Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Health - Nutrition Option

The doctoral program prepares individuals for teaching and research in academic institutions and for positions of professional leadership in health and health-related agencies where research is an important function. Doctoral applicants should have earned the Bachelor's degree and have demonstrated basic research competency through a required thesis (M.S. thesis or equivalent research experience). It is expected that an applicant has satisfied the criteria for admission to the M.S. degree. Otherwise, any deficiency must be completed before a student is allowed to take the comprehensive examination for the Ph.D. degree.

Program's Minimum Requirements

A total of 45 (or 57 with a minor) credits including the following:

1. 18 credits (minimum) of Ph.D. Dissertation (NUTRITN 899).
2. 2 credits of Graduate Seminar. The student will present two seminars, all two may be in Nutrition or one in Nutrition and one in the Minor area.
3. 25 credits in major concentration of Nutrition.
4. 12 credits in minor concentration within SPHHS or another appropriate Ph.D.-granting program (optional).
5. Passing a two-part Comprehensive Examination.
6. Completion and defense of a research dissertation.

Prerequisites for Admission

Basic Science Core (Semesters)	Nutrition Core
Introductory Zoology or Biology (1)	NUTRITN 352 Lifecycle Nutrition
Human Physiology  (1)	NUTRTN 430 Nutrition and Metabolism
General Chemistry + Lab  (2)
Organic Chemistry (1)
Biochemistry  (1)
Microbiology (1)
Basic Nutrition  (1)

Basic Science Core - At least 5 out of 7 of these courses (or equivalent) must be taken before Matriculation.  Basic Nutrition (or a closely related course) must be one of these five.  The remainder must be taken while enrolled in the M.S. program but not for graduate credit

Nutrition Core - These courses (or their equivalent) must be taken by those who do not have a B.S. degree in Nutrition.  These may be taken while enrolled in the M.S. program, but not for graduate credit.

PhD Course requirements 

Major Area of study (25 credits) (see note 1)

These courses cannot count toward PhD credits if already taken to fulfill another graduate degree.

NUTRITN 630 Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition : Macronutrients	3
NUTRITN 640 Public Health Nutrition	3
NUTRITN 714 Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition : Micronutrients	3
NUTRITN 730 Molecular Signaling in Nutrition	3
NUTRITN 741 Methods in Nutrition Research	3
NUTRITN XXX (Elective or Independent study)	3
SPHHS 615 Epidemiology and Biostatics, Part A: Description, Estimation and Exposures	3
SPHHS 616 Epidemiology and Biostatics Part B:  Evidence, Threats and Action	3
SPHHS 600 Great Challenges in Public Health and Health Sciences II	1
Seminars (1 credit each) (Total of 3 credits)
NUTRITN 793 Grad Seminar	1
NUTRITN 794 Grad Seminar	1
Courses in Minor Area of Study (Total of 12 credits)
Culminating Experience: Dissertation (Minimum of 18 credits)
NUTRITN 899 Dissertation

Note 1. Students interested in pursuing the DPD (to become a Registered Dietitian) should go to the Undergraduate Dietetics Track webpage for additional course information: https://www.umass.edu/public-health-sciences/academics/bs-nutrition/bs-nutrition-dietetics-dpd-track

Note 2. Students may choose a minor concentration, such as  biostatistics, epidemiology, etc. and take 4 courses (>12 credits) from the minor area. 

Comprehensive Examination

Upon completion of majority of course work, the student must pass a comprehensive examination (see below) as specified in the Graduate School Regulations. Only students who have passed the comprehensive examination are considered candidates for the Ph.D. degree. The examination consists of two parts:

Written Examination

Each Ph.D. student is required to take the examination in Nutrition (major area). This exam focuses on three competency-based areas:

• Part A: General Nutrition
• Public Health Nutrition
• Basic Nutritional Biochemistry: Macronutrients
• Basic Nutritional Biochemistry: Micronutrients
• Methods for Nutrition Research
• Part B: Biomedical Nutrition
• Part C: Community-Based Nutrition

Oral Examination

The oral examination will be held within 1-month after passing the written portion. It is a continuation of the written examination with added emphasis on the student's area of research interests and the minor area declared by the student. Additional guidelines are available from the Graduate Program Director.

Comprehensive exams (written and oral) will be scheduled in the fall and the spring. No summer comprehensive exams will be scheduled unless there is a specific exception or consideration.

A student may be allowed a second chance to pass any portion of the comprehensive exam. Two failures of any portion are grounds for dismissal from the program.

Dissertation Proposal and Oral Defense

Upon successful completion of the comprehensive examinations, students prepare a dissertation proposal that must be approved by the student's dissertation committee before being submitted to the Graduate School. A copy of the dissertation must be in the Department Main Office for review by the faculty 10 business days before the scheduled oral defense.

The Ph.D. program can be completed in 3 years for students who have completed a master's degree in nutrition or closely related field. The actual length of time depends on background and the student's ability to complete the Dissertation Proposal and subsequent dissertation research.