Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences

COURSES

ABOUT US

Welcome to the PhD in Nutritional Science. We will continue to work on this web page to make it the most useful to our current students. If you have any suggestions on how this page can better serve you, please e-mail Carey at careyj@u.washington.edu. Please remember to visit your advisor at least once/quarter to make sure you are on-track with your degree. Have Carey do a degree audit for you the quarter before you graduate, to avoid any potential problems with your graduation.

PhD Degree Requirements in Nutritional Sciences (as of Autumn 2009)

NOTE: If you began the program prior to 2009, you may refer to your student handbook or see Carey for your particular degree requirements.

REQUIRED COURSES:

Nutrition Courses: 32 credit hours in Nutritional Sciences courses:
NUTR 500	Graduate Seminar (A,W,Sp)	4 credits
NUTR 520	Nutrition & Metabolism I (A)	3 credits
NUTR 521	Nutrition & Metabolism II (W)	3 credits
NUTR 522	Nutrition & Metabolism III (Sp)	3 credits
*NUTR 529	Nutrition Research Design (A) (may be optional; contact advisor or chair)	3 credits
NUTR 531	Public Health Nutrition (W)	4 credits
NUTR 562	Nutrition & Chronic Disease (Sp)	4 credits
	Additional 500-level Nutrition courses	8 credits
Other: 67-78 credit hours in other requirements:
	Other Sciences (related to specific interests)	24 credits
	Biostatistics	8-12 credits
	Research Methods	8-12 credits
NUTR 800	Dissertation (A,W,Sp,S)	27-30 credits

TOTAL credit requirements: 99 - 110

Important PhD Information

Supervisory committee: Your supervisory committee is generally set up in the 2nd or 3rd year of study. It is comprised of a chair (or 2 co-chairs), and 3 - 7 other members, including a GSR (Graduate School Representative). At least 2 committee members must be Nutritional Sciences Core Faculty. If you need help setting one up, consult with your advisor or with Dr. Elizabeth Kirk, the Graduate Program Coordinator. See more specific details about committee setup on the Grad School information page. Once you have decided who will be on your committee, e-mail the information to Carey and she will submit your committee request to the Graduate School.

Non-nutrition entry code contacts:

Biostatistics
Please note that BIOST 511 does NOT require an entry code.
Alex Mackenzie
alexam@u.washington.edu

Epidemiology
Courtney Marshall
epiadvis@u.washington.edu

Environmental Health
Monica Lee Brant
ehgrad@u.washington.edu

Health Services
Steve Leigh
sleigh@u.washington.edu

Pathobiology
Mary Conrad
msconrad@u.washington.edu

Student Portfolio

The student portfolio is a collection of documents that is compiled during the first year of graduate study in the Nutritional Sciences Program. The purpose of it is to assure that all students achieve competence in the core areas that the faculty have determined to be essential for graduates of the program. Prior to submitting a portfolio, a student must successfully complete the 6 core courses (NUTR 500, 520, 521, 522, 531 & 562), and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA. Most students will submit the portfolio following their first year of study and MUST submit their portfolio within the first 2 years. A portfolio must be submitted before you can register for thesis credits, of which you need 9 to graduate. Once your portfolio is submitted, it will take approximately 2 - 3 weeks to go through the review process. Entry codes for NUTR 700 cannot be given out until the portfolio is approved, so if you are planning to register for dissertation credits after you submit, please allow at least 3 weeks before the beginning of the quarter. For more information and for templates for submission, go to the Graduate Portfolio site.

Teaching Experience

Every PhD student must have teaching experience in order to graduate. You can fulfill this requirement with previous teaching experience at other instutions or from experience obtained at the UW. You must check with your advisor and/or the Graduate Program Coordinator to get approval for the teaching experience you choose to use.

General Exam

The general exam may be taken after 6 full-time quarters and after establishment of the supervisory committee. It is usually taken after all coursework is completed and consists of both a written and oral portion. Preparation usually takes 2 to 4 months. You must submit a request to the Graduate School via MyGradProgram at least 3 weeks before you present. Once you successfully complete your general exam, let Carey know and she can submit the decision to the Grad School. Then you will be a PhC, and you will be able to register for dissertation credits (NUTR 800).

Final Exam

When all degree requirements are met and you are prepared to take the final exam, you need to set up a reading committee. This will consist of at least 3 voting members of your supervisory committee. Once you have decided who these members will be, e-mail Carey and she will submit the request on-line to the Graduate School. Submit your Request for Final Examination (following the same procedures listed above for the general exam, just using a different form) at least 3 weeks before you intend to present.

Graduation Checklist

_____ Submit request for degree to Grad School
_____ Obtain warrant from Carey prior to dissertation defense
_____ Submit signed warrant to Carey when finished
_____ Submit 2 unbound copies of dissertation to Grad School within 60 days of Final Exam
_____ Submit 1 bound copy to Nutritional Science for the library (it is also customary to give your committee chair a copy)