Nutrition (MS)

The following prerequisite courses are required and may be taken at any U.S. regionally accredited colleges or universities or a higher education institution abroad which is recognized by the Ministry of Education in the home country. Courses may be in progress at the time of application, but, if accepted, the applicant must complete all prerequisites before the start of the program. F-1 visa applicants must have completed all prerequisites before applying.

• Inorganic Chemistry with a lab (at Simmons, CHEM 111 or CHEM 113)
• Organic Chemistry with a lab (at Simmons, CHEM 112 or CHEM 114)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs (at Simmons, BIOL 231 and BIOL 232)
• Introductory Nutrition (at Simmons, NUTR 111* or NUTR 112)
• Introduction to Community Nutrition (at Simmons, NUTR 237)
• Introductory Biochemistry (at Simmons, CHEM 223)
• Introductory Statistics (at Simmons, MATH 118)

An overall GPA of 3.0 or better is required in the prerequisite courses; the expectation is that applicants have earned a grade of B or better in each course.

All science courses, with the exception of Biochemistry, must include labs and must have been completed at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or university at a post-secondary institution abroad that is recognized by the Ministry of Education in the home country within ten years prior to the application deadline. These prerequisite courses must be graded and may not be completed on a pass/fail basis or audited. CLEP or IB scores are not accepted for such required courses.

If you are looking to take the prerequisite courses at Simmons as a non-degree student please review the course schedule to see when courses are available.

No pre-approval is needed in the following cases:

• Any course with statistics in the title
• One separate semester/term of human anatomy and one separate semester/term (sometimes 3 quarters are needed) of human physiology at one or more institutions. Animal physiology will not meet this requirement.
• AP (Anatomy & Physiology) I & II (with lab) at the same institution.

Pre-approval via submission of a syllabus is always needed in the following cases:

• All online prerequisite courses (provide the online syllabus for both the course and lab, not the on-site syllabus)
• All accelerated courses
• A/P I & II taken at more than one institution
• All nutrition courses

For questions regarding specific prerequisite courses please email our office to confirm the courses meet the requirements. Include the course name and number, when and where it was taken, if a lab is included and if it was an online or onsite course.

If applicants are/were enrolled in institutions which used quarter or trimester systems, two or three quarters/trimesters may be required to equal one semester.

Simmons welcomes applications from international students for the Master's in Nutrition and Health Promotion for September (fall) semester entry only.

International students looking to become an RD can add the DPD program and apply to the MS DPD combined option as this will also meet the visa eligibility requirements.

Visa Requirements and Full-Time Academic Status

Due to immigration stipulations, international students requiring a student visa to study in the U.S. must be enrolled full-time in a degree-granting academic program. 

Additionally, if you are currently in the U.S. and have any visa other than an F-1, you must check with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services regarding procedures for changing your visa status. International students requiring an F-1 visa cannot enroll in non-degree courses nor can they be admitted provisionally pending completion of admission requirements.

Application Deadlines

It is imperative that students who have or are studying abroad begin the application process at least six months prior to the deadline. If residing abroad and the applicant earned a degree abroad, he/she must have completed all prerequisites before applying to the program. Please allow ample time for the pace of international postal systems, obtaining visa documents, arrival in the U.S., and transitioning to a new environment. International students will not be allowed to enroll if they arrive after the official start of the term.

Required Academic Records

In the U.S. academic records or mark sheets are called "transcripts" (this is the term used throughout this website). All applicants who have studied abroad must submit official (signed in original ink and stamped with a seal) academic records for study completed at all universities (including schools where no degree or certificate was earned by the student). These documents should include end-of-year result sheets for each year of university study, national exam results, and a copy of degrees or certificates, both in the native language and English translations. Photocopies or facsimiles of mark sheets and exam results for the final year alone are not acceptable. Degrees earned abroad must be from an institution of higher learning which is officially recognized by the home country's Ministry of Education.

The Office of Admission may require an evaluation of an applicant's academic credentials from abroad. These evaluation reports do not replace the need for signed/sealed academic records. These reports are interpretations of a student's academic history and U.S. colleges and universities may accept all or partial information in these assessments. Our preferred provider is WES.  Evaluations should include English translations and U.S. equivalencies of all transcripts including a course-by-course evaluation with grades.

A "college" abroad usually means a secondary institution whereas in the U.S., a college is an institution providing higher education. A college can be part of a larger university or represent a singular institution such as Simmons University. Academic records from overseas colleges which are actually secondary schools (high schools in the U.S.) are not required as part of the application process. Courses taken at the secondary level do not fulfill the prerequisite requirements for application and admission to a graduate program. A baccalaureate in the U.S. is a first university degree. Many overseas systems award baccalaureates which represent the completion of secondary education or a year beyond.

Required Standardized Test Results

Applicants whose first language is not English must submit official English language test scores taken within two years prior to the application deadline. These include the TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, Pearson Test of English and IELTS. Other English proficiency exams can be considered on a case by case basis. This requirement is based on native language, not citizenship. 

Applicants who have graduated from post-secondary institutions abroad (recognized by the Ministry of Education in the host country) in English-speaking countries only or applicants who have earned a bachelor's or master's degree at regionally accredited U.S. institutions do not need to submit TOEFL.

The minimum acceptable score is 570 (Paper Test) or 230 (Computer Test) or 88 (Internet based). Copies of student score reports are not acceptable. Please be certain to take the TOEFL 2-3 months in advance of the deadline to assure that we receive an official score report on time. The TOEFL code is 3761.

Further information about this exam can be obtained by directly contacting TOEFL; Educational Testing Service; P.O. Box 6151; Princeton, New Jersey; 08541-6151; telephone: 215-750-8050 or the TOEFL website.

Information about the Duolingo English Test can be found by visiting the Duolingo website.

Applications cannot be reviewed without the receipt of these test scores. It is very important that applicants register for these exams well in advance of applying for admission.

Required Financial Documentation

All non-U.S. citizens who will require a student visa for study in the U.S. must provide accurate and current  evidence of ability to pay for the cost of a Simmons education. These costs are variable (but include fixed and living costs beyond tuition) and outlined on the Certification of Finances Form. This form is available by calling the Office of Admission at 617-521-2605.

This form must be completed and returned directly to the Office of Admission. In addition, an original signed statement from the applicant's sponsor indicating a willingness to provide financial support and a statement from the sponsor's bank verifying the availability of sufficient funds must be received. All documents must be signed in original ink, written in English, and funds must be shown in U.S. dollars ($).

It is very important for the applicant to inquire about the regulations in the home country concerning transfer of funds. Applicants may submit these forms during the application process or after being admitted to the program. Please keep in mind that the documents cannot be older than six months. This information is required in order to process an I-20 to obtain an F-1 student visa.

Academic Year

For each academic semester, students receive grades for each subject (course) taken. The first (fall) semester generally begins in early September and ends in mid December. The second (spring) semester begins in mid January and ends in mid May. Additionally, there are summer sessions lasting from May to August. Most programs begin in the fall (September) semester.

Grading and Credit Hours

Simmons University awards letter grades for all completed courses: A=Excellent, B=Good, C=Fair, D=Poor, F=Fail, and P=Pass. Each letter grade is assigned a value: A=4.00, B=3.00, C=2.00, D=1.00, and F=0. Each course carries a certain number of credit hours, where usually, one credit is equal to one hour of classroom instruction. Graduate courses are usually worth three credits although some are worth four, two, or one. The total number of credit hours required to obtain a specific degree will determine the number of courses a student needs to complete the program.

Arrival at Simmons University

It is important that international students plan properly to arrive at the required time to commence their studies. Allow ample time for obtaining immigration documents, shipping personal items and adjustment due to time and climactic changes. Students will NOT be allowed to enroll in classes if they arrive after classes have officially started. It is imperative that students allow adequate time for moving, student orientation, and establishing contacts.

You'll have a network of current students and alumni to help you throughout the exploration of your program of study by answering program specific questions, helping host informational sessions and panels, in addition to being your personal cheerleader throughout your Simmons journey.

Regina Barrera Flores

DPD/MS student

Why Simmons?
I am a Mexican international student. I studied for my Bachelor's in Nutrition at the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, México. When planning and applying to various MS programs, I visited Simmons and instantly felt like I belonged here. The academic curriculum perfectly fits my interests in clinical nutrition and research. As I studied my undergraduate degree in another country, I went through a difficult and complex process to transfer and validate my degree here in the U.S. Right from the first email I sent explaining my situation, the nutrition faculty at Simmons provided excellent support with all the accommodations I needed.

Alex Fowler

Nutrition Student

Why Simmons?
I decided to join the Simmons community for my masters degree in nutrition! I’ve grown up going into Boston my entire life, I was fortunate enough to live 20 minutes away for most of my childhood. I went to my undergraduate university in a different state but I always knew I’d end up back in Massachusetts. I knew that I wanted to give back to the community that helped raise me and be a part of a great healthcare network. I am absolutely in love with this city and I couldn’t bear to leave it!.

Simmons MS/DI Partnerships

Simmons has partnered with select dietetic internship programs to offer an expedited pathway to applying for our Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Promotion program.

Applicants to the dietetic internship programs at Be Well Solutions, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Wellness Workdays can apply for the Simmons Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Promotion program through the DICAS application process. Benefits of the partnership include:

• Earning your MS from Simmons through either the campus-based program or our fully online format. Both will allow students to fulfill the new eligibility requirement. Effective January 1, 2024, the minimum degree requirement for eligibility to take the registration examination for dietitians will change from a bachelor’s degree to a graduate degree.
• Our MS degree is customizable with research and entrepreneurship tracks. The curriculum also offers a clinically-focused course, Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy.
• Some coursework can potentially be used as part of your dietetic internship competencies. If you have any questions about this, please speak to the affiliated DI program of interest.
• We will waive your application fee, use your DICAS application (no separate application for Simmons needed), and if you are admitted we will reduce your enrollment deposit to $200 (a $550 reduction!) which will be credited towards the first semester of tuition.
• All applications will be reviewed for a scholarship, ranging from $6,000 - $16,000. Tuition for the Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Promotion can be found on our financial aid website.

Preselect Options with Partnering Dietetic Internship Programs

Current students in the Simmons Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Promotion program can benefit from our partnerships with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Hebrew Rehabilitation, and Massachusetts General Hospital. Simmons MS students are eligible to apply as a pre-select student for the dietetic internship programs with these partners before the DICAS match process. This is a great opportunity to be admitted early and complete your dietetics training at some of the top medical centers in the country!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Director of Admission, Danielle Navarro, at [email protected].