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Welcome to the Nutrition Science Graduate Program in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. We hope that you have a rewarding and successful time in graduate school. This handbook describes the tasks and deadlines that are necessary for you to earn your graduate degree. The information noted in this version of the Nutrition Science Graduate Handbook applies to all students admitted in fall 20202021. Students are held to the program requirements for the year in which they matriculate. All graduate students should refer to the handbook for answers to questions regarding graduate policies and procedures.

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In addition to the general admissions requirements of the Graduate School, Nutrition Science Graduate Program applicants must document completion of the following:

While no single factor determines entry to the program, competitive applicants typically have a minimum of:

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To assist new students in their transition into the program, all admitted first year students will be assigned to either Dr. Sudha Raj or Dr. Lynn Brann as their faculty advisor. Dr. Brann Your academic advisor will provide guidance in course scheduling and departmental procedures. She will serve as the academic advisor for all students pursuing a graduate degree. Students are expected to meet at least once per semester with Dr. Brann for academic advisingtheir academic advisor for course scheduling.

Thesis Advisor

If a student is pursuing a M.S. degree, the thesis advisor will advise the student on his/her/their research. In the first semester of the graduate program, the student should begin meeting with each faculty member to discuss research activities, as well as his/her/their own research interests and professional goals. A student’s interests should align with his/her/their thesis advisor’s areas of expertise. Students pursuing a M.S. must secure a thesis advisor by the second semester of the first year by affirming the commitment of a N.S.D. faculty member to serve in this role. Students should be aware of their thesis advisor’s expectations and are expected to meet with their advisor on a regular basis. The thesis advisor will likely have recommendations for coursework relevant to the student’s thesis and can work in consult with the faculty academic advisor to determine recommended courses.

Program of Study

All students must develop a Program of Study with their academic advisor by the end of the first year after beginning their graduate studies. The program of study is developed in consultation with the student’s academic advisor and is a listing of all courses that have been completed and those intended courses to be completed in fulfillment of all degree requirements. The program of study should reflect a coherent body of study that is aligned with a student’s academic and career goals. A final Program of Study must be submitted to the program Administrative Assistant at the beginning of the student’s fourth semester. A Program of Study must be filed with the Graduate School before a thesis defense can be held and before a student can graduate from the program.

Note: It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to ensure they meet all program and graduation requirements.

Transfer Credits

Graduate courses completed at a previous accredited institution may be petitioned to apply to the nutrition science graduate degree requirements. Students may transfer a maximum of nine graduate credits (with a grade of B or higher) with the approval of the graduate director. Grades from other institutions are not included in the Syracuse University G.P.A. calculation.

Students requesting a transfer of credits or requesting to take a graduate course at another institution are required to complete a petition for each course that is being transferred. Students must also provide a complete syllabus for the class. The graduate director reviews the petitions to determine which courses will be accepted. Permission by the Graduate Director and the Didactic Program in Dietetics (D.P.D.) Director (if the course is to be counted toward the student’s D.P.D. requirement) must be obtained before the student registers for the course. Failing to obtain permission may result in the course not being counted toward the student’s graduate degree.

Incompletes

Students are discouraged from taking an incomplete grade in any course. In the event that a student must file for an “Incomplete”, the Syracuse University Request for Incomplete Grade form must be submitted to the department chair for approval. Students who do not abide by the terms of the Incomplete will receive an “F.” Any graduate student with an incomplete may not be eligible for graduate assistantships.

Graduate Student Annual Review Process and Procedure

Each spring semester the graduate nutrition faculty conduct an annual review of all graduate students and their Programs of Study. The annual review is designed to facilitate students’ progress by providing timely feedback regarding their overall performance. This includes any clarification of program requirements and expectations, as well as early identification of concerns or deficiencies.

In preparation for the review, all graduate students are required to complete the Annual Review online survey and submit a resume/curriculum vita (C.V.) electronically to the nutrition administrative assistant in the beginning of the spring semester. An email with the survey will be sent at least two weeks prior to the due date of the materials. The Annual Review survey and resume/C.V. provides faculty with information regarding the student’s academic progress and accomplishments (career goal, honors and awards, conference presentations, publications, research experience, teaching experience, etc.). The information will also be used when awarding assistantships for the forthcoming semester/year.

Annual Review Process:

• Faculty advisor will review the advisee’s information and provide a summary of his/her progress to the graduate nutrition faculty committee. Nutrition faculty may provide additional information regarding student progress and performance.
• Students will be contacted in writing by their academic advisor regarding the outcome of the annual review and, as necessary, will meet with the faculty advisor to discuss the review further.
• A copy of the report is placed in the student’s file.

Academic Standards

Satisfactory Progress

All graduate students are required to maintain satisfactory progress in their degree program. This is accomplished by maintaining a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 (B) or higher in all courses listed in their program of study. This includes graduate courses taken outside the Nutrition Science Graduate Program (anthropology, education, psychology, sociology, etc.). Students must earn a B or better in all required courses.

Probation and Dismissal

Any student who fails to maintain a cumulative 3.0 G.P.A. is subject to academic probation. Students who do not achieve satisfactory progress after one semester may be dismissed from the program. In the case that a student must repeat a required course (when earning a grade lower than a B), they must do so the next time the course is offered. Students are also subject to dismissal if they fail to complete degree requirements in the required timeframe.

Master’s degree – students must meet all requirements for the master’s degree within seven years from the time the student registers for the first course to be used toward their master’s degree program.

Program Extensions

In the event that a graduate student cannot complete their degree within the allotted timeframe, the student may apply for an extension. To request an extension, students should consult their advisor and submit a formal request to the graduate director. The request should be in the form of a memorandum stating the reason for the extension and the amount of time needed for completion. Please note that extensions are granted only under the most extenuating circumstances (e.g., major illness).

Nutrition Science Degree Programs

Master’s Degree Program

The Master’s Degree represents professional qualification for many practitioners in nutrition and dietetics and has become the terminal degree for many students. Because of the varying backgrounds and professional interests of students, the master’s degree program is flexible.

Master of Arts (M.A.)

The M.A. in Nutrition Science requires the completion of a minimum of 36 credits, which is comprised of 16 credit hours of required course work (core) and 20 hours of electives.

Nutrition Science Core Courses (16 credits):

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H.F.S. 621 Statistical Concepts I

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P.H.P. 630 Analysis of Public Health Data

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Elective Course Requirements (20 credits)

Elective coursework must be selected from the Nutrition Science graduate program (graduate level courses are indicated by their course number of 500 or above) or related programs (e.g., Public Health, Food Studies, Psychology, Education, Policy Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, etc.). Students must consult with their academic advisor prior to selecting courses. Elective courses should be consistent with the student’s academic interests and goals and form a coherent program of study. For a complete list of available courses, please consult the Course Catalog.

Nutrition Science Electives (20 credits):

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Independent Study

M.A. students may take up to 3 credits as “Independent Study.” An independent study may include research projects, literature reviews, or other scholarly activities beyond those involved in standard coursework. All independent studies are conducted under the supervision of a faculty member. Students must complete the “Independent Study Form” prior to registering. The independent study must be completed in the semester when it is undertaken.

Graduate students may choose to audit courses during the fall and spring semesters. Permission of the instructor must be obtained by completing a “Grading Option Application Form” with the instructor’s signature. The form is then returned to the Student Records Office at 106 Steele Hall. (Forms are available at the Student Records Office, or the student’s academic department.) Audited courses are not counted toward the graduate degree and students are required to pay 60% of the tuition cost.

Master of Science (M.S.)

The M.S. in Nutrition Science requires the completion of a minimum of 30 credits and includes a thesis. The degree is comprised of 16 credit hours of required core course work (core) and 14 hours of electives, including 6 credits thesis work (N.S.D. 997).

Nutrition Science Core Courses (16 credits):

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N.S.D. 665 Metabolism of Micronutrients

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N.S.D. 667 Metabolism of Macronutrients

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N.S.D. 695 Nutritional Status Evaluation

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H.F.S. 621 Statistical Concepts I

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P.H.P. 630 Analysis of Public Health Data

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Elective Course Requirements (16 credits)

Elective coursework must be selected from the Nutrition Science graduate program or related programs (e.g., Psychology, Education, Policy Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, etc.). Graduate courses are indicated by their course number (500 or above). Students must consult with their academic advisor prior to selecting courses. Elective courses should be consistent with the student’s academic interests and goals and form a coherent program of study. For a complete list of available courses, please consult the Course Catalog.

Nutrition Science Electives (14 credits):

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Independent Study

M.S. students may take up to 3 credits as “Independent Study.” An independent study may include research projects, literature reviews, or other scholarly activities beyond those involved in standard coursework. All independent studies are conducted under the supervision of a faculty member. Students must complete the “Independent Study Form” prior to registering. The independent study must be completed in the semester when it is undertaken.

Graduate students may choose to audit courses during the fall and spring semesters. Permission of the instructor must be obtained by completing a “Grading Option Application Form” with the instructor’s signature. The form is then returned to the Student Records Office at 106 Steele Hall. (Forms are available at the Student Records Office, or the student’s academic department.) Audited courses are not counted toward the graduate degree and students are required to pay 60% of the tuition cost.

Master’s Thesis (6 credits, N.S.D. 997)

In addition to their coursework, M.S. students must complete a Master’s Thesis. The thesis involves investigative work on a specific topic, extensive examination and interpretation of nutrition literature on that topic and the presentation of results in a clear and logical form. The thesis topic should be selected in a specific area of interest that is reflected by the selection of courses within the major and related fields. Completion of the thesis may require an additional year of study beyond completion of coursework.

Master’s Thesis Committee and Proposal

All theses must be approved by the student’s Master’s Thesis committee. The committee is comprised of the student’s thesis advisor (who will serve on the committee) and two other N.S.D. faculty members. N.S.D. tenured and tenure track faculty, or any faculty member with a Ph.D., may serve on the committee. A tenured/tenure track faculty must chair the final defense committee.

The thesis proposal should be developed in consultation with their faculty advisor and contain the following:

• Introduction
• Literature review
• Research questions and/or hypotheses
• Proposed methodology (proposed sample, measures, and analytical techniques)

The student may select one faculty member from outside of the department if his/her expertise is related to the student’s thesis. Committee members should be given at least two weeks to read the proposal prior to the thesis proposal defense date. At the thesis proposal defense, the student is expected to orally present key aspects of the proposed thesis and respond to questions posed by the thesis committee. Students whose proposal is approved by the committee may proceed with their study, subject to any committee recommendations. Proposals not approved by their committee may not proceed until approval is acquired. The thesis proposal defense should occur prior to the end of the spring semester of the first year of study.

Students are required to determine if their research study requires Institutional Review Board (I.R.B.) approval. This is typically necessary if the research involves gathering data from human subjects. Instructions can be obtained from the Office of Research Integrity and Protections web site under Human Research.

Final Defense of Thesis

After the faculty thesis advisor has given his/her approval, the thesis is to be submitted to the thesis committee members at least two weeks prior to the thesis defense. Following the defense, committee members may require students to make changes to the thesis.

The student must complete a Request for Examination form also found at that website. Students should include a faculty member (other than the three committee members) to chair the committee. This person will act as the representative of the Graduate School and will moderate the thesis defense.

All students must follow the graduate school guidelines for formatting their thesis (Preparing Your Thesis/Dissertation).

Didactic Program in Dietetics (D.P.D.)

Dietetics within the discipline of Nutrition is the science of applying food and nutrition to health. Master’s students who are pursuing the D.P.D. verification with courses from the master’s degree in Nutrition Science complete a minimum of 37 credits. Upon successful completion of all D.P.D. course requirements, the student will receive the D.P.D. Verification and will be qualified to apply to a supervised dietetic internship program. Students who have successfully completed their Dietetic Internship will be eligible to take the national examination to become a registered dietitian. Our most recent match rate for dietetic internships was 100%, compared to 65% nationally. The pass rate for our graduates on the registration examination for dietitians was 90% for the past five years.

In addition to the general entrance requirements and nutrition courses required for admission into the program, prerequisites are required for the students pursuing D.P.D. verification. All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to starting the graduate program. Any course taken from this list via another institution must first be approved by the D.P.D. Director. Any courses taken without prior approval may not be accepted toward D.P.D. Verification. Students who wish to have their transcript evaluated for approval of these classes may email the D.P.D. Director, Nancy Rindfuss.

Prerequisites for D.P.D.

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Please note: In addition to the nutrition science graduate program core courses, students completing the D.P.D. must take the following classes: N.S.D. 511 Nutrition Education; N.S.D. 512 Nutrition Counseling; N.S.D. 627 Public Health Nutrition; N.S.D. 648 Dietetics in the Lifespan; N.S.D. 680 Seminar in Food and Nutrition; N.S.D. 681/683 Medical Nutrition Therapy I and II; N.S.D. 682/684 Medical Nutrition Therapy III & IV Lab. For further details about the D.P.D. requirements please refer to the Didactic Program in Dietetics Manual.

Please Note: If the student is a graduate of the Syracuse University undergraduate D.P.D. program, they will have had to complete N.S.D. 481, N.S.D. 482, N.S.D. 483, N.S.D. 484, N.S.D. 511, N.S.D. 512 and N.S.D. 555 or N.S.D. 452 for their undergraduate degree. These classes cannot be used toward the Graduate Degree in Nutrition Science; other courses need to be completed to fulfill the credit requirements for the graduate degree. In accordance with the University’s academic policies, once a course has been counted towards a degree or certificate, it cannot be counted again towards another degree.

Master’s Comprehensive Exam

Master’s students are required to complete the Master’s Comprehensive Examination as part of their master’s degree and must pass this in order to receive their degree. The Master’s Comprehensive Examination is given to candidates who are in the final stages of completing all requirements for the master’s degree. This examination provides the master’s candidate an opportunity to demonstrate his/her capabilities for critical analysis and thinking and assimilation of information contained in the body of nutrition literature. The exam is a take home exam. It will be given to students in early March of their final year of study; students will be given two weeks to complete the exam. Students will participate in an oral defense of their written responses to a group of nutrition graduate faculty on a specified date toward the end of the semester.

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Transfer Credits

Graduate courses completed at a previous accredited institution may be petitioned to apply to the nutrition science graduate degree requirements. Students may transfer a maximum of nine graduate credits (with a grade of B or higher) with the approval of the graduate director. Grades from other institutions are not included in the Syracuse University G.P.A. calculation.

Students requesting a transfer of credits or requesting to take a graduate course at another institution are required to complete a petition for each course that is being transferred. Students must also provide a complete syllabus for the class. The graduate director reviews the petitions to determine which courses will be accepted. Permission by the Graduate Director and the Didactic Program in Dietetics (D.P.D.) Director (if the course is to be counted toward the student’s D.P.D. requirement) must be obtained before the student registers for the course. Failing to obtain permission may result in the course not being counted toward the student’s graduate degree.

Incompletes

Students are discouraged from taking an incomplete grade in any course. In the event that a student must file for an “Incomplete”, the Syracuse University Request for Incomplete Grade form must be submitted to the department chair for approval. Students who do not abide by the terms of the Incomplete will receive an “F.” Any graduate student with an incomplete may not be eligible for graduate assistantships.

Graduate Student Annual Review Process and Procedure

Each spring semester the graduate nutrition faculty conduct an annual review of all graduate students and their Programs of Study. The annual review is designed to facilitate students’ progress by providing timely feedback regarding their overall performance. This includes any clarification of program requirements and expectations, as well as early identification of concerns or deficiencies.

In preparation for the review, all graduate students are required to complete the Annual Review online survey . An email with the survey will be sent at least two weeks prior to the due date of the materials. The Annual Review survey provides faculty with information regarding the student’s academic progress and accomplishments. The information will also be used when awarding assistantships for the forthcoming semester/year.

Annual Review Process:

Faculty advisor will review the advisee’s information and provide a summary of his/her progress to the graduate nutrition faculty committee. Nutrition faculty may provide additional information regarding student progress and performance. If faculty have concerns about a student's progress, the student will meet with the graduate program director to discuss concerns and create a plan for future success.

Academic Standards

Satisfactory Progress

All graduate students are required to maintain satisfactory progress in their degree program. This is accomplished by maintaining a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 (B) or higher in all courses listed in their program of study. This includes graduate courses taken outside the Nutrition Science Graduate Program (anthropology, education, psychology, sociology, etc.). Students must earn a B or better in all required courses.

Probation and Dismissal

Any student who fails to maintain a cumulative 3.0 G.P.A. is subject to academic probation. Students who do not achieve satisfactory progress after one semester may be dismissed from the program. In the case that a student must repeat a required course (when earning a grade lower than a B), they must do so the next time the course is offered. Students are also subject to dismissal if they fail to complete degree requirements in the required timeframe.

Master’s degree students must meet all requirements for the master’s degree within seven years from the time the student registers for the first course to be used toward their master’s degree program.

Program Extensions

In the event that a graduate student cannot complete their degree within the allotted timeframe, the student may apply for an extension. To request an extension, students should consult their advisor and submit a formal request to the graduate director. The request should be in the form of a memorandum stating the reason for the extension and the amount of time needed for completion. Please note that extensions are granted only under the most extenuating circumstances (e.g., major illness).

Nutrition Science Degree Programs

Master’s Degree Program

The Master’s Degree represents professional qualification for many practitioners in nutrition and dietetics and has become the terminal degree for many students. Because of the varying backgrounds and professional interests of students, the master’s degree program is flexible.

Master of Arts (M.A.)

The M.A. in Nutrition Science requires the completion of a minimum of 36 credits, which is comprised of 16 credit hours of required course work (core) and 20 hours of electives.

Nutrition Science Core Courses (16 credits):

Elective Course Requirements (20 credits)

Elective coursework must be selected from the Nutrition Science graduate program (graduate level courses are indicated by their course number of 500 or above) or related programs (e.g., Public Health, Food Studies, Psychology, Education, Policy Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, etc.). Students must consult with their academic advisor prior to selecting courses. Elective courses should be consistent with the student’s academic interests and goals and form a coherent program of study. For a complete list of available courses, please consult the Course Catalog.

Nutrition Science Electives (20 credits):

Independent Study

M.A. students may take up to 3 credits as “Independent Study.” An independent study may include research projects, literature reviews, or other scholarly activities beyond those involved in standard coursework. All independent studies are conducted under the supervision of a faculty member. Students must complete the “Independent Study Form” prior to registering. The independent study must be completed in the semester when it is undertaken.

Graduate students may choose to audit courses during the fall and spring semesters. Permission of the instructor must be obtained by completing a “Grading Option Audit Form” with the instructor’s signature. Audited courses are not counted toward the graduate degree and students are required to pay 60% of the tuition cost.

Master of Science (M.S.)

The M.S. in Nutrition Science requires the completion of a minimum of 30 credits and includes a thesis. The degree is comprised of 19 credit hours of required core course work (core) and 11 credit hours of electives.

Nutrition Science Core Courses (19 credits):

Elective Course Requirements (11 credits)

Elective coursework must be selected from the Nutrition Science graduate program or related programs (e.g., Psychology, Education, Policy Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, etc.). Graduate courses are indicated by their course number (500 or above). Students must consult with their academic advisor prior to selecting courses. Elective courses should be consistent with the student’s academic interests and goals and form a coherent program of study. For a complete list of available courses, please consult the Course Catalog.

Nutrition Science Electives (11 credits):

Independent Study

M.S. students may take up to 3 credits as “Independent Study.” An independent study may include research projects, literature reviews, or other scholarly activities beyond those involved in standard coursework. All independent studies are conducted under the supervision of a faculty member. Students must complete the “Independent Study Form” prior to registering. The independent study must be completed in the semester when it is undertaken.

Graduate students may choose to audit courses during the fall and spring semesters. Permission of the instructor must be obtained by completing a “Grading Option Application Form” with the instructor’s signature. The form is then returned to the Student Records Office at 106 Steele Hall. (Forms are available at the Student Records Office, or the student’s academic department.) Audited courses are not counted toward the graduate degree and students are required to pay 60% of the tuition cost.

Master’s Thesis (3 credits, N.S.D. 997)

In addition to their coursework, M.S. students must complete a Master’s Thesis. The thesis involves investigative work on a specific topic, extensive examination and interpretation of nutrition literature on that topic and the presentation of results in a clear and logical form. The thesis topic should be selected in a specific area of interest that is reflected by the selection of courses within the major and related fields. Completion of the thesis may require an additional year of study beyond completion of coursework.

Master’s Thesis Committee and Proposal

All theses must be approved by the student’s Master’s Thesis committee. The committee is comprised of the student’s thesis advisor (who will serve on the committee) and two other N.S.D. faculty members. N.S.D. tenured and tenure track faculty, or any faculty member with a Ph.D., may serve on the committee. A tenured/tenure track faculty must chair the final defense committee.

The thesis proposal should be developed in consultation with their faculty advisor and contain the following:

• Introduction
• Literature review
• Research questions and/or hypotheses
• Proposed methodology (proposed sample, measures, and analytical techniques)

The student may select one faculty member from outside of the department if his/her/their expertise is related to the student’s thesis. Committee members should be given at least two weeks to read the proposal prior to the thesis proposal defense date. At the thesis proposal defense, the student is expected to orally present key aspects of the proposed thesis and respond to questions posed by the thesis committee. Students whose proposals are approved by the committee may proceed with their study, subject to any committee recommendations. Proposals not approved by their committee may not proceed until approval is acquired. The thesis proposal defense should occur prior to the end of the spring semester of the first year of study.

Students are required to determine if their research study requires Institutional Review Board (I.R.B.) approval. This is typically necessary if the research involves gathering data from human subjects. Instructions can be obtained from the Office of Research Integrity and Protections web site under Human Research.

Final Defense of Thesis

After the faculty thesis advisor has given his/her approval, the thesis is to be submitted to the thesis committee members at least two weeks prior to the thesis defense. Following the defense, committee members may require students to make changes to the thesis.

The student must complete a Request for Examination form also found at that website. Students should include a faculty member (other than the three committee members) to chair the committee. This person will act as the representative of the Graduate School and will moderate the thesis defense.

All students must follow the graduate school guidelines for formatting their thesis (Preparing Your Thesis/Dissertation).

Didactic Program in Dietetics (D.P.D.)

Dietetics within the discipline of Nutrition is the science of applying food and nutrition to health. Master’s students who are pursuing the D.P.D. verification with courses from the master’s degree in Nutrition Science complete a minimum of 40 credits. Upon successful completion of all D.P.D. course requirements, the student will receive the D.P.D. Verification and will be qualified to apply to a supervised dietetic internship program. Students who have successfully completed their Dietetic Internship will be eligible to take the national examination to become a registered dietitian. Our most recent match rate for dietetic internships was 100%, compared to 66% nationally. The pass rate for our graduates on the registration examination for dietitians was 91% for the past three years.

In addition to the general entrance requirements and nutrition courses required for admission into the program, prerequisites are required for the students pursuing D.P.D. verification. All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to starting the graduate program. Any course taken from this list via another institution must first be approved by the D.P.D. Director. Any courses taken without prior approval may not be accepted toward D.P.D. Verification. Students who wish to have their transcript evaluated for approval of these classes may email the D.P.D. Director, Nancy Rindfuss.

Prerequisites for D.P.D.

Please note: In addition to the nutrition science graduate program core courses, students completing the D.P.D. must take the following classes: N.S.D. 511 Nutrition Education; N.S.D. 512 Nutrition Counseling; N.S.D. 627 Public Health Nutrition; N.S.D. 648 Dietetics in the Lifespan; N.S.D. 680 Seminar in Food and Nutrition; N.S.D. 681/683 Medical Nutrition Therapy I and II; N.S.D. 682/684 Medical Nutrition Therapy III & IV Lab. For further details about the D.P.D. requirements please refer to the Didactic Program in Dietetics Manual.

Please Note: If the student is a graduate of the Syracuse University undergraduate D.P.D. program, they will have had to complete N.S.D. 481, N.S.D. 482, N.S.D. 483, N.S.D. 484, N.S.D. 511, N.S.D. 512 and N.S.D. 555 or N.S.D. 452 for their undergraduate degree. These classes cannot be used toward the Graduate Degree in Nutrition Science; other courses need to be completed to fulfill the credit requirements for the graduate degree. In accordance with the University’s academic policies, once a course has been counted towards a degree or certificate, it cannot be counted again towards another degree.

Master’s Comprehensive Exam

Master’s students are required to complete the Master’s Comprehensive Examination as part of their master’s degree and must pass this in order to receive their degree. The Master’s Comprehensive Examination is given to candidates who are in the final stages of completing all requirements for the master’s degree. This examination provides the master’s candidate an opportunity to demonstrate his/her capabilities for critical analysis and thinking and assimilation of information contained in the body of nutrition literature. The exam is a take home exam. It will be given to students in early March of their final year of study; students will be given two weeks to complete the exam. Students will participate in an oral defense of their written responses to a group of nutrition graduate faculty on a specified date toward the end of the semester.

If the student fails to pass the Comprehensive Exam, they will be given a second chance to complete it. Failure to pass the second time will result in suspension from the Nutrition Science Graduate Program.

Certificate Of Advanced Study in Integrative and Functional Nutrition

The objective of the Certificate of Advanced Study in Integrative and Functional Nutrition at Syracuse University’s Falk College is to educate and train nutrition and other allied health professionals in personalized approaches to health and wellness. The rising public interest and awareness in nutrition and healthy lifestyles. changing demographics, a growing epidemic of nutrition related non-communicable diseases across the lifespan have created a growing need for nutrition professionals to work with clients in a patient centered manner using a systems biology approach.

The certificate, which will officially launch as a fully online program in the fall of 2022, aims to enhance their understanding of nutrition within the context of the individual’s genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors through educational training that is inter-professional and evidence based using the Nutrition Care Process and Model. Nutrition care within the integrative and functional healthcare paradigm seeks to promote optimal wellness by combining evidence based conventional and complementary diet and lifestyle therapies in a sustained, coordinated manner that addresses the spectrum of acute to chronic disease conditions.

The CAS in Integrative and Functional Nutrition requires the completion of a minimum of 12 credits comprised of 3 core courses and 1 elective course.

Syracuse University Academic Integrity Policy

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Graduate students holding an assistantship are entitled to audit courses during the fall and spring semesters at no charge. Permission of the instructor must be obtained by completing a “Grading Option Application Form” with the instructor’s signature. The form is then returned to the Student Records Office at 106 Steele Hall. (Forms are available at the Student Records Office, or your academic department.) Auditing courses during a Summer Session is NOT free; students will be charged 60% of graduate tuition.

All graduate teaching assistants are required to participate in the All-University T.A. Orientation Program that is held two weeks prior to the start of the fall semester. Students who receive an assistantship in the spring semester should contact the Graduate School for the dates and times of the Spring T.A. orientations. In addition to graduate assistantships, the department has a limited number of scholarship credits available to be awarded to deserving students (number of tuition credits awarded may vary).

University Fellowship

The department may nominate graduate students with exceptional credentials for the University Fellowship. The awardee may receive a one-year or two-year fellowship, which will include a stipend and tuition creditsstudents (number of tuition credits awarded may vary).

University Fellowship

Syracuse University offers some fellowships for graduate students. We encourage you to explore opportunities here.

Graduate Travel Awards

Funds for travel and other related expenses are available for students presenting their work at national conferences from the Graduate Student Organization (G.S.O.) and the Falk College Dean’s Office. Students applying for the "Graduate Student Travel Subsidy" must complete the form and submit the completed applications to the G.S.O. and a copy to the Nutrition Science Graduate Program Director. Note: due to COVID-19, travel awards may not be available per usual protocol in the 20202021-2021 2022 academic year.

Financial Assistance

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The Nutrition Education & Promotion Association (NEPA) is a student run association that brings together Syracuse University students who are interested in nutrition and encourages them to share their interest with the surrounding campus and community. Each year, NEPA sponsors a well-known speaker to visit the Syracuse University campus and lecture on nutrition and a healthy life-style. NEPA is involved in many on and off campus community service activities. The club meets once a month to plan those events and other activities. For more information, contact the NEPA faulty advisor, Jane UzcateguiBurrell.

N.S.D. Faculty and Professional Staff

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Contact Information: e-mail: lbrann@syr.edu, Phone: 315-443-4805

Kay Stearns Bruening, Ph.D, Ph.D., R.D.N., F.A.N.D.

Associate Professor, Undergraduate Program Director

Contact Information: e-mail: ksbrueni@syr.edu, Phone: 315-443-9326

Jane Burrell, M.S., R.D.N.,

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C.

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D.N

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Associate Teaching Professor, Undergraduate Program Director

Contact Information: e-mail: ksbrueni@syr jbuzcate@syr.edu, Phone: 315-443-93264882

Chaya Lee Charles, M.S., R.D., C.S.G., C.D.N.

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Contact Information: e-mail: clmono@syr.edu, Phone: 315-443-9437

Maria Erdman, 

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M.S., R.D., C.D.N., C.S.O.

Associate Teaching Professor

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Contact Information: e-mail: lramalin@syr.edu, Phone: 315-443-9324

Jane Burrell Uzcategui, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N.

Associate Teaching Professor

Contact Information: e-mail: jbuzcate@syr.edu, Phone: 315-443-4882

Margaret A. Voss, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

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Maryam Yuhas, Ph.D., R.D.N.

Associate Assistant Professor

Contact Information: e-mail: myuhas@syr.edu, Phone: 315-443-9323

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