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The Program in Nutrition is a vibrant forward-looking program that builds on its rich past. Since its founding in 1909, the Program in Nutrition at Teachers College has been a leader in developing strategies for promoting health through encouraging dietary change.
Building on its rich history, the Teachers College Program in Nutrition aims to prepare graduates to take positions of leadership and service in nutrition counseling and education in health promotion and disease prevention. The Program is committed to attracting and supporting students who have the drive and motivation to persist and succeed in their careers, especially members of groups historically underrepresented in higher education.Our graduates work in a variety of settings that include health agencies, hospitals, private practice, athletic departments and organizations, media organizations, food advocacy organizations, nutrition education organizations and governments at the local, state, national and international level. Our graduates work as dietitians in clinical and community capacities and serve as teachers, faculty, or resource specialists in schools and universities. They conduct individual counseling, provide group education, and promote policy and systems change. Many of our graduates are researchers, working in a variety of areas related to behavioral aspects of diet, nutrition education, nutritional epidemiology, public health nutrition, nutrition and exercise, and sustainability of the food system.
The mission of our Program is to provide comprehensive academic education and experiences in order for our graduates to have successful careers across the field of nutrition.
To fulfill this mission, our Program:
Educates the next generation of nutrition and dietetics professionals to fulfill a variety of entry-level and leadership roles;
Generates new knowledge, policy, and models for nutrition practice through research, scholarship and demonstration projects;
Contributes to the enrichment of the community and the profession by service to the field.
The Program offers through its integrated MS-RDN track master’s degrees in Nutrition Education (NE), Nutrition and Public Health (NPH), and Nutrition and Exercise Physiology (NEP).These M.S. degrees include the supervised experiential learning previously completed through a Dietetic Internship Program. Therefore, upon completion of one of the M.S. degrees, students are eligible to sit for the exam to become a registered dietitian-nutritionist (RDN). The Program also offers an advanced Ed.M.. degree in Community Nutrition Education, and a Ph.D. in Behavioral Nutrition.
Through these degree programs, students gain a thorough grounding in nutrition science, medical nutrition therapy, nutrition education, and counseling, community nutrition, as well as in food systems and food justice. Students pursuing the NEP master’s degree also gain a grounding in exercise science.
In addition, students who complete one of the M.S. degrees will be able to:
Due to the breadth of our aims, we admit students who have undergraduate degrees in a wide variety of fields, students who are career changers, and students who wish to combat health disparities facing low-resource communities. Such students bring valuable knowledge, skills and attitudes to our Program and to the field of nutrition.
The Program puts a heavy emphasis on providing students with practical experiences in addition to traditional classroom lectures and discussions. Among the course-related educational experiences available to students are field experiences in community nutrition, planning and teaching of nutrition sessions to selected audiences in the community, food education and gardening projects in schools, dietary analyses, and online computer activities. Advanced practicums provide experiences at various clinical and community nutrition, as well as foodservice, sites. Supervised practicum in sports nutrition is included in the Nutrition and Exercise Physiology degree. The faculty of the Program in Nutrition are actively engaged in cutting-edge and transformative research, evaluation, policy, and other scholarly activities, and write articles for peer-reviewed journals, books, and reports. Students are an integral part of these activities. Students are welcome to participate in research and demonstration projects within the Program in Nutrition. Faculty research focuses on the promotion of childhood obesity prevention, fruit and vegetable consumption in urban communities, healthy scratch- cooked school lunches, diet adherence and quality of life for those with celiac disease, parenting practices to improve their child’s diet and oral health, nutrition education policy, and more. Because of Teachers College’s location in New York City, there are also virtually unlimited opportunities for students to become involved in a variety of food/nutrition-related activities. The faculty and staff can arrange for students who have credit hours available to receive credit for such activities where appropriate.
Students may enroll for all degree programs on a full-time or part-time basis. For the M.S. degrees, students can complete the degree, and gain eligibility for taking the RDN exam, in two, three, or four years.
All three of our M.S. degrees and our Ph.D. are STEM degrees.
Points/Credits: 50
Entry Terms: Fall Only
Degree Requirements
Points/Credits: 50
Course Requirements
Integrated Master of Science: General Requirements
The major program emphases are in the fields of Nutrition Education, Nutrition and Public Health, and Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. All three integrated MS-RDN degrees require the following core didactic courses and practicum courses:
HBSV 4010 Food, Nutrition, and Behavior (3 credits)
HBSV 4013 Nutritional Ecology (3 credits)
HBSV 4014 Community Nutrition (3 credits)
HBSV 5010 Advanced Nutrition 1 (3 credits)
HBSV 5011 Advanced Nutrition 2 (3 credits)
HBSV 5013 Strategies for Nutrition Education and Health Behavior Change (3 credits)
HBSV 5014 Analysis of Current Literature and Research in Nutrition (3 credits)
HBSV 5015 Nutritional Epidemiology and Assessment (3 credits)
HBSV 5016 Food Service Operations and Management (3 credits)
HBSV 5018 Nutrition and Human Development (3 credits)
HBSV 5033 Nutrition Care Process and Medical Nutrition Therapy 1 (3 credits)
HBSV 5034 Nutrition Care Process and Medical Nutrition Therapy 2 (3 credits)
HBSV 5036 Nutrition Counseling (2 credits)
HBSV 5350 Global Foods Practicum (1 credit)
HBSV 5351 Community Nutrition Education Practicum (1 credit)
HBSV 5352 Medical Nutrition Therapy Practicum 1 (1 credit)
HBSV 5353 Medical Nutrition Therapy Practicum 2 (1 credit)
HBSV 5354 Advanced Practicum 1 (1 credit)
HBSV 5355 Advanced Practicum 2 (1 credit)
All three Master of Science degrees require a substantial integrative departmental project or thesis.
Master of Science: Nutrition Education
Students working toward the 50-credit integrated MS-RDN degree in Nutrition Education will also complete a course titled HBSS 4012 Eating Disorders: Awareness, Prevention, and Treatment (3 credits) along with a 3-credit elective course focusing on counseling, psychology, or individual and group nutrition education in communities, schools, work sites, health care, and/or mass media settings.
The integrated MS-RDN degree in Nutrition Education conforms to the guidelines for the Nutrition Education Competencies for Promoting Healthy Individuals, Communities, and Food Systems set forth by the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior.
Tuition & Fees for integrated MS-RDN degree in Nutrition Education
The full-time integrated MS-RDN degree in Nutrition Education consists of 50 credits distributed over two 12-month years as follows:
Year #1:
Fall semester (16 credits)*
January session (1 credit)
Spring semester (12 credits)
Summer session #1 (7 credits)**
Summer session #2 (3 credits)**
Year #2:
Fall semester (14 credits)*
Spring semester (4 credits)**
Summer session #1 (1 credit)**
*Two 4-credit graduate courses will be completed at Lehman College of the City University of New York. These courses are Ethnic and Therapeutic Meal Patterns and Food Science. These 8 credits are in addition to the 50 credits completed at Teachers College.
**For students who need full-time status, several courses carry additional contact hours for substantial out-of-classroom activities.. Despite a low credit total for a few of the semesters, the associated supervised experiential learning hours as part of the practicum courses at various work sites equate to full-time status.
Visit the TC Academic Calendar
In addition to the cost of the Teachers College courses**, students should budget for the following:
College fee per semester**
Course fees ($35 per course)
Two 4-credit courses at Lehman College (about $650 per credit)
Comprehensive physical examination (may include drug testing)**
Background check (about $20)
Lab coat (about $25)
Books and supplies**
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics student membership (about $63)
Liability insurance (about $35 per year, issued by Mercer Consumers, Proliability at https://www.proliability.com/)
Travel/transportation to work sites, especially during the spring and summer of year #2 (Metro Card, Metro North Railroad, PATH train, Uber/Lyft)**
Food and personal expenses**
Living expenses (room and board)**
**Information regarding tuition and fees (updated annually) can be found at: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/admission/tuition-and-fees/
Information about financial aid, scholarships, stipends can be found at: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/admission/financial-aid/
Points/Credits: 57
Entry Terms: Fall Only
Degree Requirements
Points/Credits: 57
Course Requirements
Integrated Master of Science: General Requirements
The major program emphases are in the fields of Nutrition Education, Nutrition and Public Health, and Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. All three integrated MS-RDN degrees require the following core didactic courses and practicum courses:
HBSV 4010 Food, Nutrition, and Behavior (3 credits)
HBSV 4013 Nutritional Ecology (3 credits)
HBSV 4014 Community Nutrition (3 credits)
HBSV 5010 Advanced Nutrition 1 (3 credits)
HBSV 5011 Advanced Nutrition 2 (3 credits)
HBSV 5013 Strategies for Nutrition Education and Health Behavior Change (3 credits)
HBSV 5014 Analysis of Current Literature and Research in Nutrition (3 credits)
HBSV 5015 Nutritional Epidemiology and Assessment (3 credits)
HBSV 5016 Food Service Operations and Management (3 credits)
HBSV 5018 Nutrition and Human Development (3 credits)
HBSV 5033 Nutrition Care Process and Medical Nutrition Therapy 1 (3 credits)
HBSV 5034 Nutrition Care Process and Medical Nutrition Therapy 2 (3 credits)
HBSV 5036 Nutrition Counseling (2 credits)
HBSV 5350 Global Foods Practicum (1 credit)
HBSV 5351 Community Nutrition Education Practicum (1 credit)
HBSV 5352 Medical Nutrition Therapy Practicum 1 (1 credit)
HBSV 5353 Medical Nutrition Therapy Practicum 2 (1 credit)
HBSV 5354 Advanced Practicum 1 (1 credit)
HBSV 5355 Advanced Practicum 2 (1 credit)
All three Master of Science degrees require a substantial integrative departmental project or thesis.
Master of Science: Nutrition and Exercise Physiology
Students working toward the 57-credit Master of Science degree in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology will also complete five additional courses:
BBSR 5593 Nutrition in Exercise and Sport (3 credits)
BBSR 4095 Applied Physiology I (3 credits)
BBSR 5594 Applied Physiology II (3 credits)
BBSR 5096 Advanced Exercise Prescription (3 credits)
HBSV 5096 Practicum in Sports Nutrition (1 credit)
Tuition & Fees for integrated MS-RDN degree in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology
The full-time integrated MS-RDN degree in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology consists of 57 credits distributed over two 12-month years as follows:
Year #1:
Fall semester (16 credits)*
January session (1 credit)
Spring semester (12 credits)
Summer session #1 (4 credits)**
Summer session #2 (3 credits) **
Year #2:
Fall semester (14 credits)*
January session (3 credits)
Spring semester (8 credits)**
Summer session #1 (4 credit)**
*Two 4-credit graduate courses will be completed at Lehman College of the City University of New York. These courses are Ethnic and Therapeutic Meal Patterns and Food Science. These 8 credits are in addition to the 57 credits completed at Teachers College.
**For students who need full-time status, several courses carry additional contact hours for substantial out-of-classroom activities. Despite a low credit total for a few of the semesters, the associated supervised experiential learning hours at various work sites equate to full-time status.
Visit the TC Academic Calendar
In addition to the cost of the Teachers College courses**, students should budget for the following:
College fee per semester**
Course fees ($35 per course)
Two 4-credit courses at Lehman College (about $650 per credit)
Comprehensive physical examination (may include drug testing)**
Background check (about $20)
Lab coat (about $25)
Books and supplies**
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics student membership (about $63)
Liability insurance (about $35 per year, issued by Mercer Consumers, Proliability at https://www.proliability.com/)
Travel/transportation to work sites, especially during the spring and summer of year #2 (Metro Card, Metro North Railroad, PATH train, Uber/Lyft)**
Food and personal expenses**
Living expenses (room and board)**
**Information regarding tuition and fees (updated annually) can be found at: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/admission/tuition-and-fees/
Information about financial aid, scholarships, stipends can be found at: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/admission/financial-aid/
Points/Credits: 50
Entry Terms: Fall Only
Degree Requirements
Points/Credits: 50
Course Requirements
Integrated Master of Science: General Requirements
The major program emphases are in the fields of Nutrition Education, Nutrition and Public Health, and Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. All three integrated MS-RDN degrees require the following core didactic courses and practicum courses:
HBSV 4010 Food, Nutrition, and Behavior (3 credits)
HBSV 4013 Nutritional Ecology (3 credits)
HBSV 4014 Community Nutrition (3 credits)
HBSV 5010 Advanced Nutrition 1 (3 credits)
HBSV 5011 Advanced Nutrition 2 (3 credits)
HBSV 5013 Strategies for Nutrition Education and Health Behavior Change (3 credits)
HBSV 5014 Analysis of Current Literature and Research in Nutrition (3 credits)
HBSV 5015 Nutritional Epidemiology and Assessment (3 credits)
HBSV 5016 Food Service Operations and Management (3 credits)
HBSV 5018 Nutrition and Human Development (3 credits)
HBSV 5033 Nutrition Care Process and Medical Nutrition Therapy I (3 credits)
HBSV 5034 Nutrition Care Process and Medical Nutrition Therapy II (3 credits)
HBSV 5036 Nutrition Counseling (2 credits)
HBSV 5350 Global Foods Practicum (1 credit)
HBSV 5351 Community Nutrition Education Practicum (1 credit)
HBSV 5352 Medical Nutrition Therapy Practicum 1 (1 credit)
HBSV 5353 Medical Nutrition Therapy Practicum 2 (1 credit)
HBSV 5354 Advanced Practicum 1 (1 credit)
HBSV 5355 Advanced Practicum 2 (1 credit)
All three Master of Science degrees require a substantial integrative departmental project or thesis.
Master of Science: Nutrition and Public Health
Students working toward the 50-credit MS-RDN degree in Nutrition and Public Health will also complete two additional courses: Principles of Epidemiology in Health Promotion (3 credits) and Social Policy and Prevention (3 credits).
The M.S. in Nutrition and Public Health is an approved program of the Association of Faculties of Graduate Programs in Public Health Nutrition. Coursework for the integrated 50-credit MS-RDN degree conforms to the recommendations of that association, so that the degree is equivalent to one offered by a school of public health.
The MS in Nutrition and Public Health prepares graduates to take leadership roles in government, community, and public health agencies, carrying out a variety of planning, instructional, and administrative tasks related to health promotion and disease prevention. These include community and individual nutritional assessment and evaluation, program planning and management, coalition building, and participation in multidisciplinary teams to provide programs to meet public health needs or improve the sustainability of food systems.
Tuition & Fees for integrated MS-RDN degree in Nutrition and Public Health
The full-time integrated MS-RDN degree in Nutrition and Public Health consists of 50 credits distributed over two 12-month years as follows:
Year #1:
Fall semester (16 credits)*
January session (1 credit)
Spring semester (12 credits)
Summer session #1 (4 credits)**
Summer session #2 (6 credits)**
Year #2:
Fall semester (14 credits)*
Spring semester (4 credits)**
Summer session #1 (1 credit)**
*Two 4-credit graduate courses will be completed at Lehman College of the City University of New York. These courses are Ethnic and Therapeutic Meal Patterns and Food Science. These 8 credits are in addition to the 50 credits completed at Teachers College.
**For students who need full-time status, several courses carry additional contact hours for substantial out-of-classroom activities. Despite a low credit total for a few of the semesters, the associated supervised experiential learning hours at various work sites equate to full-time status.
Visit the TC Academic Calendar
In addition to the cost of the Teachers College courses**, students should budget for the following:
College fee per semester**
Course fees ($35 per course)
Two 4-credit courses at Lehman College (about $650 per credit)
Comprehensive physical examination (may include drug testing)**
Background check (about $20)
Lab coat (about $25)
Books and supplies**
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics student membership (about $63)
Liability insurance (about $35 per year, issued by Mercer Consumers, Proliability at https://www.proliability.com/)
Travel/transportation to work sites, especially during the spring and summer of year #2 (Metro Card, Metro North Railroad, PATH train, Uber/Lyft)**
Food and personal expenses**
Living expenses (room and board)**
**Information regarding tuition and fees (updated annually) can be found at: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/admission/tuition-and-fees/
Information about financial aid, scholarships, stipends can be found at: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/admission/financial-aid/
Points/Credits: 60
Entry Terms: Spring/Summer/Fall
Degree Requirements
Master of Education: Community Nutrition Education
The program of study is for the 60-point Master of Education degree in Community Nutrition Education includes additional coursework in advanced nutrition and permits stronger emphases in the behavioral sciences, community assessment and planning, and education. A community-based, research, or other integrative project is required.
In consultation with an academic advisor, students entering the Ed.M. program should consult the various curricula suggested for the integrated MS-RDN track in Nutrition and Public Health, Nutrition Education, or Nutrition and Exercise Physiology for guidance in planning the majority of Ed.M. credits.
In addition to the M.S. General Requirements below, students in the Master of Education in Community Nutrition Education program are also required to take:
HBSV 6550 and 6551 Research Seminar in Nutrition
A Qualitative Research Methods course
Additional electives specific to their integrative project
Master of Science: General Core Requirements
The major program emphases are in the fields of Nutrition Education, Nutrition and Public Health, and Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. All three M.S. Nutrition degrees require the following core didactic courses and practicum courses which may be tailored depending on whether the RDN credential is also desired:
HBSV 4010 Food, Nutrition, and Behavior
HBSV 4013 Nutritional Ecology
HBSV 4014 Community Nutrition
HBSV 5010 Advanced Nutrition1I
HBSV 5011 Advanced Nutrition 2
HBSV 5013 Strategies for Nutrition Education and Health Behavior Change
HBSV 5014 Analysis of Current Literature and Research in Nutrition
HBSV 5015 Nutritional Epidemiology and Assessment
HBSV 5016 Food Service Operations and Management
HBSV 5018 Nutrition and Human Development
HBSV 5033 Nutrition Care Process and Medical Nutrition Therapy 1
HBSV 5034 Nutrition Care Process and Medical Nutrition Therapy 2
HBSV 5036 Nutrition Counseling
HBSV 5350 Global Foods Practicum
HBSV 5351 Community Nutrition Education Practicum
HBSV 5352 Medical Nutrition Therapy Practicum 1
HBSV 5353 Medical Nutrition Therapy Practicum 2
HBSV 5354 Advanced Practicum 1
HBSV 5355 Advanced Practicum 2
A substantial integrative departmental project or thesis is also required.
Points/Credits: 90
Entry Terms: Spring/Summer/Fall
Degree Requirements
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Note: The Program in Nutrition is no longer admitting students into the Ed.D. degree unless with special permission. Students may want to consider the Ph.D.
The Doctor of Education offered two areas of specialization: Nutrition Education and Nutrition and Public Health.
With the importance of nutrition for health promotion and disease prevention and the widespread interest in the safety and sustainability of the food system, there is a need for highly qualified nutrition professionals who are able to develop appropriate policies and programs.
The Nutrition Education specialization focuses on leadership roles in many settings, such as colleges and universities, health promotion and disease prevention programs, voluntary health agencies, government and international agencies, businesses, hospitals, and food advocacy organizations, where they work with individuals, groups and communities, and serve as faculty members, program developers, and evaluation and research specialists.
Program of Study
The general requirements for the Doctor of Education include a minimum of 90 graduate credits, of which at least 45 must be taken under Teachers College registration. Overall, students will be expected to develop competence in nutrition science, behavioral science, methods of empirical research and data analysis, critical thinking and analysis, and broad areas of scholarship, in addition to developing special skills and knowledge appropriate to their chosen degree in nutrition education or public health nutrition. Students will also be expected to pass a certification examination, usually after the completion of 60 points andResearch Seminar in Nutrition (HBSV 6550-6551), and to conduct original research that culminates in the production of a dissertation.
Students will be expected to take courses in the following categories:
Major field and specialization: 50-60 points
Research and evaluation: 12-18 points
Broad and basic areas of professional scholarship: 15-24 points
The specific courses selected will depend on the student’s particular background, interests, and goals. In consultation with a faculty advisor, students should develop a program plan early in their course of study to provide a rational basis for their course selection. (Visit the website for the Program in Nutrition for more detailed descriptions of the doctoral degree requirements.)
Points/Credits: 90
Entry Terms: Spring/Summer/Fall
Degree Requirements
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Note: The Program in Nutrition is no longer admitting students into the Ed.D. degree unless with special permission. Students may want to consider the Ph.D.
The Doctor of Education is offered in two areas of specialization: Nutrition Education and Nutrition and Public Health.
With the importance of nutrition for health promotion and disease prevention and the widespread interest in the safety and sustainability of the food system, there is a need for highly qualified nutrition professionals who are able to develop appropriate policies and programs. The Nutrition and Public Health specialization focuses on leadership roles in colleges and universities and in government, community, health care, and public health agencies, carrying out a variety of tasks related to health promotion and disease prevention. These include community and individual nutritional assessment and evaluation; program planning and management; coalition building; participation in multidisciplinary health teams to provide programs to meet public needs; and conducting research and evaluation studies.
Program of Study
The general requirements for the Doctor of Education include a minimum of 90 graduate credits, of which at least 45 must be taken under Teachers College registration. Overall, students will be expected to develop competence in nutrition science, behavioral science, methods of empirical research and data analysis, critical thinking and analysis, and broad areas of scholarship, in addition to developing special skills and knowledge appropriate to their chosen degree in nutrition education or public health nutrition. Students will also be expected to pass a certification examination, usually after the completion of 60 points andResearch Seminar in Nutrition (HBSV 6550-6551), and to conduct original research that culminates in the production of a dissertation.
Students will be expected to take courses in the following categories:
Major field and specialization: 50-60 points
Research and evaluation: 12-18 points
Broad and basic areas of professional scholarship: 15-24 points
The specific courses selected will depend on the student’s particular background, interests, and goals. In consultation with a faculty advisor, students should develop a program plan early in their course of study to provide a rational basis for their course selection. (Visit the website for the Program in Nutrition for more detailed descriptions of the doctoral degree requirements.)
Points/Credits: 75
Entry Terms: Spring/Summer/Fall
Degree Requirements
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
With the increasing appreciation of the importance of nutrition for health promotion and disease prevention and the widespread interest in the sustainability and social equity of food systems, there is a need for highly qualified nutrition professionals who understand the complex interaction of biology, environment, and personal behavior, and are skilled in conducting research and in the development and evaluation of interventions, programs, and policies in a variety of settings.
The program prepares scholars to conduct research on the critical issues related to:
determinants of health behaviors (biological, personal, social, and environmental) related to nutrition and to physical activity;
relationships among food- and nutrition-related behaviors and health outcomes using techniques of behavioral epidemiology;
design, implementation, and evaluation of theory-based behavioral nutrition and physical activity interventions
methodological considerations in the design and evaluation of interventions. There are three specializations:
Behavioral Nutrition
Nutritional Epidemiology
Nutrition and Physical Activity
The graduates from this program become leaders who assume professorial and research roles in universities and colleges within departments of nutrition epidemiology, foods and nutrition, and physical activity, as well as assume research roles in centers for research on behavioral aspects of obesity, chronic disease prevention, and health promotion. Thus, the program aims to prepare researchers with basic and applied behavioral skills within an educational context.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Ph.D. program involves completing the application form available online and submitting all regular admission materials, such as transcripts from all institutions attended, three letters of recommendation, and writing sample, which can be a thesis, substantial paper, or published article.
The student should have a master’s degree in nutrition or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution, along with the necessary prerequisite undergraduate courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, human physiology, nutrition, and statistics.. Admissions will be based on grades, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and an appropriate match between the applicant’s interests, the research work of the faculty, and funding availability. The student will generally be expected to be full-time and to work on ongoing research projects of the faculty.
Program of Study
The general requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy include a minimum of 75 graduate credits, of which at least 45 must be taken under Teachers College registration.
The Ph.D. has 21-27 credits in advanced topical seminars, research seminar and dissertation advisement, specifically devoted to research-related courses and activities. Students will also be expected to pass a certification examination. Students will conduct original research as part of their dissertation and will need to pass a proposal hearing, an advanced seminar (specifically on their data) and dissertation oral defense on their full dissertation.
Students will be expected to take courses in the following categories:
Core courses: 29 points
Courses to develop depth within each specialization: 19-29 points
Research preparation: 21-27 points
The specific courses selected will depend on the student’s particular background, interests and goals. In consultation with a faculty advisor, students should develop a program plan early in their course of study to provide a rational basis for their course selection.
Research Training and Apprenticeship
The primary modality for training for Ph.D. students is working with their sponsor on some ongoing research project. Students will work closely with one faculty member on an ongoing research project to gain practical experience in the development of study instruments, intervention protocols, data collection, data management and analysis, manuscript preparation and submission, and presentation of results at relevant scientific meetings. During their first year after completing basic core coursework, students will also participate in two semester-long part-time internships with other research labs, at Columbia or other academic institutions, to gain additional research perspectives. Visit the website for the Program in Nutrition for more detailed descriptions of the Ph.D. requirements.