Doctor of Philosophy Degree
- General Admission
A list of the requirements for admission to the Nutritional Sciences Doctoral Program. - Advising
Information about initial advising in the Nutritional Sciences Doctoral Program. - Advisory Committee
Information about the selection and role of the Graduate Advisory Committee. - Preliminary Examination
Information about the preliminary examination. - Doctoral Program
A general overview of the Nutritional Sciences Doctoral Program. - Residency Requirement
Residency requirements for the Nutritional Sciences Doctoral Program. - Qualifying Examination
Information about the qualifying examination. - Admission to
Candidacy
Information about admission to candidacy. - Dissertation
Information on the dissertation. - Final Examination
A brief overview of the final examination. - Statement of Intention to Graduate
Information about the Statement of Intention to Graduate. - Responsibilities in the Doctoral Program
A brief overview of the responsibilities of those involved in the Nutritional Sciences Doctoral Program. - Graduate Advisor's Responsibilities
- Doctoral Advisory Committee Chairperson's Responsibilities
- Doctoral Advisory Committee's Responsibilities
- Doctoral Degree Student's Responsibilities
- Graduate Courses in Nutritional Sciences
A list of the graduate courses offered by the Nutritional Sciences Program.
General Admission
Admission to the Graduate School must be obtained through the Office of Graduate Admissions of the Graduate School. The minimum requirements for application to the Ph.D. Program in Nutritional Sciences are:
- Submission of GRE scores. Foreign students may satisfy the verbal requirement by submitting the TOEFL test score.
- A minimum GPA of 3.20 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate study or a 3.5 on Master's level study exclusive of thesis research.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation and a letter of application submitted directly to the Nutritional Sciences Graduate Advisor.
- A basic core to include ZOOL 2403, CHEM 3402, NS 4320, NS 4360, beginning statistics, data processing or computer science or equivalent courses with a grade of "C" or better.
- TOEFL score of 550 or EFL 1301 and EFL 1302 or test by English Department faculty and recommended courses or Michigan test with 85 or better (Foreign students only).
Advising
Subsequent to a student's admission to the program, the Nutritional Sciences Graduate Advisor assumes responsibility for serving as the temporary advisor.
Advisory Committee
The student should select a Chairperson, Doctoral Advisory Committee by the end of the first semester of study or as soon a possible thereafter. In consultation with his/her Chairperson, the student will select a Doctoral Advisory Committee. The Doctoral Advisory Committee shall be composed of at least three (3) members of the graduate faculty from within Nutritional Sciences, at least one graduate faculty member outside Nutritional Sciences (either within or outside the College of Human Sciences), and a fifth graduate faculty member chosen at-large outside the College of Human Sciences. The Doctoral Advisory Committee must contain a total of five or more members of the Graduate Faculty for the final examination (dissertation defense), at least one being from outside the College of Human Sciences. The Doctoral Advisory Committee is responsible for approving the course work program, exclusive of leveling courses, and determining the need for a preliminary examination. This committee is also charged with advising the student regarding changes in his/her program, conduction the qualifying examination, approving the research proposal, supervising the conduct of the research, and defense of the dissertation.
Completion of the "Program for the Doctoral Degree and Report of Preliminary Examination" form provides for identification of the Doctoral Advisory Committee. Hence, official approval of this form by the Graduate School places the student under the direction of the Chairperson, Doctoral Advisory Committee for the remainder of his/her academic program. Signatures for the "Program for the Doctoral Degree and Report of Preliminary Examination" must be obtained from the Nutritional Sciences Graduate Advisor and Graduate Advisor of the minor Department, if appropriate, prior to filing the degree plan with the Graduate School. If the Doctoral Advisory Committee is not constituted and approved prior to the first year, the student, at the option of the Graduate School, may not be permitted to register.
Preliminary Examination
A form for "Program for the Doctoral Degree and Report of Preliminary Examination" must be filed with the Graduate School within 12 months of initiating the program. The preliminary examination should be taken prior to completion of 15 semester credit hours of course work for the Doctoral program. Completion of the form requires identification of the dissertation research area.
Doctoral Program
As a means of establishing a minimum of basic knowledge at the graduate level, all students are required to take or have had the following courses or their equivalent:
Specialization in Nutritional Sciences (16 semester credit hours minimum) to include:
- NS 5118 - Seminar in Nutritional Sciences. Enrollment for credit is required at least four times during their doctoral study.
- NS 5330 - Introduction to Nutritional Sciences Research
- NS 5330 - Issues in Nutrition or NS 5332 - Issues in Food Science
- Minimum of two courses from Proteins, Vitamins, Minerals, Lipids and Carbohydrates.
- Dissertation
A doctoral program is designed for each student under the guidance of the respective Doctoral Advisory Committee. The following minimum guidelines apply:
- Each program must include 15 semester credit hours outside the major but must include the following:
- Graduate Statistics (3 semester hours minimum)
Total Hours:
- 60 hours beyond the baccalaureate (minimum)
- 30 hours beyond the masters, exclusive of dissertation (minimum)
Residency Requirement
Graduate School residency requirement must be fulfilled. Enrollment pattern for residence year must be reported on the "Program for the Doctoral Degree and Report of Preliminary Examination" form.
A student may apply up to 30 hours taken in a completed master's program toward the Ph.D. degree, provided that the courses are considered equivalent by the Doctoral Advisory Committee to existing Nutritional Sciences courses that would normally fit within the student's doctoral program of study. No more than 12 hours taken as a special student may apply toward a doctoral degree once the student has entered the Nutritional Sciences doctoral program.
Qualifying Examination
Comprehensive written and oral examinations, administered by the Doctoral Advisory Committee, covering competencies in synthesis and application of knowledge acquired during the course of study. These must be taken after most of the course work has been completed. At least 4 months must elapse between the qualifying (written and oral) examination and the final examination (dissertation defense).
Written questions will be graded and an oral examination will usually be held within three weeks of the written examination. The Doctoral Advisory Committee may terminate the student's program after the qualifying examination if the performance is not satisfactory.
Admission to Candidacy The Doctoral Advisory Committee Chairperson will send a letter of recommendation for admission to candidacy to the Dean of the Graduate School with a copy to the Nutritional Sciences Graduate Advisory after the candidate has successfully completed the qualifying examinations. The letter should indicate concurrence of the vote by signature of each committee member.
Dissertation A dissertation proposal must be approved by the Doctoral
Advisory Committee in advance of initiating the research. A dissertation must be
written under the direction of the Doctoral Advisory Committee in accordance
with the form and instructions set forth in the most recent edition of
"Instruction for Preparing and Submitting Reports, Theses and Dissertations
published by the Graduate School at Texas Tech University. This is available
from the University Bookstore.
Final Examination
A required final public oral examination will be scheduled after the dissertation has been reviewed by the Doctoral Advisory Committee Chairperson. The revised copy will be distributed to the Doctoral Advisory Committee members at least two (2) weeks prior to the public defense. The examination must be conducted at least three (3) weeks after an announcement is submitted and published by the Graduate School. The examination is conducted by the Doctoral Advisory Committee, the Graduate Dean or his/her representative, or other designated person(s), constituting a total of at least six persons. A period of at least 4 months must elapse between the dates of the Qualifying and Final Examinations
The Nutritional Sciences Graduate Program requires a final dissertation seminar for completing the NS 5118 requirement. This should normally be scheduled following the defense of the dissertation.
Statement of Intention to Graduate
A statement of Intention to Graduate, secured from the Graduate School, must be filed with the Graduate School at least 12 weeks prior to commencement. The student is responsible for filing this document and paying the fees assessed by the University.
Responsibilities in the Doctoral Program
Graduate Advisor's Responsibilities
- Reviews program opportunities with the student
- Advises in the initial development of plan of study
- Advises on selection of Doctoral Advisory Committee Chairperson
Doctoral Advisory Committee Chairperson's Responsibilities
- Serves as student's primary advisor to guide student
- Advises the student at registration time and signs all class schedule cards
- Plans a tentative time schedule with student including:
- Preliminary examination/Plan of Study
- Qualifying examination
- Research
- Dissertation
- Advises student in the presentation of draft copy of dissertation to committee for review
- Guides student in preparing for public oral defense
- Guides student in preparing final copy of dissertation to Graduate School
- Advises on all paperwork to be provided to the Graduate Advisor and Graduate School
- Signs "Publication Agreement Form"
Doctoral Advisory Committee's Responsibilities
- With the Doctoral Advisory Committee Chairperson plans and approves the student's plan of study
- Conduct the preliminary examination
- Advise the graduate student on dissertation research
- Approve the dissertation proposal
- Advise the student during the research
- Conduct the student's qualifying and final examinations and sign notification letter to Graduate School
- Approve and sign final copy of dissertation
Doctoral Degree Student's Responsibilities
- Reads the Graduate Catalog
- Confers with Graduate Advisor concerning:
- Research interests
- Selection of Doctoral Advisory Committee Chairperson
- Plan of study (to be developed with Doctoral Advisory Committee)
- Enrollment (consult with Graduate Advisor each registration period)
- Confers with the Doctoral Advisory Committee Chairperson
- Contacts committee members requesting their membership on dissertation committee
- Consults the Doctoral Advisory Committee on a regular basis regarding:
- Research proposal development, presentation, and approval
- Guidance during research
- Planning committee meetings
- Unanswered questions
- Planning for oral defense
- Provide bound copies of dissertation to:
- Graduate School
- Departmental Office
- Doctoral Advisory Committee Chairperson
- Other Dissertation Committee Members (optional but recommended; student must pay an additional binding fee for these copies)
- Develop a manuscript for publication (as first author) of dissertation research and findings. If work is not submitted for publication within one year after dissertation completion, the Doctoral Advisory Committee members will have the right to publish the research findings. Authorship will include student's name.
- Recheck plan of study with Graduate Advisor when enrolling for the semester in which the degree is to be conferred.
- Observe and meet Graduate School deadlines (see Graduate Catalog) regarding:
- Plan of study
- Final examination
- Final copy of dissertation
- IT IS THE STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL DUE DATES.