Frequently Asked Questions

Does the University of Washington offer an undergraduate degree in Nutrition?

No, we do not. If you are interested in pursuing an undergrad in the Seattle area Bastyr University not only offers a degree in Nutrition, but also an Exercise and Wellness degree. Seattle Pacific University also offers a Food and Nutritional Sciences (Dietetics, Sports and Exercise) degree and an Exercise Science degree.

What degrees do you offer?

The Nutritional Sciences Program offers a Master's of Science Program (MS), a Master's in Public Health Nutrition Program (MPH), and a Doctorate Program (PhD). Additionally, training in the application of nutritional sciences to dietetic practice is provided through didactic, clinical, and community experiences. The program offers a Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics (GCPD) which provides the coursework and supervised practice that is required to become a Registered Dietitian® (RD).

Is the program competitive? How many students are accepted?

Each year the program receives approximately 150 applications for the program. On average, we offer acceptance to approximately 30%. On average, our actual incoming class is about 15 - 20 students. These students are comprised of the 12 positions available in the GCPD (MS/GCPD or MPH/GCPD), as well as some students who choose to pursue a Master's Degree without becoming a Registered Dietitian, and 2 - 3 PhD students.

What are the average GRE and GPAs of the applicants to your program?

The minimimum GPA accepted is 3.0; the average for the 2012 application cycle was 3.74. The minimum GRE must be at or above the 50th percentile for both the verbal and quantitative sections. The average scores for the 2012 application cycle were 78% on the verbal (lowest 51% and highest 98%) and 76% on the quantitative (lowest 60% and highest 95%). Applications are reviewed on the basis of the whole package; one student might have a lower GPA and have a really strong overall application and be accepted, one might have a high GPA but have other weaknesses that preclude acceptance.

How recent do my GRE scores need to be?

According to the GRE testing service, "GRE scores are reportable for five testing years. This policy was established because an examinee's skills can change significantly over long periods of time." If your scores will be older than this by the January 15th deadline, please plan on re-taking them in time for them to reach the Graduate School by January 15th. This can take up to a month.

Can I substitute the MCAT for the GRE?

According to the Grad School, "Applicants holding doctoral level degrees (PhD, JD, MD, etc) from an accredited institution in the U.S. may be exempt from the GRE requirement. This is the only exemption we allow."

Do I need to have a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition or Dietetics in order to apply to your program?

No; Our students have very diverse backgrounds, with degrees in archaeology, nursing, nutrition, psychology, biology, and many others. The basic program admission requirements are as follows:

• Academic preparation must include basic nutrition (1 quarter), general chemistry (1 quarter), organic chemistry (1 quarter) , biochemistry at the 400-level (2 quarters or equivalent), and human physiology (two quarters or equivalent). Prerequisites must be completed before you enter the program.
• minimum 3.00 GPA for the final 90 quarter credit hours or 60 semester credit hours completed.
• GRE scores(general exam); competitive scores should be at or above the 50th percentile for both the verbal and quantitative sections.

Does my foreign degree qualify me to apply to your Graduate School?

The official assessment and academic preparation of international students must be done by the Graduate School. The evaluation of an overseas degree is based on the following:

• The characteristics of a national system of education in the home country
• The type of institution attended
• The field of study and level of studies completed
• Official accreditation/recognition status of school

Since there are no U.S. federal guidelines on admission, each institution determines its own policy on prior degrees.

At the University of Washington, you must have at least a baccalaureate degree equivalent to a regionally accredited U.S. institution to apply for admission to this Graduate School (3 year degrees do not qualify).

Do you have minimum score requirement on each section of the IBT TOEFL?

* 7.0 on the IELTS
* 92 on the TOEFLiBT
* 237 on the TOEFLC
* 580 on the TOEFL
* 90 on the MLT4

I haven’t finished all my prerequisites; may I take them concurrently in my first year?

We require all prerequisites to be finished BEFORE the program starts. You may still apply with a few prerequisites outstanding, provided that you can finish them before the start of Autumn quarter in ate September/early October. If you are accepted yet find you cannot do this, you will be asked to defer enrollment until the next year, while you can get them completed.

What courses are offered in this program?

The curriculum is based on strong foundations in biological sciences, clinical nutrition, nutrition education, and nutrition research. Students receive a broad exposure to classroom, clinical, and research settings and benefit from the University's interdisciplinary approach. Please check our Course Listings page for a specific list program courses.

What kinds of volunteer opportunities are available?

While we have nothing within the program itself, we recommend prospective students look to food banks, community gardens, hospitals and long term care facilities to gain nutrition experience. The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as well as the Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics can sometimes provide ideas on volunteering. Food Lifeline offers volunteer opportunities as well as Marra Farms and the Hunger Intervention Program. A Google search may provide more results.

What will it cost to attend the University of Washington's Interdisciplinary Program in Nutritional Science?

Tuition fees are established by the University of Washington; Graduate school tuition fees apply. For the 2009-20010 academic year the fees for 3 quarters of full-time enrollment for the MS and PhD are $10,160 for an in-state resident and $23,500 for a non-resident. For Masters in Public Health students, the tuition is $10,660 for residents and $24000 for non-residents.

Information on residency classification may be obtained on the University of Washington Residency web site. Though financial assistance through the Program office is limited, students who have already been accepted to the program may be eligible for scholarships or other financial assistance. International students, however, must show proof of financial ability before the University of Washington Graduate Admissions office will accept their application.

What kind of jobs are available for Nutritional Sciences graduates?

Students pursue jobs in nutrition research; clinical dietetics (neonatal, pediatrics, adult); local, state, and U.S. government funded nutrition programs; home health care; food and supplement industry, consulting practice (business, private); corporate wellness, and sports performance. Median annual earnings of dietitians and nutritionists were $46,980 in 1998. Visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook Online for more information about a career in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Graduates of the program work in The Center for Public Health Nutrition (Research Coordinators), The Hunger Intervention Program(Program Manager), Washington Physicians Health Program (Research and Communications Coordinator), Highline Medical Center (On-Call Dietitian), and Harborview Medical Center (Meal Host Program Coordinator) to name a few examples.

How do I apply?

Those applying to the Graduate School on the Web pay an application fee of $75; Note that in order to use the Web application, you must pay the fee online using a MasterCard or Visa card (both credit and debit cards are accepted), or electronic personal check (for those with U.S. bank accounts). https://www.grad.washington.edu/application/ Departmental application materials must now also be submitted on-line through the Grad School:

• Departmental application
• GRE and TOEFL Scores (if required)
• letters of recommendation
• unofficial transcripts (official transcripts will be requested if you are accepted to the program)
• goal statement

Files may be uploaded via .doc, .rtf, .txt, or pdf.

The application deadline for Fall Quarter 2013 is January 15, 2013.

The international student application deadline for Fall Quarter 2013 is also January 15, 2013.

All materials must be received by the application deadline noted above. Letters of recommendation should come from current or former instructors or supervisors who are qualified to provide information about your ability to do graduate level academic work; your motivation for graduate school; your communication, organization and critical thinking skills; and your potential to make important contributions as a nutrition professional. They should not come from friends, family or spouses. Late applications will not be accepted.

If I apply both the MS and MPH of Nutritional Sciences, do I need to mail the additional materials separately? Do I need to send the GRE and TOEFL separately?

Applying for both programs is strongly discouraged. One of the qualities that the admissions committee is looking for is focus. Applying to both does not show focus.

Also, the core courses of both the MS and MPH are the same; the difference is what the program concentrates on. So you really need to decide one way or the other; if you are looking for community work, public health, etc., apply for the MPH. If you want to focus more on the clinical aspects of nutrition, then the MS is what you're looking for.

I have all my application materials ready, but my GRE's aren't scheduled until next month. What should I do?

You may submit your completed application without your GRE's. The GRE scores will come directly to our department approximately 2 to 3 weeks after you have taken your exam, so please plan your exam date so that we can get them by the application deadline. You can find information about the GREs on www.gre.org.

I've submitted my materials on-line; do I need to also send them in?

No, if you have submitted your materials we should have no problem viewing them. If we are missing anything or have problems with what you've uploaded, we will contact you directly.

Will credits from my current school transfer to your program?

A student working toward a master's degree may petition the Dean of the Graduate School for permission to transfer to the University of Washington the equivalent of a maximum of 6 quarter credits of graduate level course work taken at another recognized academic institution. These credits may not have been used to satisfy requirements for another degree. The petition must include a written recommendation for the graduate program coordinator and an official transcript indicating completion of the course work. Transfer credits are not entered on the UW transcript.

Do you offer a distance learning program?

No, we do not; our program is a full-time day program on the main UW campus. There are universities that offer distance learning programs. They are listed on the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. AAND says: “Many programs offer one or more courses by distance education and are identified in each list (CPs; DPDs). Because distance education is evolving you will need to contact the individual program to determine current information about coursework available by distance. Currently there are two Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) -accredited distance education DPDs that allow a student to complete all the coursework requirements for becoming a RD. These are at the University of Northern Colorado, Greely and Kansas State University. There is one ACEND - accredited distance education CP at Eastern Michigan University.

Currently, there are three ACEND - accredited DT programs that enable you complete the requirements for becoming a DTR by distance. They are at Pennsylvania State University, Central Arizona College and Cosumnes River College in California.”

I am applying for the MPH in the interdisciplinary program of Nutrition with the GCPD. I am wondering about the work load. Would I be able to continue working part time? How many days/week are classes?

A full-time load is 10 credits; MPH students usually do around 15, which means 15 hours of class-time during the week. If you estimate at least 2 hours of outside work per hour of in-class work, you will have a full schedule.

A lot of our students DO work part time, but holding down a full-time job and completing a masters is difficult, if it's even possible.

Do you fund your graduate students with teaching positions, fellowships, etc.?

Unfortunately we do not currently have funding for our students. We are usually able to secure something for our PhD students, but not always. There are various TAs and RAs around the University, and our students are free to apply for those.

Grad Students can get help looking for funding with the Graduate Funding Information Service.

Who can I contact with a question?

You should refer all initial questions to our Graduate Program Assistant, who can assist with general questions about the program, the application process, and will direct you to an advisor if more specific information about transcripts or prerequisites is desired.