PhD in Nutrition

The Ph.D. program in Nutrition focuses on public health nutrition issues, preparing graduates to teach and conduct scholarly inquiry or undertake careers in higher education, public policy, or industry within contemporary areas in nutrition.

The IU School of Public Health-Bloomington is known nationally and internationally for the quality of its graduate programs. In this four-year,* practice-based program, you will:

  • Learn how to assess nutrition and to develop and implement behavioral interventions that improve health and disease management;
  • Evaluate approaches that improve the nutritional status of populations through public policy and programs;
  • Explore a variety of nutrition topics such as nutrition education and behavioral change, communicating nutrition science to diverse audience, and research methodology and statistical methods;
  • Tailor your training to fit your interests with elective courses and a degree minor**; and
  • Gain opportunities to work with faculty members on service, teaching, and research projects, as well as gain experience in industry or policy via internships.

Build the skills and knowledge you need to become a leader in this cornerstone field of public health. Our Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation means that you’ll have an advantage in securing the best jobs in public health.

Courses are held on the beautiful Indiana University-Bloomington campus, where you'll find an inspiring setting, high-tech classrooms and labs, gorgeous arts venues, and plenty of grand spaces where you can join other Hoosiers in a welcoming and supportive community.

*The typical duration of the Ph.D. in Nutrition program is four years. 

**Common minors include (but are not limited to): health behavior, biostatistics/epidemiology, kinesiology, and anthropology of food.

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Learn from Renowned Faculty in an Interdisciplinary, Diverse Program

As a graduate student at the Indiana School of Public Health-Bloomington, you will have the opportunity to work closely with our world-class faculty, both in your coursework and through research.

Our faculty have interdisciplinary interests such as community health, rural health,  nutrition, nature and physical activity, worksite wellness, recreation, promotion, and marketing and disabilities. These interests encourage them to take a multidisciplinary approach to research to solve some of the most complex and pressing health-related issues facing the world today, such as:

 

  • Obesity
  • Drug and alcohol abuse
  • Sexual health
  • Human exposure to environmental hazards
  • Rural health disparities

Additionally, by becoming a Hoosier, you’ll be joining a university that celebrates diversity in all of its many forms. In fact, for its commitment to creating a diverse student body, Indiana University was named a 2022 Diversity Champion by Insight into Diversity.

Career Opportunities in Nutrition

The nutrition field is a great choice for those with an interest and passion for improving optimal health and well-being and disease prevention across the lifespan.

Most graduates pursue careers in higher education as professors and researchers, while some complete postdoctoral fellowships. Others pursue research or executive careers in governmental agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or in state and local health departments, nonprofit health agencies, or industy.