Human or domestic animal nutrition specializations can be obtained in physiology, immunology, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, applied nutrition, and clinical nutrition. Graduate level course instruction and laboratory training may be obtained in such subdisciplines as cell biology, molecular biology, immunology, reproductive physiology, exercise physiology, sociology, and philosophy. Forty-six faculty members from the departments of Animal Science , Poultry Science , Biochemistry and Biophysics , Medical Microbiology and Immunology , Medical Anatomy, Sociology , Soil and Crop Sciences , Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences , Psychology , and Anthropology in the colleges of College of Agriculture and Life Sciences , College of Medicine , College of Veterinary Medicine , and College of Liberal Arts participate in the interdepartmental graduate program. In addition, existing collaborative ties with Baylor Medical College , Central Texas Veteran's Health Care Center, Scott and White Memorial Hospital and Clinic , University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Dallas and future interaction with the Institute for Biotechnology at Houston serve to link both the clinical and basic science components of the Graduate Nutrition Program. The ultimate goal of human nutrition research is the enhancement of human health through improved diets.
Scientists working in human nutrition utilize a variety of disciplinary approaches.
The work often includes the use of animal models. The goal of animal nutrition research is the enhancement of animal health, physical characteristics and production efficiency through improved diets. Animal nutrition includes poultry, cattle, swine, fish, horses and other species. The activities of animal nutritionists span a variety of disciplinary areas including biochemistry, molecular biology, histology, cytology and others. The work generally has implications for human nutrition.