Requirements

The PhD program requires 72 credits.

• 31 credits are required courses in the core curriculum
• 27-29 credits are electives and can be a combination of didactic and informal courses
• Up to 12 credits (no fewer than 10) are for your dissertation

Prerequisites include organic chemistry, biochemistry, human nutrition and physiology.

• NTR 500 Energy Metabolism
• NTR 501 Vitamins and Minerals
• NTR 600 Pathophysiology of Nutrition Related Disease
• CHB 550 Public Health and Population Wellbeing
• ES 620 Grant Writing for Health Scientists
• NTR 630 Research Seminar (must complete two semesters)
• NTR 503 Nutrition and Health
• GSC 640/PHI 640 Graduate Research Ethics
• STA 527 Statistics and Experimental Designs
• STA 528 Experimental Design and Analysis

After completing a substantial portion of the recommended coursework, you will take a qualifying examination. Passing this exam demonstrates knowledge in your field of specialization and in research before beginning work on your dissertation.

Learn more about the doctoral qualifying exam pdf(71 KB).

The program requires a minimum of 10 credit hours of dissertation research. The dissertation effort demands, in general, at least one year of full-time concentration in residence. Ultimately, the quality of the dissertation is the crucial consideration regardless of how many credit hours are allocated.

After you have completed all major field experiences, successfully passed the qualifying examination, and presented your dissertation proposal in a department seminar, you’ll be entering the final stages of your degree program. At this time, you’ll file an Application to Candidacy form with UB’s Graduate School. The form summarizes the courses to be applied toward your degree. The Graduate School will then notify you of your acceptance to candidacy.

Review a timeline for the PhD program.