Graduate work in nutrition is supervised by faculty members from the departments of nutritional sciences, animal sciences, food science, human ecology, the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). Areas of specialization include nutritional biochemistry; nutrient regulation of gene expression; nutrition and disease; sociological and behavioral aspects of nutrition; mineral, protein and amino acid, and lipid metabolism; community nutrition; and developmental nutrition.
Applicants are expected to have an undergraduate major in a biological science, chemistry, or other field relevant to advanced training in nutritional sciences. The Graduate Record Examination must be taken. Prerequisites for admission include one year of general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry (or one term of organic chemistry and one term of biochemistry), and 12 additional credits of course work in advanced biology, chemistry, biochemistry, nutrition, food science, physics, or calculus.
The graduate program in nutritional sciences offers an M.S. with basic or applied emphasis and a Ph.D. in nutrition. All students complete course work that includes biochemical, physiological, molecular, and clinical aspects of nutrition. They also take seminars and electives in the advanced life sciences. Students in the applied-emphasis option also pursue advanced courses in community nutrition, public health, epidemiology, and psychology.
A joint program leading to an M.S./D.I. (dietetic internship with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School [UMDNJ-NJMS]) is offered. This program provides students with the scientific knowledge and critical thinking skills to become leaders in the field of dietetics. The program is open only to students who have completed a Didactic Program in Dietetics approved by the Commission on Accreditation/Approval for Dietetics Education. Students must be accepted jointly and enrolled simultaneously in the dietetic internship at UMDNJ- NJMS and the M.S. program at Rutgers.
The M.S. degree requires 24 credits of course work and 6 credits of research, including a thesis. The Ph.D. program requires 34 credits of course work in biochemistry, physiology, and nutrition and 38 credits of research. Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must spend a minimum of 12 consecutive months (two terms and a summer session) in residence and register for at least 24 credits of course work and 6 credits of research. Requests for exceptions to this policy are reviewed by the curriculum committee of the program. There is no language requirement. The master of philosophy degree is available to doctoral candidates.
