Information About The Masters in Nutritional Science

General Program Description

Graduate training in nutritional sciences can lead to excellent career opportunities. Recent graduates from our program have pursued career options in university teaching and research, the practice of dietetics, administration of local or state nutrition programs, or in the private sector. Current job titles listed on the Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Website are Clinical Dietitian, Community Nutritionist, Dietetic Technician, and Community Nutritionist.

The Nutritional Sciences Program offers an interdisciplinary course of study leading to a Master of Science (MS) degree in Nutritional Sciences. Additionally, training in the application of nutritional sciences to dietetic practice is provided through didactic, clinical, and community experiences. The Program offers the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics-approved Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics, which is required for attaining registered dietitian (RD) status.

Principal areas of study include public health nutrition, experimental nutrition, and clinical nutrition. The faculty is composed of a core group in nutrition and a larger interdisciplinary group representing nutrition within the Schools of Public Health, Medicine and Nursing, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Strong links to the University's Health Sciences Center, a world-renowned research and teaching facility, are a particular asset of the Program. Through links to the Clinical Nutrition Research Unit, the Clinical Research Center, and the School of Public Health, students can participate in nutrition research projects, clinical rotations, counseling, community education projects, and other public health programs.

Students are appointed an appropriate academic advisor from the core faculty, and throughout the program, this faculty advisor monitors the student's progress and assists in mapping out an appropriate plan of study. During the course of their study, students will choose a thesis chair and select a research topic that coincides with their individual interests.

The curriculum for the MS may be seen on our MS web page.

NOTE: Students in the Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics may apply 8 credits of the internship toward the Nutritional Sciences Program MS Degree requirements.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree, preferably with Science Emphasis
• Completion of the following courses
• General Chemistry (one quarter)
• Organic Chemistry (one quarter)
• Biochemistry (two quarters or one semester at the 400 level)
• human physiology (two quarters or one semester)
• basic human nutrition (one quarter)
• 3.00 GPA or greater for the final 90 quarter credit hours or 60 semester credit hours completed
• GRE (general exam) - competitive scores should be at or above the 50th percentile for both the verbal and quantitative sections; scores older than 5 years will not be accepted.

A complete application uploaded on the Graduate School website will include the following:

• Nutritional Sciences Application
• Graduate School Application
• GCPD Application if you applying to the Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics
• Unofficial copies of your transcripts
• 3 letters of recommendation (Letters may come from employers, professors, or previous colleagues; NOT from family members or spouses)
• Official TOEFL or TOEFLC scores (if international student)
• GRE scores. The code for the University of Washington is 4854. The Department Code for Nutritional Sciences is 0214. The official scores will be transmitted electronically to the UW.

Transfer Information from the Graduate School

"A student working toward the 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 recommendation from the graduate program coordinator and an official transcript indicating completion of the course work. Transfer credits are not entered on the UW transcript.

Approved transfer credits are applied toward total credit count only for the master's degree. (Transfer credits are not applicable toward a doctoral degree.) The 18 quarter credits of numerically graded course work, and 18 quarter credits of 500-level-and-above course work may not be reduced by transfer credit. Credit taken as a non-matriculated student or post-baccalaureate student at the University of Washington may not be transferred into a graduate program. Credit by either independent study through correspondence or advanced credit examinations is not transferable."

Transcript Evaluations

Due to the high number of inquiries we receive we are not able to do transcript evaluations for prospective applicants. With some exceptions, it should not be difficult for you to determine yourself which courses you have satisfied or need to take at another school. Here are some tips.

You may use the UW Equivalency guide to check which classes at local community colleges will fulfill prerequisite requirements.

Useful Links

University of Washington Home Page

Graduate School Home Page

Academic Calendar

Time Schedule

Tuition Rates

American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Equivalency Guide for Washington Community and Technical Colleges

last updated March 16, 2012