The Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences (NFES) offers two doctoral degrees, Human Sciences and Movement Sciences with specialization in Food Science, Human Nutrition and Exercise Physiology.

During the first year of training, doctoral students form a supervisory committee that serves to guide them through all of their work. Because the PhD program is a research intensive, competency-based program with no specific credit hour requirements, this committee, students work closely with this committee, which is headed by a major professor. In addition to advising students on The committee is charged with the responsibility of advising students research design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation, the committee also helps set course work beyond the required core courses (see PDF forms below) needed for the student to become an independent scientist and researcher. The committee also conducts an annual evaluation of the each student�s progress.

• Ph.D., Human Sciences,
  

  Areas of specialization include:

  • Food Science, curriculum sheet (pdf)
  • Human Nutrition, curriculum sheet (pdf)

• Ph.D., Movement Sciences,
  

  Areas of specialization include:

  • Exercise Physiology, curriculum sheet (pdf)

1. Because the doctoral degree is ultimately a research degree, students must have a strong interest in conducting research in their field of specialization. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the research of our faculty.
2. You application must include a letter, addressed to the admissions committee, that describes your research interests and goals. This letter should include how your background and prior training make you a good candidate for work in this area, and should include the names of up to three professors with whom you would like to work if you joined our doctoral program.
3. Normally, admission into the doctoral program requires a Master�s degree from an accredited institution. However, particularly strong master�s students who show research potential during their first year may, upon recommendation of their supervisory committee and major professor, by-pass the master�s degree and enter directly in the doctoral program. If this is a program that you would like to take advantage of, please discuss this option in your letter to the admissions committee.
4. A grade point average of at least 3.0 (two copies of official transcripts required) and a combined GRE (verbal + quantitative) score of at least 1000. All students must submit GRE and transcripts regardless of GPA or GRE scores.
5. International students must have a TOEFL score of at least 600 (paper-based) or 250 (computer-based)
6. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak directly to your ability to complete academic work and/or research. Letters should be sent by the recommenders directly to the department:

   Ursula Tate, Graduate Program Assistant
   Florida State University,
   College of Human Sciences
   Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences
   434 Sandels Building
   Tallahassee, FL, 32306-1493
   

7. Any other supporting materials such as publications, abstracts, description of research or work experience, C.V., etc.
8. A visit to FSU is strongly encouraged and required for assistantship consideration. If you decide to visit, please contact the department of interest so that we can arrange meetings with individual faculty to discuss research interests and opportunities.

Attainment of these minimum of these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to any program. Admission decisions are based on assessments of all aspects of the student�s application materials. We reserve the right to increase standards if warranted by enrollment limitations and by the number and quality of applicants.

• Fall Graduate Admission: while applicants are encouraged to submit their online application for by March 1 for full consideration, the final date for submission of application is July 1.
• Spring Graduate Admission: while applicants are encouraged to submit their online application for by July 1 for full consideration, the final date for submission of application is November 1.
• Graduate Dietetic Internship: students who are interested in the Clinical Nutrition Program must be accepted into one of the master�s programs in the Department before their application can be evaluated for the internship. Thus, students interested in the clinical internship program should submit their application by January 15 of each year.
• Fellowships and Assistantships: the Department, College and the University both are for competitive scholarships and assistantships that carry stipends and tuition waivers. Students who wish to be considered for one of these awards are encouraged to submit their application for admission by February 1.