The Masters and Doctoral programs in Nutrition allow emphasis in the broad fields of basic and applied animal and human nutrition. Candidates may perform research in the areas of nutritional biochemistry and molecular biology, animal nutrition, clinical nutrition, and community or international nutrition. Studies in animal nutrition may be related to animal agriculture or may be fundamental in nature. Human or domestic animal nutrition specializations can be obtained in physiology, immunology, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, applied nutrition, and clinical nutrition.

Graduate level course instruction and laboratory training may be obtained in such subdisciplines as cell biology, molecular biology, immunology, reproductive physiology, exercise physiology, sociology, and philosophy.

The ultimate goal of human nutrition research is the enhancement of human health through improved diets. Major avenues in this goal include studies of:

• the relationships between diet and health and disease prevention.
• means of improving the quality of human diets.
• molecular mechanisms of nutrient absorption, transport, storage and metabolism and the control of these processes.
• assessment of nutrient status of individuals and populations.
• the relation of diet and nutrition to public policy, geography, economics, culture and related factors.

Scientists working in human nutrition utilize a variety of disciplinary approaches. The work often includes the use of animal models.

The goal of animal nutrition research is the enhancement of animal health, physical characteristics and production efficiency through improved diets. Animal nutrition includes poultry, cattle, swine, fish, horses and other species. Activities that characterize animal nutrition include:

• the relationship of diet, animal health and performance.
• means of improving the quality of animal feeds.
• molecular mechanisms of nutrient absorption, transport, storage and metabolism and the control of these processes.
• assessment of nutrient status of animals.

The activities of animal nutritionists span a variety of disciplinary areas including biochemistry, molecular biology, histology, cytology and others. The work generally has implications for human nutrition.