The department offers an accelerated 4+1 program that enables highly motivated and capable students to gain both BS and MS degrees in 5 years. This program open to all students but works particularly well for those who bring in relevant Advanced Placement or Early College Experience credits from high school. Taking required undergraduate courses ahead of schedule opens up space in the senior year to include graduate coursework, allowing completion of all MS requirements in one additional year.

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• • Most MS candidates have enrolled in the Plan A program, which requires a minimum of a total of 30 credits, a written general examination, and a research thesis. The course work is designed to develop an advanced level of knowledge in nutrition and related sciences, and prepare the student for developing specific research competencies.
  • The thesis topic is selected by the student and the Major Advisor. Near the end of the course work phase, all MS students must successfully complete a comprehensive written General Nutrition Knowledge examination prepared by the Graduate Committee and the Advisory Committee.

• • The non-thesis MS program (Plan B) is available for a small group of students who already have practical experience in the field of Nutritional Sciences.
  • This program requires that each student complete a minimum of 30 credits, pass the comprehensive written examination, and prepare a review paper that is to be presented orally to the Department.

The MS in Personalized Nutrition program is a professional degree that uniquely combines courses in nutrigenomics, clinical nutrition, and nutritional biochemistry to provide a foundation of knowledge and skills for Personalized Nutrition professionals.

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1. 25-30 credits of advanced course work, beyond the MS degree, selected with Advisory Committee approval.
2. The General Preliminary Examination involves two stages. Each student is required to take and pass a written examination at or near the end of the coursework program, followed by an oral exam. After the successful completion of the predoctoral written and oral exams, a student is required to write a detailed proposal describing their research, the Dissertation Prospectus, which is defended orally to the
3. Department. When a student has passed both the written and oral component of the General Examination and passed their Prospectus, they are admitted to the PhD candidacy.A Ph.D. candidate presents and defends his/her dissertation research before their Advisory Committee, Graduate Faculty and peers.