Graduate Program Information Sessions & Advising

Sessions cover an overview of the Graduate Program and application tips. At the end of each Information Session, one-on-one advising will be available.

Please contact Dr. Mical Shilts if you need additional assistance.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Nutrition and Food, applicants must:

• Possess a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution. If the degree was obtained outside of the United States, the degree conferring institution must be recognized by the home country’s ministry of education and evaluated by World Education Services (WES) http://www.wes.org**
• Complete prerequisite courses or their equivalent including: Nutrition and Metabolism (NUFD 113); Nutrition: Preconception Through Childhood (NUFD 115) or Nutrition: Adolescence Through Older Adulthood (NUFD 119); Community Nutrition (NUFD 117) or Nutrition Education, Communication, and Counseling (NUFD 107); Food Service Management (NUFD 116) or Food Production and Sustainability (NUFD 110); and Introduction to Statistics (STAT 1) or Research: Methods and Application in Nutrition and Food (NUFD 100)

• Have a GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 semester units
• To apply to the combined MS/DI, you need a DPD Verification statement or intent to complete provided by the DPD director. You must apply via DICAS and cannot apply to both the MS and MS/DI

**Note: Information for International students can be found at https://www.csus.edu/international-programs-global-engagement/application-admissions-process/graduate.html

Application Procedures

Required for MS only applicants:

Submit application in Cal State Apply https://www.calstate.edu/apply/graduate by Feb. 1 (priority deadline is Jan 10th)

• Updated resume
• Professional Statement including interest in the program, relevant experience, and research interests (500-750 words max)
• Unofficial transcripts for all college-level coursework
• Two Letters of Recommendation with one from a college/university professor and one from a work/internship supervisor (preferably in a position that relates to nutrition/dietetics/food)

MS NUFD Application Checklist (MS only)

CalStateApply MS only (instructions)

CalStateApply Instructional Video (MS only)

Required for MS/DI applicants:

Prospective applicants to the MS in Nutrition and Food with Dietetic Internship program (MS/DI) will submit the following items via Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS). Visit this website for separate DICAS application details: www.csus.edu/nufd/dietetic-internship.

• DPD Verification statement or intent to complete provided by DPD director
• Updated resume
• DPD GPA
• Personal statement
• Unofficial transcripts for all college-level coursework including all community college coursework
• DI application form
• $50 application fee- information on where and how to pay this separate fee can be found at csus.edu/nufd/dietetic-internship

MS NUFD Graduate Student Handbook

Graduate Student Handbook

FAQs

Question: What if I want to complete my DPD coursework while earning my master's degree?

Answer: If you are interested in MS+DPD route and wish to complete the DPD coursework within 2 years while taking graduate courses, it is recommended to plan your course load accordingly.  Enrollment in graduate courses and DPD courses concurrently will require preplanning and time management. Review our advising sheet to understand course requirements and prerequisites.   

Acceptance in the Masters program is required for consideration into the postbaccalaureate DPD enrollment.

Minimum GPA for enrollment is 3.0. First complete the equivalent to Chem 1A, 1B, 20; Bio 10, 39; Psyc 2, Stat 1; NUFD 9, 10, and 11 at a Community or Junior College (JC) (see a full list of articulation at assist.org).   Before enrolling in a course at JC, check that the course you take at JC articulates, i.e., is transferrable at Sacramento State. Academic advisors use assist.org to review articulations between Sac State and other institutions.

These DPD prerequisite courses will lay the foundation for upper-division sciences and nutrition courses; a minimum of C grade is required in these courses. 

Apart from the above-mentioned prerequisites, complete Bio 131; NUFD 107, 110, 114, 115, 119, and 121 at Sacramento State before applying to the Master's program to ensure timely completion of DPD coursework.  One can enroll in these courses through our Open University program. Information about Open University enrollment is provided above.

NUFD 117 (Community Nutrition) and NUFD 100 (Research: Methods and Application in Nutrition and Food) courses are waived since MS students will enroll in graduate-level Community Nutrition (NUFD 222) and Research Methods (NUFD 200) courses. 

NUFD 118A, 116, 118B; Chem 161 will be taken concurrently with graduate courses.  Verification Statements will be granted after successful completion of DPD courses with the required grading (i.e., at least C in DPD prerequisites and at least C- in other DPD courses)

Meet Our Graduate Students