The PhD in Food and Nutrition Sciences program, offered by the School of Food and Agriculture, conduct both basic and applied research in wellness and chronic disease prevention utilizing cell and animal models as well as humans and in the areas of nutrition education and behavior change, fruit and vegetable products, food processing and engineering, food safety and quality, seafood processing and preservation, sensory evaluation, and product development. The Ph.D. program in Food and Nutrition Sciences has variable credit hour requirements, usually requiring an additional 60 credit hours and an additional 3-4 years beyond the master's to complete. Students must hold a master's degree (thesis) either by pursuing a terminal MS degree (at UMaine), sequential MS and PhD degrees (at UMaine), or hold a master's degree from another institution before entering the PhD program.