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Over the years we've come to understand that diet can
have a strong impact on the health and well being of humans
and animals. Research on nutrition and health integrates
information from many disciplines: biochemistry, physiology,
psychology, food science, genetics, and cell biology are
at the heart of our understanding of nutrition and its
application. The Interdepartmental Nutrition Program is
a multidisciplinary training ground for students interested
in the study of foods and nutrition. Faculty from 10 departments
at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana University
School of Medicine at Indianapolis, and Indiana University-Purdue
University in Fort Wayne participate. This provides a wide
range of expertise and training opportunities.
Training in Nutrition through the INP
The INP offers graduate degree programs leading to the
Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. Students are
accepted through the INP and then train under a faculty
mentor within that faculty member's home department. INP
faculty are members of the following departments: Animal
Sciences; Biochemistry; Foods and Nutrition; Food Science;
Forestry and Natural Resources; Health and Kinesiology;
Psychological Sciences; Hospitality and Tourism Management;
Sociology; Veterinary Clinical Sciences; Veterinary Pathobiology;
Fort Wayne Development Center; and Indiana University School
of Medicine. Your degree will be awarded from your major
professors' home department. The Interdepartmental Nutrition
Program will be listed as the area of specialization on
your degree.
Students train within one of the following Emphasis
Groups:
INP Curriculum
New students must have earned a bachelor's degree that
includes general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry,
organ level physiology, and general nutrition. You can
be accepted without these prerequisites; however, if you
can't acquire competency in these areas prior to admission,
you may need to take additional courses in these areas
in your first year at Purdue. This will likely extend the
time it takes for you to complete your degree.
The INP curricula for MS and PhD students were designed
to provide maximal flexibility. After completing a core
of content and skill building courses, students have a
great deal of latitude regarding the specific classes they
take and the direction of their training.
Steps Toward a Graduate Degree in Nutrition at Purdue
Getting into the INP program is the start of a great adventure.
However, it's only the first of many steps. Below is a
brief description of the major steps leading to a graduate
degree in nutrition.
Selecting a major professor: The major emphasis
in our graduate programs is on research conducted under
the supervision of a member of INP. When you select your
major professor you will need to match your interest to
the research conducted by an INP faculty member. Upon admission,
you can directly enter a professor's laboratory or you
can choose to rotate through several laboratories during
the first semester so that you can evaluate several different
research programs. Regardless, you'll select a major professor
by the end of your first year in the program.
Selecting a graduate committee: The graduate committee
helps you and your major professor guide your training
in the classroom and the laboratory. At the PhD level,
it consists of your major professor and at least three
other faculty members — at least one member must
be from outside of the department of your major professor.
At the MS level, the committee consists of your major professor
and two additional faculty members. You'll select your
graduate committee within the first semester for MS students
and within the first year for PhD students.
Preliminary exam: Upon completion of most of your
coursework, PhD students will take a comprehensive oral
and written preliminary exam that is prepared by their
graduate committee. Only students who pass the preliminary
exam may continue in the program.
Thesis/dissertation research: Research is at the
core of our MS and PhD degrees. Even as you take courses,
you'll be conducting research under the mentorship of your
major professor. When you've completed your research project,
you will write a thesis (MS candidates) or a dissertation
(PhD candidates). Before you complete your degree, you
will defend your thesis/dissertation in front of your graduate
committee members.
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