Programs Offered
Nutritional Biochemistry
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- To acquire detailed knowledge regarding the biological basis of nutrition and the mechanisms by which diet can influence health. This includes a basic understanding of metabolism, physiology, molecular genetics, epidemiology and biostatistics.
- To develop laboratory skills required for modern biochemical and molecular studies of nutrition and its role in health and disease. This includes the quantitative analysis and interpretation of results.
- To attain skills in developing research proposals for the study of human nutrition. This requires the integration of knowledge about cellular and molecular biology, modern molecular genetics, and human physiology with concepts in nutritional sciences related to diet and disease.
- To develop skills in the oral and written communication of scientific information.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Nutritional Biochemistry program aims to provide students with rigorous training in biochemistry and cell biology that may be applied toward solving nutritional problems in the laboratory. The program includes the following components:
1. Formal course work
2. Laboratory rotations with Nutrition faculty (during the first year of study)
3. Research and departmental seminars
4. A laboratory thesis project
ADMISSIONS
Students admitted to this program are required to have a good general background in the biological sciences. Admission to this program is through the Division of Biological Sciences (DBS) and does not constitute acceptance into other programs within the Department of Nutrition. Successful completion of program requirements leads to the Ph.D. degree in Biological Sciences in Public Health (BPH). An accelerated program is available for M.D. and D.V.M. postdoctoral fellows, leading to the D.Sc. degree in Nutritional Biochemistry.
Nutritional Epidemiology
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- To acquire detailed knowledge regarding the biological basis of nutrition and the mechanisms by which diet can influence health. This includes a basic understanding of metabolism, physiology, and molecular genetics.
- To develop quantitative skills required for the evaluation of diet and disease relationships in epidemiologic studies.
- To attain skills in developing research proposals for the study of diet and disease. This requires the integration of knowledge about human nutrition with epidemiologic concepts.
- To develop skills in the oral and written communication of scientific information.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Nutritional Epidemiology program provides rigorous training in epidemiology and biostatistics as well as the biological aspects of nutrition. The overall objective is to enable students to investigate relationships between diet and disease. The program includes the following components:
1. Formal course work
2. Practical research project
3. Seminars
4. A thesis research project
ADMISSIONS
Students admitted to this program are required to have a general background in the biological sciences. Admission to this program does not imply acceptance into other programs within the Department of Nutrition. Successful completion of program requirements leads to a D.Sc. degree (or Dr.P.H. degree for those with an M.D. or other professional doctoral degree).
Public Health Nutrition
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- To develop the ability to translate research into practice through skills in nutrition surveillance, policy, program planning and evaluation, management, information dissemination and oral and written communication.
- To acquire detailed knowledge regarding the biological basis of nutrition and the mechanisms by which diet can influence health.
- To gain an interdisciplinary perspective on public nutrition in both its domestic and international context
- To develop the necessary quantitative skills in biostatistics required for the evaluation of diet and disease relationships in epidemiologic studies.
- To attain skills in developing research proposals that require the integration of knowledge about human nutrition with epidemiologic concepts in order to improve diet and activity and reduce disease risk in populations.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Public Health Nutrition program provides rigorous training in the biological aspects of nutrition, epidemiology, biostatistics and select related disciplines. The overall objective is to develop the ability to translate research into practice. The program includes the following components:
1. Formal course work
2. Practicum
3. Seminars
4. Thesis research project
ADMISSIONS
Students admitted to this program are required to have a general background in the biological sciences and other relevant public health nutrition coursework. Successful completion of program requirements leads to a D.Sc. degree (or Dr.P.H. degree for those with an M.D. or other professional doctoral degree and an MPH).
Obesity Epidemiology and Prevention
This interdisciplinary concentration is designed for students interested in training in the theoretical, methodological, and applied knowledge and skills necessary to conduct obesity-related epidemiologic and prevention research. The concentration includes obesity epidemiology and prevention in international settings. Areas of training include assessment of obesity in individuals and populations; biological and social determinants of obesity; epidemiologic and prevention study designs; health and social consequences of obesity; worksite-, community-, and school-based interventions; gene-environment interactions; and global obesity epidemiology and prevention. As the concentration does not offer a degree, prospective students must apply to a degree program, which can be in any of three departments: Nutrition, Epidemiology, or Society, Human Development, and Health. Students must fulfill the requirements of the home department, which issues the degree, and the requirements of the concentration, which include core courses in nutritional and obesity epidemiology and obesity prevention. The concentration is limited to doctoral and two-year master’s students; 10 credits are required.