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Graduate Admission Requirements

empty classrooomStudents will indicate an academic area of specialization of either Nutrition or Exercise Physiology for their course work. The Nutrition & Exercise Physiology PhD program is combined.

Applications will be considered after these deadlines but they will not be eligible for all fellowships and assistantships.

Application Deadlines
PhD Program: Dec. 30   |   MS Program: Feb. 15

To apply online. All applications must be prepared and submitted online via the University of Missouri Graduate School.

Nutrition Prerequisite Courses:

Entering students are expected to have undergraduate training (lecture and laboratory courses) in general and organic chemistry and biology, a two-semester course in biochemistry and an upper-level human nutrition course.

Course Title  Number Hours
General Chemistry (e.g., CHEM 1320, 1330) 8 hours
Organic Chemistry w/Lab (e.g., CHEM 2100, 2130) 5 hours
Biochemistry (e.g., BIOCHM 4270, 4272) 6 hours
Biology w/Lab (e.g., BIO SC 1500) 5 hours
Human Nutrition (e.g., NEP 2340) 3 hours
Exercise Physiology Courses:
Entering students should have training in general anatomy, physiology, a two-semester course in chemistry, and an upper-level exercise physiology course.
Course Title  Number Hours
General Chemistry (e.g., CHEM 1320, 1330) 8 hours
Organic Chemistry w/Lab (e.g., CHEM 2100, 2130) 5 hours
Anatomy (e.g., PTH_AS 2201) 3 hours
Physiology (e.g., MPP 3202) 5 hours
Exercise Physiology (e.g., NEP 3850) 3 hours
  1. Student applicants with a BS/BA, but without a MS degree in a related field (g., nutrition, physiology), who are admitted into the graduate program will do so as a MS candidate.
  2. Student applicants without a MS degree in a related field wishing to pursue a PhD may be admitted into the graduate program on a provisional basis as a MS candidate.
  3. Student applicants with a MS degree in a related field may be admitted directly into the graduate program as a doctoral candidate.
  4. Accepted applicants must have a 3.00 undergraduate GPA and a 3.5 graduate GPA.
  5. Prerequisites: All students are required to have completed general chemistry and biology. Students interested in the Emphasis in Exercise Physiology are required to have completed: anatomy, physiology, exercise physiology. Students interested in the Emphasis in Nutritional Sciences are required to have completed: biochemistry (2 semesters), organic chemistry (with lab), human nutrition.
  6. Students applying for the MS with Emphasis in Exercise Physiology must indicate in the personal statement whether they are interested in the thesis option or the internship option.
  7. Minimum English Language Proficiency scores are required for international applicants (TOEFL ≥100; IELTS ≥7; Duolingo ≥105).
  8. Applications for Fall are reviewed in early January. Applications that come in after the deadline may be considered depending on the size of the applicant pool that year.

2022 NEP Graduate Handbook (PDF)

Application deadlines for Fall admission:

  • PhD Program: Dec. 30
  • MS Program: Feb. 15

Ben Sauro
Office Support Associate/Graduate Contact
204 Gwynn Hall
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 882-4288
E-mail: saurob@missouri.edu