GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 DEPARTMENT OF EXERCISE AND NUTRITION SCIENCES GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK MS NUTRITION and BS/MS EXERCISE & NUTRITION

2 This handbook is designed to assist faculty and students in the process of handling policies and procedures and to supplement the Graduate School policies. For more information, please consult with your advisor or the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences. The policies and procedures outlined herein apply to students in the MS Nutrition program and the BS/MS Exercise Science and Nutrition program. Students in the combined program must abide by the policies and regulations of the BS program in Exercise Science for the undergraduate component of their degree. Upon admission to the graduate program, students will be required to comply with the policies and procedures of the MS in Nutrition program. GENERAL INFORMATION There are two tracks of study within the Nutrition M.S. program. The Nutrition Science Track provides opportunities for graduate study in nutrition to individuals having undergraduate degrees in biological or health sciences, as well as for health care practitioners who are interested in nutrition research or in acquiring a stronger grounding in nutrition for the practice of their own discipline. The Clinical Nutrition Track provides graduate study for dietitians in the areas of management of clinical nutrition services, clinical teaching, and advanced nutrition care in specific areas of health care. Students in the combined BS/MS program, upon admission to the graduate component of the program, choose the Nutrition Science Track. STUDENT ADVISEMENT During the first semester that you are matriculated in the M.S. Nutrition program, you will be advised by the Director of Graduate Studies. Students should explore with the Director, the research interests of the faculty to identify an advisor. This could involve meeting with faculty and senior graduate students with the purpose of matching student s goals with the appropriate faculty. Your advisor functions to guide you through your academic program. Your advisor will be your primary contact for guidance in: 1. planning your academic program 2. selecting faculty to serve on your committee 3. course selection 4. completing your thesis, project or exam 5. administrative procedures You should consult with your advisor before registering for classes each semester. 2

3 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE There are several sources of financial aid available to students at the University at Buffalo. They vary in source and amount of funds as well as by income and residence eligibility. Most are intended to support students enrolled full-time in their educational programs. The application process may be lengthy and the student who intends to apply for financial assistance should not wait for formal acceptance into the MS program. Application dates, forms and eligibility requirements are provided at the Student Response Center website ( Click on Financial Aid for more information. I. CAMPUS-BASED AID 1. National Direct Student Loan (Perkins Loan) 2. College Work-Study Program (CWSP) II. FEDERAL/NEW YORK STATE AID 1. Guaranteed Student Loan The student must file a Financial Aid Form (FAF) in order to determine eligibility for this program. Subsequent to the determination of eligibility, the student files a loan application. Only students who are U.S. citizens or legal residents are eligible. Demonstration of satisfactory progress in the program is required for continued funding, and applicants must be matriculated students enrolled for a minimum of six credit hours. 2. New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) This program is available only to New York State residents who are registered for at least 12 credit hours of study. Awards to eligible students vary in size, based on financial need as determined by New York State net taxable income. Students must demonstrate satisfactory academic performance for continuation of eligibility. III. NUTRITION STUDENT AID 1. Emergency Loan: The Western New York Dietetic Association has established an emergency loan fund for qualified students for short-term borrowing. For details and application forms, contact the ENS department office at 211 Kimball, or by calling (716)

4 2. Teaching Assistantships: Teaching assistantships are available within the Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences. Teaching assistantships are awarded on the basis of competition. Inquires regarding the availability of Teaching Assistantships should be directed to the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences. Students holding teaching assistantships (TA) will be expected to help in ongoing teaching for up to 20 hours/week. Only full-time students are eligible for teaching assistantships. As a TA, full-time status requires at least 9.0 credit hours of study per semester, except when you have been admitted to candidacy, when you can take only one credit and be considered full-time. 3. Rachman Scholarship: Students in Nutrition are eligible to apply for a Rachman Scholarship. These scholarships are awarded in the Spring on a competitive basis. Information regarding this scholarship is available at CONTINUOUS REGISTRATION AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE Every student is required to register in the Graduate School at the beginning of each semester in which he/she plans to pursue course work, write a project or thesis or take the comprehensive examination. No credit will be allowed for work undertaken without proper registration. 1. A graduate student must register (and pay all unwaived tuition and fees) each fall and spring semester until all requirements for the degree are completed. If such registration is for some reason not possible, you must obtain a leave of absence or withdraw from the Graduate School. 2. Requests for a leave of absence should be negotiated through your advisor, approved by the Director of Graduate Studies in ENS and the Health Sciences Divisional Committee. Normally, a leave of absence is approved for one semester; however, it would be possible for the leave to be extended should the circumstances warrant. Petition forms may be obtained from the Graduate School. You must complete this petition form, submit it to your advisor, and return it to the Director of Graduate Studies. It is your responsibility to notify the Graduate School when you are returning from a leave of absence. 3. In the event that a student voluntarily terminates registration, such action should not prejudice a subsequent review for readmission. 4

5 TIME LIMIT FOR THE COMPLETION OF A MASTER'S DEGREE A time limit of five semesters as a full-time student, or eight semesters as a parttime student has been established for completion of the requirements for the Master's degree. The period of time allowed is measured from the first registration as a matriculated student. Students who do not complete their programs within the time allowed must petition the Health Sciences Divisional Committee of the Graduate School. A recommendation from the Director of Graduate Studies for an extension must accompany the petition. GRADING AND EVALUATION OF STUDENTS In keeping with the policy of the Graduate School, students are expected to maintain an overall "B" average. In addition, students are expected to demonstrate competence in their areas of specialization by obtaining grades of at least "B-" in courses designated as "required" in their area of concentration. Probationary status will be assigned for any of the following reasons: a. The student obtains a "C" grade in any nutrition or required course b. The student obtains a "D" grade in any graduate level course c. The student has a GPA of less than 3.0 Probationary status will be removed from the student's record if, after nine credit hours of further study, his/her GPA is at least 3.0 and no additional deficiencies have been recorded. The student's enrollment in the MS Nutrition program will be terminated for any of the following reasons: a. The student fails to remove his/her probationary status following nine credit hours of subsequent study b. The student's record contains two grades of "C" or less in required courses INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSE (NTR 690) This course is available to any graduate student as an elective when it is appropriate to the student's educational goals. You must obtain your advisor's approval before registering for an independent study course. 5

6 Guidelines for Independent Study for Graduate Students 1. Independent study may consist of individualized instruction, research or other appropriate activities. 2. Students may take up to a maximum of six credits of Independent Study during their program. 3. Approval of Independent Study is contingent on the availability of faculty and facilities and approval of the student's advisor. THESIS, PROJECT AND COMPREHENSIVE EXAM The MS degree in Nutrition can be obtained through three options: thesis, project or comprehensive examination. Your advisor will guide you through this process. Students choosing a thesis or project should read the material entitled, "Beginning Independent Inquiry" in this handbook. It is never too early to begin to think about potential topics for inquiry, however, the final topic typically evolves from the educational process experience by the student once enrolled in the program. Students in the BS/MS program generally will choose the comprehensive exam option but may elect to complete a thesis or project. Choosing thesis or project may extend the length of the program beyond 5 years. SELECTED READINGS COURSE (NTR676) Students choosing the comprehensive exam option may register for up to 2.0 credits of selected readings as part of their program of study. Students should consult with their advisor and faculty members to determine availability in selected readings courses. FORMS AND DEADLINES Each student must file the following forms which can be obtained either online or in the ENS department office in 210B Kimball. 1. Application to Candidacy (ATC) found online. You should complete this form under the direction of your advisor. a. Each candidate must submit a program statement one semester in advance of anticipated graduation. The statement lists all coursework undertaken by the student, including a description of coursework taken while enrolled in informal classes. b. The proposed title for the thesis or project should be given. 6

7 c. The ATC must be signed by the student's advisor, all committee members, and the Director of Graduate Studies. d. The ATC form is then reviewed by the Dean of the School of Public Health and Health Professions and forwarded to the Graduate School for final approval. e. Any change in an approved ATC form must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies in ENS. 2. M-Form The M-form, which is obtained in the Department Office, must be typed and submitted after all requirements for the degree have been met (including thesis defense), with all appropriate signatures obtained. 3. Deadlines It is the responsibility of the student to complete forms by the specified dates and to check with the Graduate School ( ) and the Department Office ( ) prior to the deadline date to be sure all the requirements and paperwork for his/her degree have been completed. BEGINNING INDEPENDENT INQUIRY FORMING A GRADUATE COMMITTEE The function of your graduate committee is twofold. Its principal function is to guide you through your independent inquiry experience. The committee also functions to advise the university when it assesses that you have completed your course requirements for your thesis or project. Your interests will be best served by forming a committee whose members possess the specialized skills involved in your particular topic of inquiry. You can form your committee at any time after the completion of your first full semester as a matriculating student in the MS Nutrition program. You may opt to select your major professor (chair for your graduate committee) initially and interact with that faculty member alone until you have selected a definite topic of inquiry. You and your advisor would then select your committee members. Your major professor and another committee member must be faculty members in the Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences. Your chair must have graduate faculty status. In selecting your committee members you may consult with your major professor concerning the most appropriate choices. It is then your responsibility to contact these persons and request that they serve on your committee. However, a particular faculty member may be heavily committed to other projects and feel unable to assist you. If this should happen to you, don't feel rejected. You benefit by having committee members who 7

8 are able to offer you the support that you need at the time that you need it. The minimum number of committee members is three for a thesis and two for a project. You can expand your committee structure to add expertise in specialized areas, but a large committee can be cumbersome and will require the student to fulfill the expectations of these additional persons. A faculty member does not have to be on your committee to provide you with occasional advice. If you are in continual need of advice from that person, it would probably be best to invite him/her to be on your advisory committee. Once your advisory committee is formed, you are able to proceed to writing your proposal. FINDING A TOPIC Finding a topic for independent inquiry is a process you undertake with your advisor. Faculty members generally have ongoing research projects that may provide opportunities for student inquiry. Contact all faculty members and determine if their research interests coincide with your interest. Alternatively, you may pursue a topic of your own selection if your advisor can provide the resources needed to undertake this research. PROJECT VERSUS THESIS The distinction between a project (4 research credits) and a thesis (6 research credits) is that a project may be undertaken to apply knowledge to solve a practical problem. The goal of a research thesis is to generate new knowledge in your field. The tasks involved in projects and theses are often similar. Both are forms of disciplined inquiry that require careful planning. Information is gathered using structured, objective techniques and a summary of the findings are presented thoroughly and in such a way that they can be subjected to intellectual scrutiny. University regulations require oral defense of a thesis only. MS Program DEGREE REQUIREMENTS Applicants to the MS in Nutrition can select from two tracks. The Nutrition Science Track, is designed for students with a background in biological sciences who are interested in nutrition research or in acquiring a stronger grounding for application within their own disciplines. The Clinical Nutrition Track accepts registered dietitians. The program is designed to meet the needs of persons wishing to pursue graduate study in clinical dietetics with a strong emphasis in nutrition science. Three emphases are offered in this track: clinical dietetics in specialized areas of health care, clinical instruction in dietetics and program management of clinical or community nutrition services. 8

9 The MS degree can be obtained through three options; comprehensive exam, project or thesis. Thirty-six (36) credits hours are required for completion of the graduate nutrition program. Courses Required for both tracks (19-23 credits) NTR 500 Protein and Energy Nutrition (3 credits) NTR 501 Vitamins and Minerals (3 credits) NTR 600 Pathophysiology of Nutrition Related Diseases (3 credits) NTR 630 Nutrition Seminar (2 credits) NTR 568 Epidemiology of Public Health (3 credits) Biostatistics (3 4 credits) Research (2 to 6 credits) depending on selected option Comprehensive Exam (2 credits) Project (4 credits) Thesis (6 credits) Courses required for the Nutrition Science Track NTR 503 Nutrition and Health (3 credits) PGY Mammalian Physiology (6 credits) o Electives (4 to 8 credits) depending on selected option (Exam, Project, Thesis) Courses required for the Clinical Nutrition Track NTR 523 Nutrition Assessment (3 credits) NTR 524 Nutrition Assessment Instruments (1 credit) NTR 540 Clinical Practicum (4 credits) o Electives (in area of concentration) (5 to 9 credits) depending on selected option (exam, Project. Thesis) In addition to the courses listed above, all MS in NTR graduate students are required (entering Fall 2009 and thereafter) are required to complete an online course Foundations of Public Health; A Series of Modules Promoting basic Knowledge of Public Health during their first semester in the program. 9

10 Departmental Electives: Elective courses provide graduate students the opportunity to tailor their program of study to best meet their future goals. During the last department graduate program retreat (2007), the lack of diverse electives in exercise science and nutrition was viewed as a program weakness. In response, several new courses have been developed to best meet the current needs of our graduate students. Popular departmental electives for students in the MS in nutrition program now include: ES 515 (Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases), ES 546 (Therapeutic Exercise), ES 575 (Biomechanics of Musculoskeletal Injury ), NTR 626 (Eating Behaviors), and Special Topics in Pediatric Exercise Science and Special Topics in Pediatric Exercise Science Research Design and Writing. Interdisciplinary Electives: Supporting courses may be taken in related disciplines outside the Department. Although the courses are too numerous to list here, popular departments from which courses are often selected include Chemistry (School of Arts and Sciences), Health Behavior (SPHHP), Physiology and Biophysics (School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences), and Social and Preventive Medicine (SPHHP). Elective courses are chosen in consultation with the student's major advisor and/or the Graduate Program Director. Informal Degree Competencies Students in all areas of specialization (Science or Clinical, Thesis, Project or Comp Exam) are required to complete any specialty training or certification needed to actively participate in human and/or animal studies. Students will also be required to successfully complete all modules of the SPHHP Foundations of Public Health course (non-credit) on UBLearns prior to graduation. If you have any questions about this course, please contact Dr. Paul Wietig, ptwietig@buffalo.edu. Students will not graduate without successfully completing these modules. 10

11 Exercise and Nutrition BS/MS With planning, the combined degree can be completed in 5 years. The best time for planning would be as a freshman, but the program can be completed even if students start the appropriate course work in the junior year after acceptance into the ES upper division program. The undergraduate course work that would be appropriate that would be appropriate for the BS portion of the combined program is the Exercise Science Program with existing option for those students who wish to emphasize nutrition. For information on the prerequisites for the program, see the departmental web page for BS in Exercise Science. Students interested in teaching assistantships must meet Departmental criteria for admission to graduate studies. BS/MS PROGRAM Students in the Exercise Science BS program (Freshman and transfer students entering the program and current students) may apply to the BS/MS program in Exercise and Nutrition. Contact Ms. Candi Possinger for more information at her csp2@buffalo.edu or by calling (716) Students will apply to the BS/MS program by using a special on-line application on the BS.MS in Exercise Science/Nutrition web page. This application must be submitted by the First Academic Day in March. Please note: you must already be ij the upper division of the Exercise Science program to apply. Admission to the BS.MS program is a step-wise procedure. Students must: 1. Achieve a GPA of 2.5 in prerequisites courses (see below). 2. Complete the sequence of courses outlined in the curriculum. 3. Achieve a GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work to be admitted to the graduate portion of the program. This program requires preparation in nutrition, general and organic chemistry, mathematics, biology and biochemistry. Prerequisites can be take at UB or equivalent courses can be completed at other universities and transferred. To check for pre-approved courses visit the TAURUS website. Prerequisite Courses Courses Course Description UB Course Name Exercise Science Science of Human Movement ES 200 Anatomy Comparative Primate Anatomy OR APY Human Anatomy ANA 113 Chemistry General Chemistry I and II CHE 101 and CHE 102 Physics General Physics I and II PHY 101/151 and PHY 102/152 Physiology Human Physiology PGY

12 Calculus Survey of calculus OR MTH 121 College calculus MTH 141 Psychology Introductory Psychology PSY 101 Nutrition Human Nutrition NTR 108 Statistics Introductory Statistics STA 119*, CEP 207 OR PSY 207 *STA 119 is recommended CURRICULUM COURSE SEQUENCE Summer between Sophomore & Junior Year Gross Anatomy (6 cr.) FALL Year 3 ES 310 Exercise Assessment & Prescription (3 cr.) ES 342 Neuroscience I (3 cr.) ES 380 Exercise Physiology (4 cr.) ES 441 Critical Inquiry (1 cr.) CHE 203 Organic Chemistry (3 cr.) NTR 301 Dietary Assessment (1 cr.) SEMESTER CREDITS = 15 undergraduate credits Spring Year 3 ES 343 Neuroscience II (3 cr.) ES 370 Biomechanics (4 cr.) CHE 204 Organic Chemistry (3 cr.) Biochemistry BIO205/215, (3-4 cr.) SEMESTER CREDITS = undergraduate credits 12

13 Fall - Year 4 ES 340 Special Cases (3 cr.) ES 410 Exercise Assessment & Prescription II (3 cr.) NTR 505 Exercise Nutrition (2 cr.) NTR 503 Health and Nutrition (3 cr.) Electives such as ES 442 Applications (1 credit) or others (3 credits) SEMESTER CREDITS = 9 undergraduate, 5 graduate Spring Year 4 NTR 402 Lifecycle Nutrition (3 cr.) Electives (Graduate Level ( 3-6 cr.) NTR 600 Pathophysiology of Nutrition Related Diseases (3 cr.) ES 496 Practicum (3 cr.) SEMESTER CREDITS = 6 undergraduate, 6-9 graduate Fall Year 5 PGY 551 Human Physiology (3 cr.) NTR 500 Energy and Protein (3 cr.) ES 568 Epidemiology of Public Health (3 cr.) Electives (suggested NTR 523 Nutrition Assessment) (0-3 cr.) Graduate Level Statistics (STA 527 and others) (3-4 cr.) SEMESTER CREDITS = graduate 13

14 Spring Year 5 PGY 552 Human Physiology (3 cr.) NTR 501 Vitamins/Minerals (3 cr.) NTR 630 Seminar (2 cr.) NTR 675 OR 680 Research credits (2 cr.) Electives (Graduate Level) (3-6 cr.) *36 Hours of graduate-level course work is required to graduate SEMESTER CREDITS=1 undergraduate, 9-12 graduate Retention Students will be required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average in their graduate course work to remain in the program. Progress in the program will be monitored by the graduate faculty of the Nutrition program. Exam/Thesis Options Students in the BS/MS program most often choose the comprehensive exam option for the MS, but may elect to complete a thesis. If the student wishes to pursue the thesis option, it is likely that the program could take longer than 5 years to complete. Electives are chosen with the advice/consent of the faculty mentor (graduate committee chair). Students must submit an Application to Candidacy (see General Information for Graduate Students and page 6 of this handbook) at the start of the semester before they plan to graduate. Revised: August