The Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences offers a two-year degree program leading to the Master of Science in Food and Nutritional Sciences with two major options: Food Science or Nutritional Science. Graduate study provides the opportunity for greater breadth and depth in a selected area of specialization to prepare students for work in myriad of industries.

Graduation Requirements:
Core Courses: 18 credits
Food Science Emphasis: 9 Credits or more Nutrition Science Emphasis: 9 Credits or more
Thesis research: 6 credits
Admission to candidacy, oral academic defense, and  thesis defense
Passing of the Final Oral Examination

Thesis Committee:
During the first semester of his/her study in the Master of Science program, all incoming graduate students are requested to meet each graduate faculty to discuss possible research options and opportunities; Subsequently, student will choose a major professor; the student and professor meets weekly to begin drafting ideas for a thesis proposal for presentation and defense before a four (4) member committee; this committee also serves for the academic and thesis defense. This committee is selected by the student and his/her major professor. and approval is provided by the head of the department.

Transfer Credits
The student’s Advisory Committee may recommend transfer credits for up to 9 hours for graduate courses taken by the student at Tuskegee University as part of another graduate program or at any other institution. Transfer credits may be recommended under both core and elective categories.

Admission to Candidacy
Immediately after completing one year ~ 18 hours of course work at Tuskegee University, the student must submit to the Dean of Graduate Studies, a completed application for the Candidacy for the degree.

Seminars
A student pursuing the Master of Science degree in Food and Nutritional Sciences must present at least two seminars. The first seminar should be the presentation of the student’s research area of interest for the Master’s thesis. The second or the final seminar shall be his/her thesis research for the degree.

Thesis Proposal Defense
A thesis proposal developed for presentation and defense before a four (4) member committee (this committee also serves for the academic and thesis defense) must be done after one year in the program.

Course Academic Defense
Students are required to have an academic defense covering course content in their major area.