Our Ph.D. program prepares you for a career in healthcare, government, community, industry, and university research and teaching positions.
Doctoral Students
Requirements include a minimum of 46 semester credit hours as follows:
At least 33 hours of course work, 12 hours of thesis and related research, 1 credit GradFIRST seminar (for students who matriculated Fall 22 and after). Of the 33 hours in coursework, a minimum of 18 must be in Nutritional Sciences, 6 credits in statistics (see approved list below), 3 credits in physiology/biochemistry/cell biology (see approved list below), and 6 credits in area of interest (can be non-Nutritional Sciences), a minimum of 6 credits in doctoral research, 6 hours in dissertation writing, and 1 credit GradFIRST seminar (for students who matriculated Fall 22 and after).
16 hours of coursework should be in 8000/9000 level (9000, 9300, and 9010 do not count towards this requirement).
Students who do not have a Masters degree will need to take an additional 4 credits of 8000/9000 unless your electives are all graduate level only.
PhD Program Requirements
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Nutritional Sciences Courses (18 credit hours)
Required NUTR courses (12 credits)
^NUTR 6100 3 cr Micronutrient Nutrition (may be substituted with NUTR course if taken as undergraduate - see graduate handbook for procedure) *NUTR 6400 3 cr Advanced Macronutrients *NUTR 8560 3 cr Proposal Writing *NUTR 8900 3 cr Seminar in Nutritional Sciences (must take 2 cr in first semester, 1 cr in dissertation defense semester) Elective NUTR courses (6 credits)
^6050 3 cr Optimal Nutrition for the Life Span ^6070 1 cr Research Methodology in Human Nutritional Sciences ^6200 3 cr We Are What We Eat ^6220 3 cr Nutrition in Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sport *6230E 3 cr Current Issues in Sports Nutrition *6240E 3 cr Nutrition and Obesity Across the Life Span ^6500 3 cr Medical Nutrition Therapy I ^6510 3 cr Nutrition Related to the Human Life Cycle ^6520 2 cr Clinical Nutrition Interventions ^6530 4 cr Medical Nutrition Therapy II ^6540 3 cr Public Health Dietetics *6560E 3 cr Nutrition Health and Aging ^6570 3 cr Nutritional Genetics ^6590 3 cr Metabolism and Physiology of Energy Balance and Obesity ^6600 2 cr Food and Nutrition Policy ^6610 1 cr Foodservice Procurement and Financial Management *6620E 2 cr Management of Foodservice Organizations ^6630 3 cr Cultural Aspects of Foods and Nutrition ^6640E 3 cr Food Sanitation and Safety ^6645 2 cr Nature of Food ^6646 1 cr Food Choices and the Consumer ^6647 3 cr Sensory Evaluation of Food ^6650 3 cr Experimental Study of Food ^6660S 3 cr Food and Nutrition Education Methods *6665E 3 cr Childhood and Adolescent Nutrition *6670E 3 cr Nutrition Intervention ^6700 3 cr Weight Management Coaching *6800E 3 cr Nutrition and Pharmacotherapy for Disease Management ^7040 3 cr Nutritional Epidemiology *7600 4 cr Public Health, Physical Activity, and Nutrition Interventions *7940 VR Nutrition, Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sport Internship *8150 3 cr Food & Nutritional Biochemistry *8230 3 cr Advanced Nutrition in Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sport *8240 3 cr Nutrition and Neuroscience *8530 3 cr Nutrition and Disease Processes I *8550 3 cr Nutrition and Disease Processes II *8595 1 cr Survey of Obesity and Weight Management * Apply towards 12 credit hours of graduate level only courses
^ Cannot be repeated if taken as undergraduate. Does not apply towards 12 credit hours of graduate level only courses.
Courses in supporting area (15 minimum credits)
Statistics (6 credits)
Physiology/Biochemistry/Cell Biology (3 credits)
Approved Physiology/BioChem/Cell Bio Courses
Electives (6 credits)
Choose from elective list above and/or in other area(s) of interest at graduate level
Research and Dissertation (12 credits)
NUTR 9000 6 cr Dissertation Research
NUTR 9300 6 cr Doctoral Dissertation (3 cr should be in defense semester)
GradFIRST Seminar
GRSC 7001 GradFIRST Seminar (1-3 cr) (1 credit minimum for students who matriculated Fall 22 and after)
Minimum Total Credit Hours: 46
Cost and Financial Aid
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Cost
Current information on cost of attendance can be found on the University of Georgia Bursar and Treasury Services website.
Financial Aid
Visit the University of Georgia Office of Student Financial Aid website for more information of Financial Aid for graduate students.
Scholarships
Scholarships from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences
The department nominates the most highly qualified students for scholarships from the Graduate School
Assistantships
A select number of students receive assistantships, which requires 13 to 20 hours/week of work for the department, such as in teaching, research, and outreach.
Assistantships pay $14,000 to $30,000 annually, depending on degree objective (MS vs PhD), weekly hours worked, and 9 or 12 month appointment.
Tuition is waived to $25 for students who do receive assistantships but fees must be paid of about $1,400 annually.
Selection of recipients for assistantships is merit-based with priority given to PhD students and those who apply by the December deadline.
The department nominates the most highly qualified applicants for assistantships and awards from the Graduate School.
Faculty
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Visit the Nutritional Sciences Faculty directory for a list of faculty and links to their bios.
Our Research
Research Labs
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Research Faculty
Click here for bios on research faculty in the department.
Labs
Bioactive Compounds and Health Research Lab
Biochemistry of Metabolism Lab
Child Diet and Health Disparities Research Lab
Childhood Obesity/Nutrition Intervention Lab
Sensory Evaluation and Product Development Lab
Maternal and Child Nutrition Lab
Mechanisms of Aging and Longevity Lab
Micronutrient Proteomic Research Lab
Weekly Seminars
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In our weekly seminars, nutrition experts share their insight with students, faculty, staff, and alumni. These seminars supplement traditional coursework and provide a medium for introducing attendees to the latest data and practices in fundamental research, clinical and community nutrition. The seminars take place on Wednesdays from 11:30am - 12:20pm.