Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences
Doctor of Philosophy

For More Information

Campus address: Gearing Hall (GEA) 313, phone (512) 471-0337, fax (512) 471-5844; campus mail code: A2703

Mailing address: The University of Texas at Austin, Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences, Department of Nutritional Sciences, 200 W 24th Street Stop A2703, Austin TX 78712

E-mail: tomatchity@utexas.edu

URL: https://he.utexas.edu/ntr/graduate-students

Facilities for Graduate Work

The Department of Nutritional Sciences research faculty are housed within the Dell Pediatric Research Institute (DPRI). The DPRI is a state-of-the-art research facility with over 150,000 gross square feet of research related lab, core facilities, vivarium resources, and administrative space. The DPRI Pediatric Assessment Center (DPAC) is approximately 2,000 square feet of multi-use shared research space dedicated to nutrition and obesity research. Resources of the DPAC include instrumentation for the measurement of body composition, anthropometrics, blood pressure and heart rate, and for performing blood draws and other types of sample collection. The DPAC also includes space for pediatric subject assessment and interviews as well as computing space with dedicated computers for processing nutritional intake data. The DPRI also houses a Histopathology Core (used for histologic and immunohistochemical analysis), Cell and Tissue Analysis Facility Core (confocal microscopy, laser capture microdissection and flow cytometry), and a Molecular Biology Core (genotyping and microarray analyses). Instrumentation is also available for analysis of vitamins, amino acids, minerals, lipids, carbohydrates, and other substances of nutritional and physiological importance. Local, state, and federal health, child-care, and geriatrics programs provide research and clinical settings. Other resources are the Life Science Library, the Mallet Chemistry Library, the Perry-Castañeda Library, the Animal Resources Center, and Information Technology Services.

Programs of Study

The Nutritional Sciences graduate program includes study in the following areas: molecular and cellular aspects of nutrient function; molecular and cellular approaches to the study of nutrition and disease; nutritional biochemistry; behavioral and child nutrition; nutrient requirements and intakes and health assessment; nutrition and cancer, obesity, ingestive behavior, aging, immunity; genetics and genomics, community nutrition, and nutrition education.

The Master of Science degree program is designed to prepare individuals for advanced practitioner knowledge, preparation for advanced education in nutrition research, administration in public health programs; research and development positions at food, pharmaceutical, and chemical laboratories; and other nutrition-related fields.

The Doctoral degree program is designed to prepare students for research, teaching, and other academic positions in colleges, universities, government, and industry. Competence in related fields is emphasized, and supporting work is selected from areas such as biochemistry, biology, molecular biology, computer science, genetics, communication, geriatrics, immunology, physiology, kinesiology, psychology, ingestive behavior, or health promotion.

Graduate Studies Committee

The following faculty members served on the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) in the spring 2023 semester.

Steven Abrams Molly S Bray J Thomas Brenna Marissa Burgermaster Jaimie N Davis Linda Ann deGraffenried John Digiovanni James C Fleet Jeanne H Freeland-Graves

Ryan S Gray Christopher A Jolly Laura M Lashinger Heather Leidy Alessia Lodi Monica Jane Milonovich Sara Johnson Sweitzer Stefano Tiziani Elizabeth Widen

Admission Requirements

The foundational training of students seeking a graduate degree should include courses in the following fields: inorganic chemistry with laboratory, organic chemistry with laboratory, biochemistry with laboratory, vertebrate or human physiology, cellular and molecular biology, statistics, and nutrition. The Graduate Studies Committee may recommend that some or all of these courses be completed as a prerequisite for admission to the program or in addition to the courses required for the graduate degree. 

A handbook available from the graduate coordinator gives details of policies, procedures, and requirements.