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Master of Science Degree
- Major in Nutritional Sciences
Information about the Master's Program in Nutritional Sciences including sections on the thesis and the non-thesis options.
General Admission Requirements
- Send to the Director of the Graduate Admissions, Texas Tech University
- Application for Admission to Graduate School
- Official transcript(s) of all previous college studies
- Scores of Graduate Record Examination
- TOEFL scores or Michigan test (foreign students only)
- The applicant should send directly to the Graduate Advisor of Nutritional Sciences:
- A letter of application detailing the student's rationale for pursuing a Master's in Nutritional Sciences.
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals who are able to address the student's suitability for pursuing a Master's Degree in Nutritional Sciences.
- Professional Resume
- Minimal Nutritional Sciences entrance requirements for M.S. applicants at Texas Tech University:
- GPA last 60 hours: Minimum 3.0 with transcripts evaluated for a minimum grade of "C" in all required courses. (SEE B-3 below)
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TOEFL Scores for foreign students:
- Minimum of 550 total score or 85 on each section of the Michigan test
- A total score of less than 550 means that the student must take the following courses and pass them with a "C" level of competency:
- EFL 1301 Conversational English for Foreign Students
- EFL 1302 English Grammar and Composition for Foreign Students, OR
- Be tested by the faculty in the English Department as a Foreign Language area and take courses as recommended.
- Any student who does not meet the minimal admission requirements is on academic probation until the completion of 12 graduate hours with a 3.0 average or higher. A minimum of 6 hours must be taken from the courses listed under part one of the section Major in Nutritional Sciences.
- Applications for admission to the Nutritional Sciences Master of Science degree program which have been forwarded from the Graduate School to the Nutritional Sciences Graduate Advisor will be reviewed by a majority of the graduate faculty. The final admission decision will be made by the Graduate Advisor based upon the Nutritional Sciences graduate faculty recommendations.
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General Aspects of Graduate Study
- A Master of Science Degree requires a minimum of 30 (with thesis) or 36 (without thesis) semester hours of graduate courses. For Dietetic Interns pursuing a MS degree in Nutritional Sciences, a minimum of 33 (with thesis) or 39 (without thesis) semester hours of graduate courses is required. The courses are chosen in consultation with the Graduate Advisory Committee selected by the thesis student or the Graduate Advisor for the non-thesis student. The Graduate Advisory Committee should be composed of two Nutritional Sciences graduate faculty and one graduate faculty member from outside Nutritional Sciences. If all three members are from Nutritional Sciences, the Graduate Advisor approval is required. The Internship Director will advise students during the internship phase.
- A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in all courses included in the degree plan, exclusive of required leveling courses, is required for graduation. Graduate credit is allowed only for courses completed with grades of A, B, or C.
- The student must meet certain minimum science competencies in biochemistry and mammalian physiology. The following courses or equivalent, passed with a "C" or better are prerequisites for admission to the graduate program:
- ZOOL 2402 Human Anatomy and Physiology
- NS 3402 Survey of Biochemistry
- NS 4320 Nutritional Biochemistry
- A beginning level of competency in statistics and computer literacy is required for all MS students. This requirement may be satisfied by having passed an undergraduate course with a grade of "C" or above. Internship students may substitute a course in computer science for statistics if taking the non-thesis option.
- No foreign language is required. However, competency in English must be manifested in all graduate study. (See General Admissions Requirements)
- Any student receiving a research assistantship or other research financial support for graduate study of 1/4 or more time for one academic year or more in the area of his/her thesis proposal will be expected to write a thesis for graduation.
- Students pursuing graduate degrees are expected to be enrolled full-time. Normal full-time enrollment is 12 hours in a regular semester, 6 hours in a summer session. Students must be enrolled full-time (at least 9 hours in each long term, 3 to 6 hours in each summer term) to be eligible to hold fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or other appointments designed for the support of graduate study. Part-time students are students taking less than full-time academic loads.
- A student devoting full-time effort toward research by using University facilities and faculty time; his/her schedule should reflect at least 12 hours enrollment (6 hours in each summer term), regardless of the number of research, independent study, or thesis hours completed.
- Each student who has begun thesis research must register in each regular semester and at least once in a summer term until the degree requirements have been completed to maintain continuous enrollment.
- The oral defense of the thesis will be of a comprehensive nature and may include subject matter from any area of the degree plan.
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Major in Nutritional Sciences
- As a means of establishing minimum basic knowledge at the graduate level, NS students are REQUIRED to take the following courses:
- NS 5118 - Seminar in Nutritional Sciences
Enrollment for credit is required at least twice. All full-time graduate students are encouraged to attend NS 5118, section 001 each semester.
- NS 5330 - Introduction to Nutritional Sciences Research
- NS 5331 - Issues in Nutrition
- Any 2 of the following 4 courses:
- NS 5327 Carbohydrates and Lipids
- NS 5380 Proteins and Amino Acids
- NS 5329 Minerals in Nutrition
- NS 5333 Vitamins in Nutrition
- A 3 hour graduate statistics course
- At least 7 additional hours in Nutritional Sciences courses exclusive of NS 5118 and NS 6000
- Other courses as determined by the Graduate Advisory Committee
- Thesis Option (Students who plan to pursue a Ph.D. degree should select the thesis option) A minimum of 30 graduate hours as indicated in Section 1 of Major in Nutritional Sciences including only 2 hours of seminar (NS 5118) and 6 hours of NS 6000, a completed thesis, and passing an oral comprehensive final examination conducted by the student's Graduate Advisory Committee are required. Dietetic interns selecting the thesis option are required to complete 33 hours.
- Non-Thesis Option
A minimum of 36 graduate hours as indicated in Section 1 of Major in Nutritional Sciences including at least 2 hours of seminar (NS 5118) and 6 additional hours in Nutritional Sciences and passing a written comprehensive final examination. The examination must be taken at Texas Tech University during the semester the student is a candidate for the degree. Dietetic interns selecting the non-thesis option are required to complete 39 hours.
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Graduate Advisory Committee/Thesis Option
- By the end of the first semester of graduate study, the student, in conference with the Nutritional Sciences Graduate Advisor, should select from the Nutritional Sciences graduate faculty a professor under whose supervision he/she wishes to study. This professor will serve as the Chairperson of the Graduate Advisory Committee for the student. The Chairperson will advise the student and assist the student in selecting other Committee members. The chairperson/committee-student relationship should be mutually acceptable.
- Until a student selects a Graduate Advisory Committee Chairperson, the student will be advised by the Nutritional Sciences Graduate Advisor. A student should select a Graduate Advisory Committee Chairperson by the end of the first semester of graduate study or as soon as possible thereafter. Dietetic interns are advised by the Internship Director during their internship year.
- The Graduate Advisory Committee shall consist of at least three graduate faculty members (including the Chairperson). Two of the committee members must be Nutritional Sciences graduate faculty.
- The Graduate Advisory Committee shall assist the student in the preparation of his/her plan of study, advise the student during the period of graduate study, approve the degree plan, advise the student regarding his/her research and the writing of the thesis, and conduct the final examination.
- Within the broad agreements of the Graduate School concerning residence, oral comprehensive examination, and thesis, the student will be recommended for his/her degree by the Graduate Advisory Committee.
- The student shall obtain the signatures of the Nutritional Sciences Graduate Advisor or Graduate Advisory Committee Chairperson, as appropriate, on forms as required by the Graduate School before submitting the forms to the Graduate School. (Forms are available from the Nutritional Sciences Graduate Advisor or Graduate School). The form for submitting your academic plan to the Graduate School is "Program for the Master's Degree and Admission to Candidacy."
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Responsibilities in the Master's Program
Graduate Advisor's Responsibilities
- Review initial program opportunities with the student
- Provide initial advice in the development of the academic program
- Make suggestions about selection of the Advisory Committee Chairperson
- Sign "Program for the Master's Degree and Admission to Candidacy"
- Advise student in setting up committee meetings at appropriate times
- Plan a tentative time schedule with the student including:
- Course completion
- Research completion
- Thesis completion
Graduate Advisory Committee Chairperson's Responsibilities
- Assists student in setting up committee meetings at appropriate times.
- Plan a time schedule with the student including:
- Course completion
- Research completion
- Thesis completion
- Guides student in developing research proposal. (This may be accomplished in part in NS 5330, Introduction to Nutritional Sciences Research)
- Advises student in his/her research in consultation with the Graduate Advisory Committee and assist student with draft of his/her thesis.
- Advises student in preparing for master's final oral examination for defense of thesis.
- Advises student in preparing final copy of thesis for the Graduate School
- Signs "Publication Agreement Form"
Graduate Advisory Committee's Responsibilities
- With the Graduate Advisory Committee Chairperson, plan and approve the student's plan of study ("Program for the Master's Degree and Admission to Candidacy")
- Advise the graduate student on research
- Approve student's research proposal
- Advise student during the research and approved academic program
- Conduct student's final oral examination
- Review and approve final copy of thesis before submission to the Graduate School
Master's Degree Student's Responsibilities
- Read the Graduate Catalog
- Confer with Graduate Advisory Committee Chairperson and make a proposal concerning:
- plan of study (with Graduate Advisory Committee)
- enrollment
- research interests
- thesis completion and defense
- Contact committee members requesting their membership on the Graduate Advisory Committee
- Consult with Graduate Advisory Committee on a regular basis regarding:
- research proposal development
- research proposal presentation
- research proposal approval
- guidance during research
- planning of all committee meetings
- planning for final examination
- Recheck plan of study when enrolling for the semester in which the degree is to be conferred. Plan of study and transcript must match.
- Observe and meet Graduate School deadlines (see Graduate Catalog and Instructions for Preparing and Submitting Theses and Dissertations) regarding:
- plan of study
- draft copy of thesis
- final examination
- final copy of thesis
- Provide bound copies of thesis to:
- Graduate School
- Departmental (NHR) Office
- Advisory Committee Chairperson
- Other Advisory Committee Members (optional, but suggested. Must pay an additional binding fee for these copies)
- Prepare a manuscript for publication (as first author) of thesis research and findings. If work is not submitted for publication within one year after thesis completion, Advisory Committee Chairperson and committee members will have the right to publish research findings. Authorship will include the student's name.
- KEEP TRACK OF ALL DUE DATES
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