Nutrition Graduate Program

Experimental Nutrition Cindy and Students

Enhance you career with a graduate degree in Nutrition at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition UMN-Twin Cities. Our program offers multiple degree options and you'll have the opportunity to work with world-class researchers and instructors.

Whether your interests lie in physiology, biochemistry, clinical nutrition, community nutrition, or dietetics, we have opportunities for you.

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About the Program

The interdisciplinary Nutrition Graduate Program at the University of Minnesota draws on faculty, courses, and facilities University-wide. With this approach we offer you the opportunity to tailor a program to your specific interests, using the resources of departments from several University schools and colleges

In order to provide the most complete educational experience possible, we emphasize the value of both research and teaching experience for our graduate students. The Nutrition Graduate Program offers opportunities to conduct research with a diverse faculty from many different departments within the University. These faculty members bring sponsored grants from the National Institutes of HealthU.S. Department of AgricultureVeterans Administration, and from various food/health industries and commodity groups. Nutrition research opportunities are available in many areas, including dietary fiber, cancer, cardiovascular disease, maternal and child nutrition, phytochemicals, antioxidants, energy metabolism, exercise and nutrition and nutrition education.

Departments or divisions that participate in the Nutrition Graduate Program:

 

Your potential for personal and professional fulfillment in the field of nutrition is virtually unlimited. Career opportunities continue to grow rapidly with the search for solutions to nutrition-related problems.

An advanced nutrition degree will qualify you to:

  • conduct research in colleges and universities
  • teach in colleges and universities
  • hold nutrition-related positions in government, healthcare facilities, commodity organizations, corporations and industry
  • administer food service or international food or agriculture programs

Also, if you complete the additional graduate requirements to become a Registered Dietitian, you may practice as a dietitian in research, clinical, or food service settings.

These are some examples of where our Nutrition Graduate Program Students have gone after graduation:

  • Faculty member, Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M, Kingsville
  • Faculty member, Department of Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
  • Faculty member, Department of Nutrition, Pennsylvania State University
  • Coordinator, Center for Education and Leadership in Maternal and Child Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota
  • Faculty member, Frederick Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington
  • Faculty member, Department of Nutrition, Utah State University, Logan, Utah
  • Nutrition Group, Research and Development, Kraft Foods
  • Clinical Dietitian, University Hospital, University of Minnesota
  • Research and Development, Novartis Nutrition Corporation
  • Research Associate, Clinical Research Center, University of Minnesota School of Medicine

Information for Prospective Students

M.S., M.P.S., and Ph.D. programs are offered in Nutrition. In 2018-2019 we had 45 applications and admitted 20 students. 

For more information, please contact Andrew Howe at [email protected]

If you are interested in our program to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), you should contact Corrie Marion at [email protected]

Application Requirements

Applicants to the program need a bachelor’s degree in any field or its international equivalent and prerequisite coursework. Most international applicants are also required to submit proof of English language proficiency (click here for more information).

Prerequisite Coursework

(at least one college level term completed)

  • General Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Introductory Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Statistics
  • Nutrition coursework which may be taken after beginning the program:
  • Principles of Nutrition*
  • Lifecycle Nutrition*
  • Advanced Human Nutrition* (a course which has chemistry, human physiology and a basic nutrition course as prerequisites)

Marked (*) courses may be taken after admission. In rare cases, a student with an especially strong academic background may complete a (unmarked) prerequisite after admission.

Generally, individuals are not admitted to the Ph.D. program without an M.S. in nutrition or a related field.

 

University of Minnesota Dietetic Internship

Applicants should indicate their interest in the University of Minnesota Dietetic Internship on the department application. An internship is a component of becoming a Registered Dietitian.

To participate in the Dietetic Internship students need to complete dietetics and graduate program coursework. The dietetics coursework can be completed during or prior to beginning the graduate program.

Note: If the dietetics courses are taken during the graduate program, students must pay graduate tuition for these courses or locate an advisor willing to fund coursework costs.

For information on the process necessary to become a Registered Dietitian contact [email protected].

Admissions and Funding

*Graduate program applications for admittance in Fall 2024 are due December 15, 2023*

The Graduate Admissions Committee reviews each graduate program application beginning in January for fall intake and in August for spring intake.

Advisors and funding are limited and not guaranteed to all admissible applicants. Department funding is restricted and offered through a competitive process based on applicant qualifications and program resources. While it may occur concurrently in some instances, the funding process is entirely separate from the admissions process. If available and offered, funding usually takes the form of a research assistantship (RA), teaching assistantship (TA), or combination of the two. Funding is usually obtained through a student's advisor.

Assistantships include an hourly wage, full or partial tuition coverage, and reduced-cost healthcare benefits. See Graduate Assistant Employment for more information about assistantship compensation and benefits. Follow this link to learn more about Graduate Student Employment at UMN.

Additional funding opportunities may be available through the University of Minnesota Graduate School.

International students can also find more information at the International Student and Scholar Services Office.

 

Example Graduate Student Fees

  • Graduates students must pay fees every semester that they are enrolled. These are separate from tuition and not covered by an Assistantship. This is a non-binding document with a recent list of fees that students were charged during the 21-22 academic year for reference.

Nutrition Program Admission

Follow this link to begin an application

Follow this link to download the Food Science and Nutrition Graduate Application Checklist

Nutrition Graduate Program General Information

The interdisciplinary Nutrition Graduate Program at the University of Minnesota draws on faculty, courses, and facilities University-wide. With this approach we offer you the opportunity to tailor a program to your specific interests, using the resources of departments from several University schools and colleges.

Faculty members bring sponsored grants from the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Veterans Administration, and various food/health industries and commodity groups. Nutrition research opportunities are available in many areas, including dietary fiber, cancer, cardiovascular disease, maternal and child nutrition, phytochemicals, antioxidants, energy metabolism, exercise and nutrition, obesity and nutrition education.

Although administrative services for the Nutrition Graduate Program are provided by the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences (CFANS) and the Department of Food Science and Nutrition (FScN), policies and procedures are established by the entire Nutrition graduate faculty and Graduate School.

Degrees Available

The Nutrition Program offers the following graduate degrees:

  • Master of Science (M.S.); Plan A, research-based
  • Master of Science (M.S.); Plan B, writing project-based
  • Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.); Plan C, coursework-based
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

In addition to our academic programs, there is a dietetic internship program for graduate students (U of M–TEP DI Program) which provides the professional experience needed to become a registered dietitian. Further information is in later sections.

Admissions Process

Applicants meeting basic admission criteria will usually be notified that they are “admissible” to the Nutrition program by mid-March for fall intake and by mid-October for spring intake.

Formal admission occurs after an applicant secures a faculty advisor. Admissible applicants who do not secure an advisor by mid-April for fall intake and mid-November for spring intake will be added to our waitlist and may be contacted if a position in the program becomes available. Admissible applicants who do not secure an advisor by the beginning of their proposed term of entry will have their application withdrawn from further consideration.

Applicants determined to be admissible are added to a list of prospective students looking for an advisor, which is then circulated to graduate faculty. Faculty interested in advising an applicant may contact them directly. Admissible applicants are also encouraged to contact one or two faculty members with whom they are interested in working. Admissible applicants are expected to limit contact to faculty whose work truly interests them and is in alignment with what is presented in their application materials. Not all faculty are positioned to accept new students at this time.

Application Prerequisites

Nutrition is a biological science. Consequently, it is expected that incoming students have a similar science background to students entering any other graduate-level biology program.

The following courses are prerequisites for the Nutrition program:

  • General chemistry
  • Organic chemistry
  • Introductory biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Statistics
  • FSCN 1112, Principles of Nutrition *
  • FSCN 3612, Lifecycle Nutrition *
  • FSCN 4612, Advanced Human Nutrition *

*Completion of these courses prior to admission is highly recommended, but they may be taken after beginning the program. A final grade of B or higher is required for FSCN 1112, FSCN 3612, and FSCN 4612. Students with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition will generally have completed these classes or their equivalents.

Prerequisite courses are considered successfully completed when documentation of a final grade of C- or higher is provided. Prerequisite courses taken in high school—even through programs such as PSEO—will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Application Requirements

Nutrition graduate applications must be submitted through the University of Minnesota Graduate School’s central application system.

In addition to the standard identity and demographic information required by the Graduate School, all Nutrition applicants must submit the following application materials to be considered for admission:

  • Unofficial transcripts
    The University of Minnesota will require an official transcript from every applicant’s BS- or MS-awarding institution prior to formal admission. Applicants are not required to submit official transcripts at the time of application, but are welcome to. Doing so may expedite later processes. Do not send official transcripts to the Department of Food Science and Nutrition. Official transcript submission guidelines can be found here.
  • English language proficiency exam scores
    The University of Minnesota requires some applicants to submit proof of English language proficiency. This is a UMN requirement that can result in a rescinded admission offer if not met. Additional information about English language proficiency can be found by following this link.
  • Personal statement
  • Diversity statement
  • Resume/CV
  • Academic writing sample (optional)
  • Extenuating circumstances statement (optional)

Specific information related to the above requirements can be found on the application itself and on the application checklist.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required.

Ph.D. Admission without an M.S. Degree

Admission to the Ph.D. program is generally reserved for students who have already received an M.S. degree and display evidence of high academic achievement as determined by the Graduate Admissions Committee.

Exceptionally strong students without the M.S. degree may be considered for direct admission to the doctoral program. However, most doctoral program applicants without an M.S. are not admitted to the Ph.D. program and are instead considered for the master’s program.

Students currently enrolled in the University of Minnesota Nutrition M.S. program may bypass the M.S. degree and apply for a Change of Status to the Ph.D. program. These students must have the support of their advisor and several conditions must be met.

The following criteria is required for admission to the Ph.D. program without first receiving an M.S. degree:

New Applicants

The applicant must have a 3.5 GPA or greater and provide substantial additional evidence of high academic achievement as determined by the Graduate Admissions Committee. Successful applicants will have undergraduate research experience with publications or abstracts at national meetings.

Current UMN MS Students

Current students may apply for a Change of Status after making sufficient progress toward their M.S. research objective (usually at least 15 credits) in addition to having a 3.5 GPA or greater.

Change of Status Application Process

Follow this link to begin the Change of Status application process


The current student creates a new Graduate School application profile and submits a new application. This process will be identical to the standard application, with the following exceptions:

  • The personal statement must explain the reasons a change of status is sought and a description of their research experience
  • One letter of recommendation must be from the student’s current faculty advisor summarizing evidence of the student’s aptitude and ability to do doctoral-level research
  • The student must contact the Food Science and Nutrition Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) prior to submission so application requirements can be adapted for the Change of Status.

A $75 application fee applies to all Change of Status applicants.

Change of Status applicants will be informed of their application decision in March for fall intake or November for spring intake. Change of Status application decisions may be communicated earlier if time in the year’s admissions cycle permits.

Careers in Nutrition

Your potential for personal and professional fulfillment in the field of nutrition is virtually unlimited. Career opportunities continue to grow rapidly with the search for solutions to nutrition-related problems.

An advanced nutrition degree will qualify you to:

  • conduct research in colleges and universities
  • teach in colleges and universities
  • hold nutrition-related positions in government, healthcare facilities, commodity organizations, corporations and industry
  • administer food service or international food or agriculture programs

Also, if you complete the additional graduate requirements to become a Registered Dietitian, you may practice as a dietitian in research, clinical, or food service settings.

These are some examples of where our Nutrition Graduate Program Students have gone after graduation:

  • Faculty member, Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M, Kingsville
  • Faculty member, Department of Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
  • Faculty member, Department of Nutrition, Pennsylvania State University
  • Coordinator, Center for Education and Leadership in Maternal and Child Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota
  • Faculty member, Frederick Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington
  • Faculty member, Department of Nutrition, Utah State University, Logan, Utah
  • Nutrition Group, Research and Development, Kraft Foods
  • Clinical Dietitian, University Hospital, University of Minnesota
  • Research and Development, Novartis Nutrition Corporation
  • Research Associate, Clinical Research Center, University of Minnesota School of Medicine

 

International Student Information

Degrees Offered


Master's Programs

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M.S. Degree (Plans A and B)

What are the Master’s Degree Requirements?

The master’s degree has a minimum of 30 credits, comprised of 14 graduate level course credits in Nutrition, 6 credits in a minor or supporting field outside the major, and 10 thesis credits (Plan A) or 10 credits of additional graduate-level coursework and/or independent study (Plan B). See below for the Plan C M.P.S. Program requirements

14 Graduate Level Course Credits in Nutrition
  • NUTR 8001: Orientation to the Nutrition Graduate Program (Fall, 1cr)  Should be taken the first fall semester
    An orientation class taught by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) 
Graduate Nutrition core series*
  • NUTR 5625 - Nutritional Biochemistry (Fall, 3 cr)
  • NUTR 5626 - Nutritional Physiology (Spring, 3 cr)
  • NUTR 5622 - Vitamin and Mineral Biochemistry (Spring, 3 cr)
  • NUTR 5624 - Nutrition and Genetics (Fall, 2 credits)

*If a student has taken these core course(s) or their equivalents (the equivalence will be evaluated by the Director of Graduate Studies), they must take other courses to achieve the equivalent number of graduate level course credits. These may be from any nutrition course that is 5xxx or 8xxx, or FScN 4622 Nutritional Toxicology, or 6xxx courses if taught through Public Health.

One 8xxx level course (2 cr.) from the following list:
  • NUTR 8620, Advances in Nutrition (2 cr)
  • NUTR 8620/PHSL 8620 Advances in Nutrition: Obesity Prevention from the Molecule to the Bedside (Fall)
6 Graduate Level Course Credits Outside the Major
  • Must include one graduate level statistics course. 
  • Students enrolling Fall semester 2015 and later must include one graduate level research methods course (at least 2 cr.). Students can select from a list of recommended courses already offered across the university in consultation with their adviser.
  • Other courses may be from any field but must be at the 5xxx or 8xxx level. (Exceptions: 6xxx Public Health courses are allowed.)
10 Thesis or Project Credits
  • Plan A/thesis students must register for a minimum of 10 Master’s Thesis Credits (NUTR 8777). Plan A requires an original research project to be completed with the results subsequently reported as a thesis.  Its purpose is for students to learn how to demonstrate familiarity with the tools of research or scholarship in Nutrition, to work independently and present the results of their investigation effectively.  Thesis formatting instructions are available on the Graduate School website.
  • Plan B is similar to the Plan A but involves less research. It includes additional coursework and completion of a special project. Plan B/project students must take a combination of an additional 10 credits of coursework and/or Independent Study (NUTR 8695). The student’s adviser specifies both the nature and extent of the coursework and project work necessary to satisfy this requirement. The Plan B project should involve a combined total of approximately 135 hours (the equivalent of a minimum of three independent study credits) of work. Additional coursework can include up to 7 additional credits. Use the Directed/Independent Study Form to register for NUTR 8695.
  • If a student begins as a Plan A MS student and has taken Master’s Thesis Credits NUTR 8777, these credits do not factor into the total number of credits needed. The student must submit a Registration Exception Request asking to exchange the Thesis Credits for Independent Study Credits in order to reach the minimum of 30 coursework credits. Previous theses and Plan B papers are available for review in the FScN Library, room 220. See Sue Winkelman in the reception office, room 225A, to check out items.
Additional Master’s Degree Requirements (Plan A and Plan B)
  • All required courses, except NUTR 8621, must be taken A/F
  • Maintenance of a 2.8 GPA
  • In addition to the academic requirements, students are expected to obtain teaching experience.  All MS Nutrition graduate students are expected to assist in teaching a course two times.
  • Seminar Presentation (A presentation of your thesis or project work at the Graduate Seminar. Nutrition students do not register for the Seminar.  It is not graded and usually given during the last semester.)
  • Passage of a Master’s Final Oral Exam (see details below and in Appendix C)
  • Completion of a Master’s Thesis or project. The department and Graduate School each require a copy of the master’s thesis upon completion. The Department requires a copy of the Plan B paper. Advisors will not sign the Final Examination Report form after the final oral defense for Plan B MS students until they receive the final, revised copy of the student’s Plan B paper. The Graduate School does not require a copy of the Plan B paper, but it can be archived in the Digital Conservancy if the student requests.

Integrated B.S./M.S. ('4+1' Program)

Students will complete their 4th year as an undergraduate student and their 1st year as a graduate student at the same time, allowing students to complete an MS degree in a shorter time with less expense. This program is available to current undergraduate students majoring in Nutrition at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus in the Didactic Program in Dietetics or Nutrition Studies track.

Learn More

Further Info About Master's Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements

The Master’s degree has a minimum of 30 credits, comprised of 14 graduate level course credits in Nutrition, 6 credits in a minor or supporting field outside the major, and 10 thesis credits (Plan A) or 10 credits of additional graduate-level coursework and/or independent study (Plan B). 

14 Graduate Level Course Credits in Nutrition

  • NUTR 8621, Presentation Skills (Fall, 1credit) Should be taken the first fall semester. This is an orientation class taught by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS)
  • Graduate Nutrition core series*
    • NUTR 5625 - Nutritional Biochemistry (3 credits, Fall)
    • NUTR 5626 - Nutritional Physiology (3 credits, Spring
    • NUTR 5622 - Vitamin and Mineral Biochemistry (3 credits, Spring)
    • NUTR 5624 – Nutrition and Genetics (2 credits, Fall)
      *If a student has taken these core course(s) or their equivalents (the equivalence will be evaluated by the Director of Graduate Studies), they must take other courses to achieve the equivalent number of graduate level course credits. These may be from any nutrition course that is 5xxx or 8xxx, or FScN 4622 Nutritional Toxicology, or 6xxx courses if taught through Public Health.
  • One 8xxx level course (2 credits.) from the following list:
    • NUTR 8620, Advances in Nutrition (Spring)
    • NUTR 8620/PHSL 8620 Advances in Nutrition: Obesity Prevention from the Molecule to the Bedside (Fall)

6 Graduate Level Course Credits Outside the Major

  • Must include one graduate level Statistics course.
  • Students enrolling Fall semester 2015 and later must include one graduate level research methods course (at least 2 cr.). Students can select from a list of recommended courses already offered across the university in consultation with their adviser. See Appendix C for the current list of courses.
  • Other courses may be from any field but must be at the 5xxx or 8xxx level. (Exceptions: 6xxx Public Health courses are allowed.)

10 Thesis or Project Credits

  • Plan A/thesis students must register for a minimum of 10 Master’s Thesis Credits (NUTR 8777). Plan A requires an original research project to be completed with the results subsequently reported as a thesis. Its purpose is for students to learn how to demonstrate familiarity with the tools of research or scholarship in Nutrition, to work independently and present the results of their investigation effectively.
  • Plan B is similar to the Plan A but involves less research. It includes additional coursework and completion of a special project. Plan B/project students must take a combination of an additional 10 credits of coursework and/or Independent Study (NUTR 8695). The student’s adviser specifies both the nature and extent of the coursework and project work necessary to satisfy this requirement. The Plan B project should involve a combined total of approximately 135 hours (the equivalent of a minimum of three independent study credits) of work. Additional coursework can include up to 7 additional credits. The independent study form and instructions (NUTR 8695) can be found on our website. For more information see Appendix F: Nutrition MS Plan B Option Guidance.

If a student begins as a Plan A MS student and has taken Master’s Thesis Credits NUTR 8777, these credits do not factor into the total number of credits needed. The student must submit a Registration Exception Request asking to exchange the Thesis Credits for Independent Study Credits in order to reach the minimum of 30 coursework credits. Previous theses and Plan B papers are available for review in the FScN Library, room 220. See Sue Winkelman in the reception office, room 225A, to check out items.

Transfer Courses

The graduate level courses taken at another institution that are determined to be equivalent may be substituted for program courses based on faculty approval and Graduate School guidelines. Students must complete the Degree Plan Worksheet for GPAS, in consultation with their advisor, to request approval of transfer courses.

For information regarding transfer credits policy visit the UMN policies website.

Additional Master’s Degree Requirements (Plan A and Plan B)

  • The 14 graduate level course credits in Nutrition must be taken on an A/F basis (except NUTR 8621). Biostatistics should also be taken on an A/F basis but the other required courses outside the major can be taken S/N.
  • Maintenance of a 2.8 GPA
  • In addition to the academic requirements, students are expected to obtain teaching experience. All M.S. Nutrition graduate students are expected to assist in teaching a course two times.
  • Seminar Presentation (A presentation of your thesis or project work at the Graduate Seminar. It is not graded and usually given during the last semester.)
  • Passage of a Master’s Final Oral Exam (see details below)
  • Completion of a Master’s Thesis or project. The department and Graduate School each require a copy of the master’s thesis upon completion. The Department requires a copy of the Plan B paper. Advisers will not sign the Final Examination Report form after the final oral defense for Plan B MS students until they receive the final, revised copy of the student’s Plan B paper. The adviser should ask other committee members to sign the Report form, but retain the form until he or she receives the final, revised copy of the Plan B paper. The student can submit an electronic or hard copy to his or her adviser. The electronic or hard copy of the Plan B paper should be forwarded to the Program Coordinator (Nancy Toedt) to be stored in the Department. If it is a hard copy, it should be spiral bound prior to submitting to the adviser. The Graduate School does not require a copy of the Plan B paper, but it can be archived in the Digital Conservancy if the student requests.

MS Nutrition Minor

Master’s students in other programs may complete a minor in Nutrition by completing a minimum of the following two courses:

  • NUTR 5625 - Nutritional Biochemistry (Fall, 3 credits)
  • NUTR 5626 - Nutritional Physiology (Spring, 3 credits)

Details about the Master’s Final Oral Exam

Master’s students must pass a final oral exam to complete their degree. The final exam consists of a student presentation of their thesis research or project followed by questions from faculty examiners. The final exam covers the major and related fields, and may include any work relevant to these fields.

Examining Committee

The student and adviser agree on recommendations for an appropriate examining committee for the final oral examination. There are three members, two from the major area and one from the minor or related area. Students must consult with possible examiners prior to recommending them for committee membership.

Visit this link to determine who is eligible to serve on your examining committee.

Visit this link to assign your examination committee members.

Exam Procedures

The student must make the thesis or Plan B project available to the examining committee at least 14 days before the exam. The exam is closed, with only the student and the examining committee present. The total exam will not exceed three hours.

Visit this link for administrative policy on Master's degree completion.

Example Schedule for the Master’s Degree

  • Fall Semester 1
    • NUTR 8621, Presentation Skills, 1 credit (students should take this course their first fall semester)
    • NUTR 5625 - Nutritional Biochemistry, 3 credits
    • PUBH 6450, Biostatistics I, 4 credits
    • Begin thesis literature review
    • Begin thesis research
    • Master’s Thesis (NUTR 8777) or Plan B project credits (NUTR 8695) should be taken each semester in order to reach 14 credits each semester.
  • Spring Semester 2
    • NUTR 5622 - Vitamin and Mineral Biochemistry, 3 credits
    • NUTR 5626 - Nutritional Physiology, 3 credits
    • Prepare final draft of literature review
  • Fall Semester 3
    • NUTR 5624 – Nutrition and Genetics, 2 credits 
    • Research Methods Course (at least 2 credits)
    • NUTR 8620, 2 credits
    • Submit abstract for presentation at national/international meeting
  • Spring Semester 4
    • NUTR 8620, 2 credits (if NUTR 8xxx course requirement was not taken fall semester)
    • Master’s Thesis or Plan B project credits (These should be taken throughout program in order to reach 14 credits each semester.)
    • Begin writing publication(s)/thesis (Writing may begin earlier.)
    • Present research at Graduate Seminar
    • Master’s Final Oral Exam

Outside Major Course Information and Terms Offered

Statistics

  • PUBH 6450, Biostatistics I (4 credits, fall, spring, every year)
  • PUBH 6451, Biostatistics II (4 credits, spring, every year)
  • STAT 5021 Statistical Analysis (4 credits, fall, spring, every year).

Electives must be taken at the 5xxx or 8xxx level. Exception: FScN 4622 (Nutritional Toxicology) and 6xxx Public Health courses are allowed.

Important Deadlines for Master’s Degree Completion

  1. Register every fall and spring semester until your degree is awarded.
  2. Complete Annual Student Progress Report every spring semester and discuss progress with adviser.
  3. Submit Graduate Degree Plan into GPAS at least one semester prior to anticipated graduation.
  4. Assign members to master’s final exam committee at least one month prior to exam.
  5. Download Graduation Packet up to one semester before Master’s Final Exam.
  6. Schedule final exam. Notify the adviser and other members of the Master’s Final Exam Committee at least two weeks in advance that the thesis or Plan B project will be delivered on a particular date. All Exam Committee members must have at least two weeks to read the thesis or Plan B project after it has been delivered.
  7. Submit Graduate Application for Degree the first business day of anticipated month of graduation.
  8. Obtain signatures for Reviewer’s Report prior to the final exam. (Plan B does not require the Reviewer’s Report.)
  9. Submit Reviewer’s Report and Final Examination Report no later than the last business day of anticipated month of graduation.
  10. After Master’s Final Exam, make corrections or revisions to the thesis or Plan B project. Submit thesis within six months of the final exam date to GSSP Office and submit one bound copy of the thesis to FScN Student Services in 225J FScN. The Plan B paper does not require a hard cover, but must be in a securely bound material. Thesis formatting instructions are available here.
  11. Perform required Departmental laboratory checkout. Turn in keys.
  12. Students are encouraged to schedule an exit interview with the Department Head.

For links to the forms needed for these degree completion steps see:
Master’s Plan A
Master’s Plan B

For answers to frequently asked questions visit this website.

Time Limit for Earning the Master’s Degree

All requirements for the master’s degree must be completed and the degree awarded within the shorter of five calendar years after initial enrollment in the graduate program. Students who are unable to complete the degree within the time limits described above due to extraordinary circumstances may petition the program and collegiate unit for an extension of up to 12 months. Students must obtain the approval of their adviser/s and program DGS and submit the petition by the deadline. If a petition is approved, the student is notified in writing of the expectations for progress and for the month/year of degree conferral.

If the petition is denied, the student is notified in writing that he or she will be terminated from the graduate program upon expiration of the limit. Students who have been terminated under such circumstances may apply for readmission to the program; however, readmission is not guaranteed. A petition form can be found here.

Doctoral Program

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About the Program

What are the Doctoral Degree Requirements? 

The doctor of philosophy is primarily a research degree.  Consequently, it’s heavily focused on the research and less on coursework.  The following research areas are available in the program:

  • Human Nutrition
  • Nutritional Biochemistry
  • Public Health Nutrition

The Ph.D. degree requires a minimum of 50 credits. If you have a M.S. in Nutrition from the University of Minnesota, the minimum number of credits for the Ph.D. degree will be determined upon enrollment based on the courses included in the MS degree plan.

14 Graduate Level Course Credits in Nutrition
  • NUTR 8621, Presentation Skills (Fall, 1cr)  Should been taken the first fall semester
    An orientation class taught by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS)
Graduate Nutrition core series*
  • NUTR 5625 - Nutritional Biochemistry (Fall, 3 cr)
  • NUTR 5626 - Nutritional Physiology (Spring, 3 cr)
  • NUTR 5622 - Vitamin and Mineral Biochemistry (Spring, 3 cr)
  • NUTR 5624 – Nutrition and Genetics (Fall, 2 credits) 
One 8xxx level courses (2 cr.) from the following list:
  • NUTR 8620, Advances in Nutrition (Spring)
  • NUTR 8620, Advances in Nutrition (every other Fall)
  • NUTR 8620/PHSL 8620 Advances in Nutrition: Obesity Prevention from the Molecule to the Bedside (Fall)
12 Graduate Level Course Credits Outside the Major 
  • Must include one graduate level Statistics course. 
  • Students enrolling Fall semester 2015 and later must include one graduate level research methods course (at least 2 cr.). Students can select from a list of recommended courses already offered across the university in consultation with their advisor.
  • Other courses may be from any field but must be at the 5xxx or 8xxx level. (Exceptions: 6xxx Public Health courses are allowed)
  • Certain course requirements may be deemed met if their equivalents were taken at another institution and the transfer of graduate courses for credit may also be considered when a student submits their Graduate Degree Plan to the DGS for approval.
24 Doctoral Thesis Credits (NUTR 8888)

 

Additional Doctoral Degree Requirements 

  • All required courses, except NUTR 8621, must be taken A/F
  • Maintenance of a 3.0 GPA
  • In addition to the academic requirements, students are expected to obtain teaching experience.  All Ph.D. Nutrition graduate students are expected to assist in teaching a course three times.
  • Passage of a preliminary written exam (See Appendix C)
  • Passage of a preliminary oral exam (See Appendix C), taken after passage of the preliminary written exam
  •  Passage of a final oral exam (See Appendix D)
  • Completion of a doctoral thesis

Ph.D. Example Schedule

Fall Semester 1

  • NUTR 8621, Presentation Skills, 1 cr (students should take this course their first fall semester)
  • NUTR 5625 - Nutritional Biochemistry, 3 cr
  • PUBH 6450, Biostatistics I, 4 cr
  • Begin thesis literature review
  • Begin thesis research

Spring Semester 2

  • NUTR 5622 - Vitamin and Mineral Biochemistry, 3 cr
  • NUTR 5626 - Nutritional Physiology, 3 cr
  • Fulfill 1st Teaching Assistant (T.A.) responsibility
  • Update literature review as needed throughout
  • Take Written Preliminary Exam 

Fall Semester 3

  • NUTR 8620, Advanced Topics, 2 cr
  • NUTR 5624 – Nutrition and Genetics, 2 credits
  • Research Methods Course (at least 2 cr)
  • Submit Degree Plan and Assign members to Oral Preliminary Exam Committee  (if successfully passed the written prelim exam)
  • Fulfill 2nd T.A. responsibility
  • Submit abstract for presentation at national/international meeting 

Spring Semester 4

  • PUBH 6451, Biostatistics II, 4 credits
  • Additional course credits outside the major as needed
  • Take Written preliminary Exam if not taken the prior spring semester

Fall Semester 5

  • Take Oral Preliminary Exam (This may be taken earlier, depending on when the written prelim is taken) 
  • Begin writing publication(s)/thesis
  • Fulfill 3rd T.A. responsibility
  • Submit abstract for presentation at national/international meeting

Spring Semester 6

  • Complete thesis research.
  • Assign members to Final Exam Committee Complete writing publication(s)/thesis

Outside Major Course Information and Terms Offered

Statistics
  • PUBH 6450, Biostatistics I  (4 cr, fall, spring, every year)
  • PUBH 6451, Biostatistics II (4cr, spring, every year)
  • STAT 5021 Statistical Analysis (4 cr, fall, spring, every year) 
Research Methods Course 

List of recommended courses is available in Appendix J of the Nutrition Graduate Program Handbook

Notes
  • Spring Semester: PUBH 6450/6451 MAY conflict with NUTR 5622
  • Electives must be taken at the 5xxx or 8xxx level. Exception: FScN 4622 (Nutritional Toxicology) and 6xxx Public Health courses are allowed.

Graduate Minor in Nutrition

Master’s students in other programs may complete a minor in Nutrition by completing a minimum of the following two courses:

  • NUTR 5625 - Nutritional Biochemistry (Fall, 3 cr)
  • NUTR 5626 - Nutritional Physiology (Spring, 3 cr)

Taking the following coursework will complete a minor in Nutrition for Ph.D. students in other doctoral programs:

  • NUTR 5625 - Nutritional Biochemistry (Fall, 3 cr)
  • NUTR 5626 - Nutritional Physiology (Spring, 3 cr)
  • NUTR 5622 Vitamin and Mineral Biochemistry (Spring, 3 cr)
  • NUTR 5624 – Nutrition and Genetics (Fall, 2 credits) 
  • One 8xxx level course (2 credits) from the following list: NUTR 8620, Advances in Nutrition (Spring), NUTR 8620/PHSL 8620 Advances in Nutrition: Obesity Prevention from the Molecule to the Bedside (Fall)