Program Overview

Doctorate in Nutritional Sciences

The PhD in Nutritional Sciences emphasizes research and application of research ranging from basic molecular and cellular sciences to clinical and community applications. Students enter the program with either a bachelor's degree in nutrition or a master's degree in nutrition or a closely related discipline. Graduates are prepared for careers in higher education, industry, healthcare, and governmental programs.

Program Details

• Department: Department of Nutritional Sciences
• College: Education and Human Sciences
• Available At: OSU Stillwater Campus
• Degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Nutritional Sciences
• Specialty Area(s): Nutritional Sciences Courses

Curriculum

The program focuses on research, and students gain extensive experience in their areas of choice. All students take a core set of classes, including:

• Macronutrients and micronutrients in human nutrition
• Research methods
• Statistics for experimenters
• Emerging topics in nutrition
• Grant writing Beyond core classes, students work with faculty advisors to develop individual plans of study to meet their goals. The program offers specializations in:
• Bioinformatics
• Community/public health nutrition
• Molecular biology
• Statistics
• More All students participate in research and complete 15 to 40 dissertation hours.

Admission Requirements

The PhD program requires the following courses for admission:

• Biochemistry (undergraduate or graduate level)
• Physiology (undergraduate or graduate level)
• Graduate level nutrition (six credits)
• Graduate statistics (three credits) If the master's degree is in a subject area other than nutrition, 30 hours undergraduate or graduate courses related to nutritional sciences are required. For those who do not meet these requirements, conditional acceptance may be considered.

Application Process

To apply to the Nutrition, PhD program, submit the following:

• Graduate College application
• Transcripts from all previously attended institutions (3.0 undergraduate GPA required)
• Current resume/vita
• Three professional letters of recommendation
• Personal goals statement (1-2 pages)
• If English is a second language, applicants must submit results for TOEFL or IELTS tests
• Background check

Application Deadlines

• Pre-select students: November 22 (Fall)
• Domestic students: July 1 (Fall) & November 1 (Spring)
• International students: February 1 (Fall) & August 1 (Spring)

Research and Faculty

All graduate faculty possess a PhD and/or Registered Dietitian credentials and integrate personal experiences and research into the curriculum. The department's robust research portfolio includes:

• The role of micronutrients in cancer
• Diet effects on the microbiome
• International nutrition
• Metabolic risk indicators
• Nutrition and fitness for military and first-responders
• Obesity prevention programs and policy

Research Areas

• Cellular and Molecular Nutrition
• Human Clinical Nutrition
• Community and Public Health Nutrition

Research Labs

• Cellular and Molecular Nutrition Laboratory
• Laboratory for Applied Nutrition and Exercise Science

Cost and Assistance

Paid graduate research or teaching assistantships are available. Most doctoral students receive some financial support from the department. Assistantships depend on faculty availability and student interest.