(PFDSC)
The departmental-level academic course plan for each student will be developed in consultation with and approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee. The committee will include the student’s major advisor and at least three additional members of the graduate faculty such that the LSU Graduate School’s requirements for graduate committees are satisfied.
The PhD degree is a research degree requiring a dissertation. A minimum of 30 hours of credit at the graduate level for students with an MS degree or 60 hours of credit at the graduate level for students with a BS degree must be earned, with a minimum of nine hours of credit for the dissertation project (FDSC 9000 ). The curricular requirements include:
- Demonstration of competency in core areas of food science, including food chemistry, food preservation, food composition and analysis, and food microbiology through previous course credits in these areas or through passing of a comprehensive examination given by the instructor in each area
- Three hours of FDSC 7071 Seminar in Food Science (1) , nine hours of FDSC 9000 Dissertation Research (1-12 per sem.) , and a minimum of 18 hours of electives in 7000 level courses in addition to the 30 hours of course work required for MS students in food science
- All course work including electives approved on the departmental-level academic course plan by the student’s advisory committee
Other degree requirements are submission of an oral and written research proposal to the advisory committee. The advisory committee and departmental-level academic course plan that lists the proposed course work must be approved by the department head, graduate coordinator, and The Graduate School by the end of the second semester of enrollment in the PhD program. The first graduate seminar for credit should be an oral presentation that gives an introduction and brief literature review on the proposed research area and an outline of the proposed research to be conducted for the PhD. Students must have one manuscript accepted for publication by a scientific journal, submitted an additional manuscript to a scientific journal, and presented their research at two national meetings before graduation. Students are expected to attend all departmental seminars (graduate, faculty, and invited speakers) whether enrolled for credit or not. Students are required to assist professors in course(s) of interest for at least two semesters. Doctoral students are encouraged to choose a minor degree area and an industry or governmental internship.
Students in the PhD program must pass a rigorous general exam at the culmination of the coursework to demonstrate adequate academic and professional aptitudes to the advisory committee. The exam on course work, general knowledge, and critical thinking ability must be taken within three years of enrollment in the PhD program. A written assessment examination to test coursework knowledge will precede the oral examination by the advisory committee and use the same pool of questions as the MS final written assessment examination. Each advisory committee member may also submit written questions for the candidate to answer. The passing of the comprehensive written examination and oral examination on food science by the student are determined by the advisory committee before the student may proceed to the doctoral degree. The committee may determine that additional coursework is necessary to correct deficiencies exhibited by the student in the examinations. The Graduate School reviews the program of study to ensure all departmental course requirements are met.
After completion of research and writing of the dissertation, students must present a public oral seminar on the dissertation research before the advisory committee administers the final examination. The student must pass a final comprehensive oral examination from the advisory committee on the completed research topic and have met all other degree requirements to receive the doctoral degree.