Graduate Program
Graduate Program Coordinator The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences offers programs of study leading to Master of Science (M.S.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and Master of Public Health Nutrition (M.P.H.) degrees. The graduate program is designed for the needs of students with a strong science background who wish to pursue (1) advanced training in nutritional science or clinical research, (2) advanced training in nutritional epidemiology and diet-disease interactions, or (3) training in public health nutrition practice. Students who wish to become a Registered Dietitian (RD) may also apply to the Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics (GCPD) which includes additional coursework and a nine-month practice experience at regional community, clinical, and food service facilities. The principal areas of study are biochemical and molecular nutrition, community or public health nutrition, food safety, nutrition and chronic disease, and clinical nutrition. Members of the core faculty represent the School of Public Health, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and the University of Washington Medical Center. The program also draws on a larger group of interdisciplinary faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, other units on campus, and from affiliated institutions in the Seattle area. Each program of study is designed by the student in consultation with, and with the approval of, a supervisory committee. All students begin working on a research project under the supervision of an appropriate faculty member in the early stages of their graduate experience. Public health field placements, which follow the first year of required coursework, are an integral part of the M.P.H. curriculum. The research environment at the UW includes research facilities in Raitt Hall, a student computer facility, and library. Students also have access to faculty mentors and research facilities through the Medical Center, the South Lake Union Research Hub, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the Clinical Research Center, and the Clinical Nutrition Research Unit. Additional clinical facilities include Harborview Medical Center, Northwest Kidney Center, Seattle Children's, Pacific Medical Center, the Cancer Care Alliance, and the Center for Human Development and Disabilities. Students may enter the graduate degree program after completing a bachelor's or a master's degree. Previous coursework in nutrition, chemistry, biochemistry, and human physiology is required. Students who wish to supplement their degree program with ADA-credited GCPD must also complete coursework in microbiology, psychology, and food science prior to admission. Students who have completed a didactic program in dietetics and have a verification statement may apply to the graduate program and the practice experience portion of the GCPD. |
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