Nutrition Science Honors Program
Honors Program | Undergraduate Students
The Department of Nutrition Science offers an honors program for students interested in taking the next giant leap in their education and gaining an edge in their future career or graduate school endeavors. In the Nutrition Science Honors Program, you’ll develop, complete and share a research project under the mentorship of a Nutrition Science faculty member. This entails a project proposal, research and data collection, a final written report and a poster session presentation.
Benefits of Nutrition Science Honors Program
Past honors program participants have reported the Nutrition Science Honors Program is an excellent way to:
- Complete an individualized research project with a faculty member
- Boost your chances for admission to graduate school, including professional schools (medicine, dentistry, etc)
- Gain an edge in landing management-level positions
- Receive special recognition upon graduation
- A statement of graduation from the Nutrition Science Honors Program appears on your transcript.
- You receive a certificate of recognition from Purdue University along with your diploma.
- The commencement program will include a notation that you have completed the Nutrition Science Honors Program.
The Nutrition Science Honors Program gives you an opportunity to work alongside internationally respected faculty as you learn how to apply the scientific method to real-world challenges in health and well-being.
Eligibility for the Honors Program
Incoming Freshmen: Each year, the Department of Nutrition Science selects a small group of exceptional incoming first-year students with majors in Nutrition Science to participate in its Honors Program. Candidates will have demonstrated high scholastic ability, intellectual curiosity, and a persistent pursuit of learning. To be eligible for the honors program as an incoming Freshman, you must be enrolled in one of Nutrition Science’s majors.
Application materials include an application form and an autobiographical essay. The essay should include information about your academic and career interests and goals, your interest in gaining research experience, and your extracurricular and community activities along with other items as indicated on the application form.
Applications will be considered beginning in June, and priority will be given to those who apply by this date, but applications will be accepted until August 1 or until the program is full. Admittance into the program is selective, and applications will be competitively reviewed.
Current Students: Students in any major (not just Nutrition Science) can also enter the program while at Purdue with at least two remaining semesters (see eligibility requirements below).
- Have a 3.2 cumulative GPA
- Have at least two semesters remaining at Purdue
- Identify a faculty mentor (help is provided for this)
Steps to Complete an Honors Project
NUTR 29700 Semester:
- Take the Introduction to Honors Research course to learn more about faculty and research opportunities within your department—not required, but highly recommended.
NUTR 39700 Semester(s):
- Register for NUTR 39700
- Conduct introductory research (or literature review)
- Write honors project proposal
- Submit honors project proposal to faculty readers to be approved
- Once your project is approved, research and gather data
- Analyze data
NUTR 49700 Semester:
- Register for NUTR 49700 during the semester you intend to finish the project and present a poster
- Finish data analysis
- Present poster in a public forum
- Write final thesis
- Submit an electronic copy of the final report to the Nutrition Science Honors Program director
This program is separate from the John Martinson Honors College. If you received an invitation to be part of the John Martinson Honors College, you are welcome to participate in both programs, as the scope of the Nutrition Science Honors program is different, but fulfills the research requirements for the Honors College.
More Information
Download the Nutrition Science Honors Program Handbook.