Medical
Nutrition Sciences

Welcome from the Director

About the Program

Faculty

Courses

Master of Arts

Doctor of Philosophy

Medical Nutrition Sciences Core Curriculum
22 Credits

GMS NU 600 Medical Nutrition Sciences(4 cr)

GMS NU 620 Research, Clinical & Public Policy Applications in Medical Nutrition Sciences (4 cr)

GMS NU 610 Research Methods in Medical Nutrition Sciences (4 cr)

GMS NU 700 Medical Nutrition Sciences Seminar (4 cr, 2 cr each semester with students enrolling for 2 semesters)

GMS NU 900, 901 Medical Nutrition Sciences Research (4 cr)

GMS MS 700 Elementary Biostatistics (2 cr) 

Elective Courses 1 (with faculty Approval)

10 Credits

GMS PM 730 Introduction to Medical Pharmacology (4 cr)   

GMS PA 500 Introduction to Pathology (4 cr)

GMS PH 542,743  Human Physiology A and B  (4 cr, 4 cr)

GMS BI 783 Structure and Function of Proteins  (2 cr)

GMS BY 774 Metabolism of Complex Lipids (2 cr)

GMS BI 786 Biochemical Mechanisms of Aging (2 cr)

GMS BI 776 Gene Targeting in Transgenic Mice (2 cr)

GMS BI 751 Biochemistry (MA students, 6 cr)

GMS BI 755, 756 Biochemistry (PhD students, 4 cr, 4 cr)   

GMS BI 782 Molecular Biology (4 cr)

GMS MS 781 Introduction to Human Genetics (4 cr)

GMS AN 709  Neural Development and Plasticity  (2 cr

GMS MS 783 Molecular Basis of Neurologic Disease (4 cr)

GMS BI 787  Molecular Mechanisms of Growth & Development (2 cr)   

GMS BI 788  Enzyme Catalysis (2 cr)

GMS PH 843, 844 Cellular Physiology 4 cr, 4 cr)

GMS PM 700 Molecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology  (4 cr)

GMS PM 820 Behavioral Pharmacology (2 cr)

GMS PM 830 Principles of Pharmocokinetics (2 cr)

GMS PM 840 Neuroendocrine Pharmacology  (2 cr)

GMS PM 880 Gene Regulation and Pharmacology (2 cr)

GMS BN 893 Child Clinical Neuropsychology (4 cr)                         

GMS BN 775 Human Neuropsychology (4 cr)

GMS BN 779 Basic Neurosciences (2 cr)

GMS BN 780 Behavior and Biology of Stress and Trauma (2 cr)

GMS BN 795 Neuropsychology of Perception and Memory (4 cr)

GMS BN 798 Functional Neuroanatomy and Psychology  (4 cr)

GMS OB 763,764 Oral Biology (4 cr)

GMS OB 800,801   Molecular Basis of Oral Biology (4 cr, 4 cr)

GMS MI 713   Comprehensive Immunology (4 cr)

GMS MI 715 Advanced Cellular Immunology  (2 cr)

GMS PA 701 Advanced Immunology  (2 cr)

GMS MS 753  Cell Biology (3 cr)
SPH HS 710  Nutrition and Public Health (4 cr)
SPH SB 821  Principles & Strategies of Dis Prev/Health Promo  (4 cr)
SPH MC 710  Foundations of Maternal & Child Health Nutrition (2 cr)
SPH SB 732  Nutrition, Aging & the Elder Population (2 cr)
SPH EB 758  Nutritional Epidemiology (4 cr)
SPH SB 825 Diet & the Global Prevention of Chronic Diseases (4 cr)   
SPH EH 865 Food Sanitation & Safety (4 cr)
SPH SB 733 Mass Communications and Public Health  (4 cr)                        
SPH SB 922 Directed Research: Beh. Sci. (Nutrition or Com, var cr)                    
SPH SB   970 Field Practice Placement in Beh. Sci. (Nutrition or Com, var cr)        
SPH SB 815  Program Evaluation Research (4 cr) 
SPH EB 712  Epidemiology Methods (4 cr)                                                            
SPH EB 722 Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials (4 cr)
SPH EB 751 Cardiovascular Epidemiology (4 cr)
SPH EB 752 Cancer Epidemiology (4 cr)
SPH EB 753 Cancer Prevention as a Public Health Problem  (4 cr)
SPH EB 762 Clinical Epidemiology (4 cr)
SPH EB 805 Intermediate Statistical Computing   (4 cr)
SPH EB 854  Modern Epidemiology  (4 cr)
SPH EB 855 Design Issues in Epidemiology (4 cr)                                            
SPH EB 856 Special Topics in Epidemiology  (4 cr)
SPH EB 914 Epidemiology Research Seminar (2 cr)
SPH EB 915  Research Methodology and Medical Literature  (2 cr)
SPH EB 970  Field Practice Placement in Epi./Bio. (Nutrition, 2-4 cr)
SAR HS 704  Issues in Clinical Nutrition Practice (2 cr)
SAR HS 742 Nutrition for Disease Prevention (4 cr)
SAR HS 775  Advanced Clinical Nutrition (4 cr)
SAR HS 776  Nutrition Epidemiology (4 cr)
SAR HS 783   Metabolic Regulation (4 cr)
SAR HS 789  Theory and Practice of Clinical Nutrition Counseling  (2 cr)
SAR HS 785  Research in Nutrition (2 cr)
SAR HS 811  Practicum in Nutrition (4 cr)

Post-Masters PhD Requirements

PhD students in Medical Nutrition Sciences who enter the program with an existing masters from another institution or another doctoral degree will complete the program in 32 credits.   This includes the 22 credit core sequence outlined above. PhD students are also required to participate for a minimum of 4 semesters in the program’s Seminar Series but they will enroll only for 4 credits.  

PhD students who completed their MA in the Medical Nutrition Sciences program at Boston University will also complete a 32 credit degree.   They will be required to participate in 4 semesters of the Seminar Series.   These students will also take 4 credits of dissertation research.   In addition, they will take 18 credits of approved coursework from offerings at the Schools of Medicine, Dental Medicine, or Public Health.   They will also be required to complete 10 additional elective credits.

Post-Baccalaureate PhD Requirements

Students who are admitted to the PhD program with an undergraduate degree will complete a 64 credit degree.   They will complete the 32 credit core sequence outlined above and in the Master of Arts section.  Matriculation of these students into the PhD program will be contingent upon the successful completion of their MA requirements.

Curriculum Plans/Sequences

The 32 credit planned course sequence for MA or PhD students are outlined below for students with four different areas of interest: nutrition epidemiology, basic laboratory nutrition sciences, nutrition and health promotion, and nutrition and health communications.   Each of the plans is presented over 4 semesters of full-time study.   Students may opt, however, to progress on a part-time basis.   These sequences are only illustrative; they are not meant to suggest a fixed plan of study.   Students will work with their faculty mentors to prepare their core and elective elective course sequencing, remaining cognizant of course prerequisites.   These study plans will be reviewed and approved by the Program's (Executive) Director and the Executive Steering Committee.

Nutritional Epidemiology                              

MA: 32 credits and Thesis (MA)

Post-Bachelors PhD nutrition or closely related science: 64 credits and Dissertation

Post Masters PhD in nutrition or closely related science: 32 credits and Dissertation

Semester 1   *Core Courses/Required Research (22 credits)                          

Semester 2                                                                                               

Other potential elective courses may be elected from approved course offering on review by the student’s advisor/mentor and approval of the Steering and Curriculum Committees.  

Basic/Laboratory Nutrition Sciences              

MA: 32 credits and thesis   

Post-Bachelors PhD in nutrition or closely related science:  64 Credits and Dissertation

Post-Masters PhD in nutrition or closely related science: 32 credits and dissertation

Other potential elective courses may be elected from approved course offering on review by the student’s advisor/mentor and approval of the Steering and Curriculum Committees.  

Nutrition & Health Promotion                       

MA: 32 credits and thesis   

Post-Bachelors PhD in nutrition or closely related science:  64 Credits and Dissertation

Post-Masters PhD in nutrition or closely related science: 32 credits and dissertation

Semester 1   *Core Courses/Required Research (22 credits)                          

Semester 3 & 4         

Other potential elective courses may be elected from approved course offering on review by the student’s advisor/mentor and approval of the Steering and Curriculum Committees.  

Nutrition & Health Communications          

MA: 32 credits and thesis   

Post-Bachelors PhD in nutrition or closely related science:  64 Credits and Dissertation

Post-Masters PhD in nutrition or closely related science: 32 credits and dissertation

Semester 1   *Core Courses/Required Research (22 credits)                          

Semester 2

Semester 3 & 4         

Other potential elective courses may be elected from approved course offering on review by the student’s advisor/mentor and approval of the Steering and Curriculum Committees.  

PhD Program Requirements

Academic standards regarding grades for PhD students are consistent with those for MA students, and the policies and procedures of the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences. Additional features are summarized below:

a. Qualifying Oral and Written Doctoral Examination

At the end of the first year and no later than 24 months after enrollment, students in the PhD program will take an oral examination that tests the knowledge of the core curriculum in (medical nutrition sciences) as well as an area of concentration (nutritional epidemiology, etc.). At this stage of examination, students will also present a detailed written plan of their dissertation that is reviewed and approved by the examination committee. An ad hoc examination committee is formed and comprised of 4 faculty members. The committee includes a chairperson (not the student's mentor/advisor), the student's mentor/advisor, and 2 faculty members at large. Committee members must hold faculty positions at Boston University. The membership of doctoral committees will be reviewed and approved by the Program's (Executive) Director and the Executive Steering Committee.

Recommendations to Pass/Fail the exam are made by the approved doctoral committee. Students who fail the examination have the opportunity to retake the exam within 3 months. Students who fail a second time are asked to withdraw from the program. Students who pass the exam may initiate their dissertation research.

b. Dissertation Research and Committee

The dissertation research takes place over two or three years of full-time work. Each faculty research mentor will work with the PhD candidate on a research project that can be completed in this time frame. The research is completed in accordance with the policies of the Graduate Division of Medical Sciences. The primary intent of the dissertation is to teach the student appropriate research techniques; methods of critical scientific inquiry needed to answer specific questions; skills to review, interpret, and apply relevant literature; data analytical capabilities; and methods of scientific writing. Students will participate in their mentor/advisors' research group and its meetings, participate in the program's Seminar Series, including presentation of some of their dissertation findings there. Degrees are awarded upon completion of the written dissertation and an oral dissertation defense that is administered by the dissertation committee.

The Dissertation Committee consists of 5 faculty members. The committee must meet at intervals of 6 months or less to judge the student's progress, determine the readiness for a dissertation defense. They will conduct the defense and make a recommendation to confer the doctoral degree.

c. Doctoral Student Promotion

This is contingent upon passing the oral qualifying examination and is monitored by the Program (Executive) Director in conjunction with the Executive Steering Committee. Thereafter, progress is monitored by the dissertation committee at 6 month intervals or less. It is expected that the dissertation ultimately results in the publication of 2 manuscripts. Students must demonstrate progress in the preparation of manuscripts for publication that arise from their dissertation work. If the dissertation committee decides that the student's research is not complete, the student will be required to spend an additional 6 months completing their work.

d. Dissertation & Oral Defense

The written dissertation must be completed in accordance with the Guidelines for Dissertations which comply with the policies and procedures of the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences.

The defense of the dissertation is organized by the dissertation committee according to guidelines of the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences.