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Director of the Division and of Graduate Studies: Sharon M. Donovan
Linda Barenthin
449 Bevier Hall
905 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-4177
Fax: (217) 333-9638
lbarenth@uiuc.edu
Graduate Degree Programs
The Division of Nutritional Sciences offers an interdepartmental graduate
program leading to the Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences and
the Doctor of Philosophy in Nutritional Sciences. Approximately 45
faculty, representing 13 different departments in seven colleges on
the Urbana and Chicago campuses of the University of Illinois, are
members of the division. The degree requirements are designed to provide
sufficient flexibility to enable students to pursue study in one of
several areas of specialization within the broad field of the nutritional
sciences. These specialties can be classified into five broad theme
areas in which our faculty and students are most active (see below).
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 60 hours of coursework and basic courses
in nutrition, 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 560 (220 on
the computer-based test). Admission in the fall, spring, or summer
will be considered.
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.
Master of Science
Requirements for the M.S. degree include courses in general biochemistry,
NUTR 510 and 511, one additional course in general nutrition, and
one semester of seminar. Additional courses are available in such
diverse subjects as human and animal nutrition, biochemistry, physiology,
immunology, endocrinology, food science, education, anthropology,
psychology, sociology, statistics, and agricultural economics. The
M.S. degree may be taken with or without a thesis. The minimum M.S.
coursework requirement is 24 gh (plus at least 8 gh of thesis
credit) for the thesis degree and 36 gh for the nonthesis degree.
Doctor of Philosophy
In addition to maintaining a 3.0 average in formal coursework, Ph.D.
students are required to take 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. A minimum of 96 gh of credit
work beyond the baccalaureate degree or 64 gh beyond the master’s
degree is required.
Intercampus Doctor of Philosophy Degree
The division and the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at
the University of Illinois at Chicago offer an intercampus Ph.D. degree.
Students spend time on both campuses doing research and taking courses,
but, the degree is conferred by the Urbana campus. Requirements of
this program are described in the handbook on the division’s
Web site.
Graduate Dietetic Clinical Internship
The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition administers an
American Dietetic Association (ADA) accredited graduate dietetic internship
program, which 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 ADA for 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
from the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (386 Bevier
Hall; 217-333-1326).
Medical Scholars Program
The Urbana campus of the University of Illinois College of Medicine
administers the Medical Scholars Program, in which students can pursue
M.D. and Ph.D. degrees concurrently. Students may apply to the Medical
Scholars Program prior to beginning graduate school or while in the
graduate program. To be accepted into the Medical Scholars Program,
students must complete all coursework and examination (e.g., MCAT)
requirements necessary for acceptance by the College of Medicine.
Further information on this program is available by contacting the
Assistant Director of the Medical Scholars Program, 190 Medical Sciences
Building, Urbana, IL 61801, (217) 333-8146.
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 Web site. Five broad theme areas are (1) nutritional requirements
for optimal growth and well-being of humans and animals; (2) impact
of nutrients and non-nutritive components in foods on health and risk
of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes;
(3) relation of nutrients to gene expression; (4) nutrient composition
of foods and feeds and the impact of agricultural practices, handling,
and processing on food safety and quality; and (5) factors determining
food preferences and habits and techniques for guiding consumers in
selection of nutritionally adequate diets.
Facilities
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 and
fellowships. Applicants seeking fall admission and expecting to be
considered for financial assistance should file their applications
before the preceding February 15th. Later applications will be considered,
depending on the space and support available. |
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