degree consists of graduate courses selected from inside or outside the department that are appropriate for training in the student's field of specialization. Upon completion of all necessary formal courses and special options, the student is required to take an oral preliminary examination. After passage of the preliminary examination, the student's activities are primarily devoted to thesis research. Upon submission of the thesis, the candidate is required to pass a final oral examination before a graduate faculty committee. The Ph.D. degree may be combined with an M.D. in the Medical Scholars Program (see later entry in this catalog).

OFF-CAMPUS PROGRAM

A Master of Science in Food Science degree program is offered in Oak Brook, Illinois. Courses are held in the evening or on Saturdays. Most students in this program choose the nonthesis option. Course requirements are simil ar to the on-campus M.S. program.

Internship in dietetics

The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition offers a dietetic internship for master's and doctoral students specializing in human nutrition. Completion of the degree and the internship qualifies the student to take the American Dietetic Association's registration examination.

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid for graduate students is available in the form of fellowships, teaching and research assistantships, and tuition and partial fee waivers. Qualified candidates are considered for financial support upon application.