Nutritional Sciences

Director of the Division and of Graduate Studies: Sharon M. Donovan
Administrative Secretary: Linda Barenthin
449 Bevier Hall
905 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-4177
Fax: (217) 333-9368
nutrsci@uiuc.edu

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. Approximately 60 faculty, representing 17 different departments in seven 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 the M.D. degree or 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 60 hours 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 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 or 561, one additional course in general nutrition, and one semester of seminar (FSHN 596) and Statistics. Additional courses are available in 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 hours (plus at least 8 hours of thesis credit) for the thesis degree and 36 hours for the non-thesis degree (plus an oral final exam).

Doctor of Philosophy

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. A minimum of 96 hours of credit work beyond the baccalaureate degree or 64 hours beyond the master’s degree is required.

Graduate Dietetic Clinical Internship

Students in the Division of Nutritional Sciences can participate in an American Dietetic Association (ADA) accredited graduate dietetic internship program administered by 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 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 at www.fshn.uiuc.edu/academics/graduate_program/grad_dietetics.html or from the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (258 Bevier Hall; 217-244-4498).

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 Director of the Medical Scholars Program, 125 Medical Sciences Building, (217) 333-8146 or at www.med.uiuc.edu/msp/mdphd.asp.

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

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 January 15th. Later applications will be considered, depending on the space and support available.