Doctoral study in the Implementation Science in Community Nutrition concentration prepares the student for research, teaching, and/or advanced-level practice in institutions of higher education, government, or the public and private sectors.
Upon graduation, all nutrition graduate students pursuing a doctoral degree in Implementation Science in Community Nutrition should possess the following competencies:
- Demonstrate understanding of professional ethics;
- Assess and evaluate nutritional needs and problems of target populations;
- Communicate nutrition information to the public;
- Ability to write specific aims and a research strategy for a grant;
- Ability to read, interpret, synthesize, and apply nutrition research findings and evidence-based practice guidelines;
- Demonstrate comprehensive breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding of the science and profession of nutrition; the ability to interpret, critique and synthesize research literature in nutrition;
- Ability to apply comprehensive knowledge and understanding of research methodology in the field of nutrition; communicate and disseminate research findings; write specific aims and a research strategy for a grant proposal and to submit an application/ grant proposal for research funding; and
- Ability to assume high level administrative, teaching, or research duties in institutions of higher education and in industry, government or health agencies that require doctoral-level nutritionists.
Credit Hours Required
A minimum of 72 graduate credit hours beyond the Bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 48 graduate credit hours (24 of which must be graduate coursework and 24 of which must be NUTR 600 dissertation work) beyond the Master’s. See current Graduate Catalog for overall University requirements.
Required Coursesa
- Required Courses (21 credit hours)
- A minimum of 10 credits from the following list of approved electives or other courses approved by the graduate committee: ESM 533 (3), ESM 534 (3), ESM 560 (3), KNS 535 (3), KNS 635 (3), PUBH 650 (3), PUBH 656 (3).
- Additional courses at the graduate level, exclusive of dissertation, to make up any credit hour deficiencies (up to 24 credit hours) as identified by faculty advisor and approved by the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies; this may not apply to students who have completed a Master’s degree prior to beginning the Doctorate program.
- A minimum of 24 credit hours of dissertation (NUTR 600)
Additional Course Requirements
a Depending on prior degree status (BS vs MS), students may need to complete additional graduate level coursework (independent of NUTR 600) to fulfill the minimum requirements of the Graduate School.
b A community/public health assessment/intervention course(s) is a pre-requisite for NUTR 624. If a student has not had a previous graduate-level community and public health nutrition coursework focused on assessment, intervention, and evaluation, they must take NUTR 503 (2 credit hours), NUTR 504 (2 credit hours), and NUTR 514 (2 credit hours) prior to completing NUTR 624.
c 3 credits of graduate-level statistics are a prerequisite for NUTR 624. Students should work with their Major Professor to select the statistical coursework that is most appropriate to their doctoral program.
Non-Course Requirements
- Completion of an independent research project is required.
- An open proposal hearing is required prior to beginning the research project.
- An oral comprehensive examination is required upon completion of the dissertation related to the research project.