College of Agriculture
and Life Sciences
Department of Nutritional Sciences
- Overview of Graduate Teaching Faculty
- Deadline for receipt of completed applications
for admission:
Fall semester, February 15th
GENERAL
The M.S. and Ph.D.
degrees with a major in Nutritional Sciences are administered by the
Interdisciplinary Graduate Group in Nutritional Sciences. This group
comprises approximately 30 faculty from the Department of Nutritional
Sciences, the College of Medicine, and the College of Public Health. The
range of faculty interests enables graduate training in a wide range of
topics in nutritional sciences. The Master of Science degree is
available with emphasis in either Dietetics or Nutritional Biochemistry. The Ph.D.
degree is available with emphases in nutritional biochemistry/molecular
nutrition, epidemiological/public health nutrition, or human/clinical
nutrition. A variety of basic and applied nutrition research programs
that involve several disciplines are offered. Included are nutrition and
exercise, nutrient regulation of gene expression, biochemistry of trace
elements, pediatric nutrition, nutritional pathology in the aged, muscle
metabolism and nutrition, international nutrition, environmental
interactions with nutrition, energy utilization, and nutrition
education. The policies listed here supplement applicable University
policies found in the General and Graduate Catalogs, and students should
also consult those sources.
APPLICATION
PROCEDURES
Application forms may be obtained from either the
Department of Nutritional Sciences or the Graduate College.
Complete applications including GRE scores (not a date when the GRE exam
will be taken), a statement of purpose, and two letters (M.S., three for
Ph.D.) of recommendation, must be received by February 15th to be
considered for admission the following semester. Because of the limited availability
of financial assistance and difficulties associated with enrolling in
the second semester of a two-semester sequence of courses, only students
applying for re-admission will be considered for admission beginning in
the spring semester. The Graduate Group in
Nutritional Sciences requires Graduate Record Examination General Test
(GRE) scores for admission. The Graduate College requires a TOEFL score
of 550 for students whose formal education was not conducted in English.
PREREQUISITES
FOR ADMISSION
The admission requirements for entrance to graduate study toward
a M.S. or Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences are as follows:
1.
An all-college grade point average of 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale.
In special instances, students with averages slightly below 3.0, but
3.0+ over the last 60 units of course work, may be admitted on a
provisional basis.
2.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores in the verbal and
quantitative tests are required and will be used as an aid in planning
the student=s program.
3.
Applicants should submit a resume which includes an one to two
page statement of academic and/or professional interests and career
objectives.
4.
Applicants must arrange to have two letters of recommendation by
persons familiar with their professional and/or academic career sent to
the Graduate Coordinator (see below). These letters will also serve to
support applications for an assistantship if any are available.
5.
General Admission Requirements
Core Courses
1)
One semester of algebra, equivalent to Math 110.
2)
3)
One year of organic chemistry with laboratory equivalent to Chem
241a,b and 243a,b.
4)
One semester of physics with laboratory equivalent to Phys 102a
and 180a.
5)
One semester of biochemistry (junior or senior level) equivalent
to NSC 460 and 461.
6)
One year of biology (microbiology will count toward this
requirement).
7)
One semester of upper division, undergraduate nutrition
equivalent to NSC 408.
1) For an M.S. degree with an emphasis in dietetics - completion of
an American Dietetics Association - approved Plan IV undergraduate
option.
2)
Dietetics and Nutritional Biochemistry - one semester of human
physiology (senior level) equivalent to PSIO 480.
3) Nutritional Biochemistry - second semester of physics (total one
year) equivalent to Phys 102b and 180b.
4) For a Ph.D. degree with an emphasis in nutritional
biochemistry/molecular nutrition - one semester of analytical chemistry.
Students may enter the program without some of these
prerequisites but will need to make them up without graduate credit
during their first year in graduate study.
Students may apply for Entrance to either a M.S. degree or a
Ph.D. degree. It is possible to switch from one degree program to the
other after enrollment.
M.S.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Graduate
students must complete at least 30 units and an approved thesis to
receive an M.S. in Nutritional Sciences. The 30 units must include the
required courses listed below and appropriate electives. Students should
select an advisor and two additional faculty members for their graduate
committee as soon as possible, preferably after one semester and no
later than their second semester. Students must have their proposed
course work (Program of Study) approved by their graduate committee.
This should be done during the second semester. No more than 6 units of
400 level course work outside the major may be included in the Program
of Study, with the permission of the student=s
graduate committee.
A.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR M.S.
DEGREE; NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY OR DIETETICS EMPHASIS
1.
Statistics (graduate level), 3 units
2.
Seminar NSC 696B, 2 units
3.
NSC 520, 3 units
4 NSC 602, 3 UNITS
4. NSC Department courses, 3 units to be chosen from 622 or 623
5.
Electives, 11 units
6.
NSC 910 Thesis, 1-6 units
B.
DIETETICS EMPHASIS
1.
Statistics (graduate level), 3 units
2.
Seminar NSC 696B, 2 units
3.
NSC 520, 3 units
4.
NSC Department courses, 6 units to be chosen from NSC 602, 620, 622
5.
Electives, 11 units
6.
NSC 910 Thesis, 1-6 units
C.
NSC DEPARTMENTAL COURSES THAT MAY BE USED AS ELECTIVES
541
- Therapeutic Nutrition, 4 units
547
- Persp. In Geriatrics Lab, 1 unit
548
- Nutr. Sport & Exer., 3 units
595
- Nutr. Ed. Methods, 1 unit
601 - Bioenergetics, 2 units
615
- Chem. Metabolism of Lipids, 3 units
622
- Mineral Metabolism, 2 units
623
- Vitamins, 3 units
628
- Steroid & Lipid Metabolism, 2 units
640
- Fld. Meth. Hum. Nutr., 3 units
665
- Analy+Purific of Protein, 3 units
693
- Internship, 3 units
Ph.D.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
For a Ph.D. with a Major in Nutritional Sciences
All
students must take 36 units of coursework (not research or Ahouse
numbered courses@) for a Ph.D. degree at the University of Arizona.
CORE COURSES (Required of All Students)
NSC
520
3 units-Advanced Nutritional Science
NSC
602
3 units-metabolic integration
NSC
622
2 units-mineral metabolism
NSC 623
3 units-vitamins
NUSC
(NSC)696b 1 unit (two times)-seminar in nutrition
Statistics
3 units-to be selected from Epi 610, Math 509, FCM 576
Total
Units Required
15 units
THREE AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
Nutritional
Biochemistry/
Epidemiological Nutrition/
Human/Clinical
Molecular
Nutrition
Public Health Nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition-6
units
Nutrition-6 units
Nutrition-6 units
The
total number of units listed in each Area of Specialization and the 15
units required of all Nutritional Science majors adds to the 36 units
required.
The
6 units of
The two units of seminar under each Area of Specialization may be
taken in any area/department/ program approved by the student
Nutrition
Courses in Nutritional Biochemistry/Molecular Nutrition
Biochemistry
Bioc
568 Nucleic Acid
Bioc
569 Topics in Gene Regulation
Cell
Biology and Anatomy
CBA
577 Principles of Cell Biology
Molecular
and Cellular Biology
MCB
572 Cell Regulation
Nutritional
Sciences
NSC
510 Cell Signals and Nutrition
NSC
520 Advanced Nutritional Science
NSC
615 Chemistry and Metabolism of Lipids
NSC
665 Analysis and Purification of Proteins
Nutrition
Courses in Epidemiological Nutrition/Public Health Nutrition
Epidemiology
EPI
573a
Basic Principles of Epidemiology
EPI
573b
Epidemiological Methods
EPI
615a
Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention
EPI
645
Nutritional Epidemiology
EPI
670
Chronic Disease Epidemiology
EPI
696A
Epidemiological Seminar
Students
in the Epidemiological Nutrition/Public Health Nutrition Area of
Specialization must select EPI 610 as their statistics core course.
Cancer
Biology
CBIO
515 Basic
Human Pathology
CBIO
551/851 Molecular
Mechanisms of Cancinogenesis
CBIO
555 Cancer
Biology
CBIO
589 Cancer
Genetics and Cytogenetics
CBIO
696H Cancer
Biology Seminar
Immunology
MBIM
503R Biology
of Animal Parasites
MBIM
519
General Immunological Concepts
MBIB
538 Ecology
of Infectious Disease
MBIM
554
Host-Microbial Interactions
MBIM
560
Development of the Immune System
MBIM
561
Immunobiology
Public
Health
PHL
560
International Nutrition
PHL
578
Public Health Nutrition
PHL
696G
Nutrition and Physical Activity in a Biocultural Context
Nutrition
Courses in Human/Clinical Nutrition
Epidemiology
Epi
573a
Basic Principles of Epidemiology
Epi
573b
Epidemiological Methods
Nutritional
Sciences
NSC
601
Bioenergetics
NSC
665
Analysis and Purification of Protein
Public
Health
PHL
578
Public Health Nutrition
SOME
RECOMMENDED COURSES FOR GENERAL ELECTIVES
Nutritional
Biochemistry/Molecular Nutrition
Biochemistry
Bioc
574
Advances in Mammalian Genetics
Bioc
585
Biological Structure I
Cell
Biology and Anatomy
CBA
505
Eukaryotic DNA Replication
Chemistry
Chem
571
Analytical Separations
Genetics
GENE
570
Molecular Genetics and Evolution
Microbiology
and Immunology
MBIM
529
General Virology
Molecular
and Cellular Biology
MCB
511
Molecular Biology
MCB
516
Bioinformatics and Genomic Analysis
Epidemiological
Nutrition/Public Health Nutrition
Human/Clinical
Nutrition
Cancer
Biology
CBIO
555 Cancer
Biology
Epidemiology
Epi
670
Chronic Disease Epidemiology
Gerontological
Sciences
GERO
550
Biology of Aging
Microbiology
and Immunology
MBIM
519
General Immunological Concepts
MBIM
520
Pathogenic Bacteriology
MBIM
529
General Virology
MBIM
560
Development of the Immune System
MBIM
561
Immunology
Pharmaceutical
Sciences
PHSC
507 Pharmacokinetics
Physiology
PSIO
520
Exercise Physiology
PSIO
545
Evaluation and Regulation of Body Build and Composition
PSIO
580
Systems Physiology
Public
Health
PHL
560
International Nutrition
PHL
696G Nutrition
and Physical Activity in a Biocultural Context
RESEARCH
FACILITIES
Laboratories
and offices for graduate study in nutritional sciences are located both on
the main campus and the Health Sciences Center of the University of
Arizona. All facilities are air conditioned; and the research laboratories
are equipped for modern molecular biology and nutrition research. There
are laboratory animal care facilities near the Shantz Building and in the
Arizona Health Sciences Center for research requiring animal models.
FINANCIAL
AID
There
are a limited number of departmental research and teaching assistantships
available to first-year graduate students. Other financial aid is available through the University Office of Financial Aid. Individual
faculty also may have extramural funding for graduate student support.
CORRESPONDENCE
AND INFORMATION
Janet Christner, Graduate Coordinator
University
of Arizona
Department
of Nutritional Sciences
601
Shantz Building
Tucson,
Arizona 85721
Telephone:
520-621-7790
jmc@ag.arizona.edu
NSC_Webmaster@ag.arizona.edu