Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology

Graduate Program Information

Graduate Study

Program of Study
Research Facilities
Financial Aid
Cost of Study
Living and Housing Costs
Student Group
Location
The University
Applying
Correspondence and Information
The Faculty

Program of Study

The Graduate Program in Nutrition at UC Berkeley provides excellent research opportunities focused on the interaction of nutrition and metabolism. All Academic Senate faculty members in the Graduate Group may supervise the programs of study, and thesis or dissertation research, of graduate students in Nutrition. Many members of the Nutritional Sciences faculty are members of other interdisciplinary graduate group programs on campus, including Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, Endocrinology, and Microbiology.

A major strength of the graduate program is the close interaction between students and faculty. Exposure to the variety of areas encompassed by modern nutritional sciences provides students with the outlook needed to plan research and apply research findings. Graduate students may attend courses and seminars in many departments including Molecular and Cell Biology, Integrative Biology, Statistics, and Public Health. Although relevant course work is required, a strong emphasis is placed on the student's research training. The student's thesis or dissertation research is monitored by a supportive faculty advisory committee which provides advice and constructive criticism.

The Ph.D. degree in Nutrition generally requires five years to complete. In addition to the diverse opportunities for research and academic study, graduate students are expected to gain teaching competency by acting as teaching assistants for at least one semester. Graduates from the program are qualified to fill a variety of research positions in colleges, universities, industry and in both government and non-government institutions.

Research Facilities

Facilities for modern experimental nutrition research are available in the department. In addition, the UC Berkeley campus offers a wide variety of research support facilities. The Berkeley campus library system is recognized as one of the finest in the world. The Department Reference Library (located in Morgan Hall) contains periodicals, books, and other literature on nutrition and related areas for use by faculty, graduate students, staff, and visiting scientists. We enjoy close teaching and research affiliations with the Western Regional Research Center/USDA-Albany, the Western Human Nutrition Research Center/USD San Francisco, the Bay Area Human Nutrition Center at San Francisco General Hospital, and theUniversity of California at San Francisco, Medical School/Moffitt Hospital.

Financial Aid

Currently, all graduate students in the program are receiving support through a variety of financial sources. The department has several training grants for pre-doctoral students, as well as Research and Teaching Assistantships and Fellowships. Applicants seeking financial aid must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 15 for maximum consideration.

Cost of Study

The registration fees for 2000-01 were $2,134.25/semester. This included a mandatory health insurance fee of $230/semester. Tuition for Non-resident students was additional $5,122.00/semester. Books and/or supplies cost approximately $300/semester.

Living and Housing Costs

Although admission to the University does not guarantee housing, there are a variety of options. Graduate Students should contact:

Housing Services

2523 Channing Way

Berkeley, CA 94720

Telephone (510) 642-3642

to receive information. The estimated budget for room and board during the 2000-01 academic year was $10,586.

Additional infomration can be obtained by clicking here

Student Group

UC Berkeley's total student enrollment is approximately 31,000; of those, approximately 9,000 are graduate students.

The Graduate Group in Nutrition had an enrollment of 30 students in the 2000-01 academic year.

In the years between 1998-2000 there were 10 Ph.D. degrees awarded. The estimated incoming class for Fall 2001 is 9 students.

Location

The campus is located in the city of Berkeley (population 106,500). It is spread across 1,232 acres overlooking the San Francisco Bay. Although the campus has considerably grown and developed since its inception, great effort has been made to retain its original park-like atmosphere. San Francisco and many other Bay Area attractions are easily accessible through BART, the trans-county commuter rail system. The climate in the Bay Area is mild throughout the year. Temperatures range from about 40 degrees F in the winter to about 77 degrees F in the summer.

The University

The University of California was the product of a merger between the College of California (a private institution) and the Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College (a Morrill Land Grant Act institution) in 1868. The Berkeley campus is the oldest of the 9-campus system. UC Berkeley is internationally renowned for its academic excellence. The faculty include 8 Nobel laureates and 118 members of the National Academy of Sciences. In a recent national study UC Berkeley was the only college or university that had every one of its departments ranked among the top five in the country.

UC Berkeley is also a cosmopolitan university. Its students present a rich diversity in their interests, backgrounds, cultures and aspirations. Together the campus and the San Francisco Bay Area provide an enormous array of intellectual, cultural and recreational opportunities.

Applying

Admission is based on a variety of factors including academic achievement and relevant experience. Applications should be post-marked by January 5 for admission in the following Fall semester. The application packet should include: