In addition, an individual three-member advisory committee advises each doctoral candidate. The Institute provides facilities for thesis research. At least four years are required to earn the degree. In general, students prepare themselves for qualifying examinations and dissertation research by judicious selection of courses both in the Institute and in other divisions of the University. Instruction is organized around the core areas of concentration listed below, and students are expected to demonstrate competence by an oral and written examination in each of these areas.
Instruction is provided by the means of courses, seminars, tutorials, and laboratory work.
Course selection for individual students is at the discretion of the student and the advisory committee. All nutritional basic science students are expected to acquire expertise and knowledge in the areas of molecular and cell biology, human physiology and metabolism, general and nutritional biochemistry, and biostatistics. Emphasis is on problems related to obesity, atherosclerosis, diabetes, trauma, sepsis, infant nutrition, gastrointestinal disease, renal failure, parenteral nutrition, and preventive nutrition. The biosocial determinants of nutritional risk and broad social and behavioral consequences produced by nutritional disease are examined. The role of nutrition in health promotion and disease prevention is a major priority area.