NOTE: Information on this and other pages of the SHS web site are subject to frequent changes without notice. Be certain to re-visit this section or call the Office of Admission at 617-521-2605 before applying to determine if any changes have occurred .
The Nutrition program seeks women and men interested in either continuing their nutrition education or making a career change to the important field of wellness, nutrition, and health promotion. While undergraduate degrees in nutrition or dietetics are not required to apply to the Nutrition programs, applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution or an overseas institution recognized by the country's Ministry of Education. Additionally, the applicant must have completed certain prerequisite courses within the previous ten years before an application can be submitted. Please see the link to the prerequisite page below.
Applying
Applicants are responsible for submitting complete application packets by the application deadlines. Applicants must submit the downloadable/printed application and are responsible for mailing complete application packets to the SHS Office of Admission. Each application packet must include the application, a non-refundable application fee, an application check list, essay, resume, and Certificate of Finances(for non-U.S. citizens),SHS recommendation forms which must be submitted in signed/sealed envelopes and official academic transcripts in sealed/signed envelopes from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended whether or not a degree was earned and regardless of when courses were taken,or if they are not specific to the program for which you are applying,or appear on another transcript as study abroad or transfer credit. When receiving these recommendations and transcripts, do not open the sealed envelopes,rather, inlude them in your admission packet. Photocopies or transcripts or test scores or copies of transcripts stamped "Issued to Student" are not acceptable. Applicants who have studied abroad must submit academic documents in the native language, as well as official English translations completed by someone other than the applicant or a family member. All documents submitted become the property of Simmons College and cannot be returned.
All official test score reports(GRE,TOEFL) must be sent directly to the SHS Office of Admission by the Educational Testing Service(ETS). The SHS code is 3761. The TOEFL requirement is based on native language,not citizenship. TOEFL is waived if an applicant earned or is in the process of earning a bachelor's and/or master's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or an overseas post-seconday institution abroad which is recognized by the Ministry of Education in the home country in English-speaking countries only.
The Application
Pease submit application materials in one packet:
- a completed application, including personal statement, resume, check list, and Certificate of Finances (for non-U.S. citizens only.
- a non-refundable $50 application fee, made payable to Simmons College.
- three professional or academic recommendations in sealed, signed envelopes.
- official academic transcripts in signed/sealed envelopes for all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended,even if a degree or certificate was not earned. If a degree was conferred,the date must be indicated on the transcript.
Official GRE and TOEFL score reports must be sent separately and directly to the SHS Office of Admission by the Educational Testing Service(ETS).
Scroll down to see admission requirements for the following programs:
Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Promotion
Applicants for the master's program should have an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or overseas post-secondary institution recognized by the Ministry of Education in the home country. Although a nutrition degree is not required, please check the program prerequisites. Students cannot apply to the MS program until the prerequisites are completed. Simmons undergraduates with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher may apply for the master's program at the end of their junior year. Undergraduates at other academic institutions may apply during their final year of study.
If you apply to the MS/DPD program(see below), applicants are not required to complete prerequiste courses before applying as these courses are the core of the DPD curriculum. Apply to this combined option only if you ultimately wish to become a Registered Dietitian(RD).
Please submit these application materials in one packet:
- a completed application, including personal statement, resume, application check list, and Certificate of Finances (for non-U.S. citizens only);
- a non-refundable $50 application fee, made payable to Simmons College; and
- three letters of recommendation in signed, sealed envelopes from individuals able to comment on your academic ability, work experience, and leadership potential. At least two letters should be from a faculty member.
- official academic transcripts,in signed/sealed envelopes for all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, even if a degree or certificate was not earned. When such transcripts are sent to you, do not open the sealed envelope as this will render the transcripts as unofficial. If a degree was conferred, the date must be indicated on the transcript. Students who have studied abroad also must provide English translations.
Please request that the appropriate agency send the following information directly to the SHS Office of Admission. The SHS code for GRE and TOEFL is 3761.
- official GRE scores from within the past five years (except for Simmons undergraduates who have graduated within the last five years and current Dietetic Interns who are applying to the M.S. program); and
- official TOEFL scores from within the past two years, if English is not your first language (or if you have not earned a bachelor's and/or master's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or from an overseas post-secondary institution which is recognized by the Ministry of Education in the home country in English-speaking countries only):minimum score of 570 (paper test) or 230 (computer test) or 88(internet test) required
Simmons Undergraduates
Simmons undergraduates with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher may apply for the master's program at the end of their junior year. If accepted, students can take two graduate courses their senior year (February 15 deadline) and waive the GRE requirement. If the student's schedule allows, these courses can be taken in the fall and spring semester. All Simmons undergraduate alumnae who have graduated within the last five years may waive the GREs.
Simmons Dix applicants must complete an undergraduate degree before matriculation into the graduate program.
Diadactic Program in Dietetics
Diadactic Program in Dietetics
The D.P.D. Certificate fulfills one of the requirements to become a Registered Dietitian (R.D.). The American Dietetic Association (ADA) requires the successful completion of a series of specific didactic courses. The D.P.D. Certificate will prepare graduates to become competent entry level professionals, as well as successful students in a graduate nutrition program or accredited supervised practice program (dietetic internship).This certificate, along with a verification statement from Simmons College, will confirm the successful completion of the first step in the credentialing process for dietetics practitioners.
Students must pass the DPD courses at Simmons to be eligible for a verification statement. In addition to a minimum of a Bachelor's degree, and the didactic courses, an accredited supervised practice program (dietetic internship) must be completed to ensure eligibility to take the R.D. exam. The courses in this certificate are coded as graduate courses but they are actually undergraduate in content. The application for a dietetic internship (D.I.P.) is a separate process through the ADA and completion of the D.P.D. Certificate does not guarantee acceptance to a D.I.P.
Courses in the DPD certificate program are actually undergraduate courses but since the certifcate is a graduate credential offered through SHS, the cost of the program is based on SHS graduate tuition rates.
Students must formally apply to this program by submitting the Nutrition application. Carefully review the application since some items required for other nutrition program options are not required for the DPD application. GRE is not required. Further information about the DPD can be found here
Dietetic Internship Program
Applicants for the Dietetic Internship Program must hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university and meet the didactic requirements of the American Dietetic Association. The national application deadline is determined each year by the ADA and potential applicants should check directly with the ADA.
Please submit these application materials in one packet:
- a completed Supervised Practice Program Application (available from the American Dietetic Association), pages A, B ,C and N of the Simmons application, and the Certificate of Finances.(for non-US citizens only).
- a non-refundable $50 application fee, made payable to Simmons College.
- three recommendations in sealed, signed envelopes. (The Supervised Practice Program Application recommendation form is required. At least two recommendations should be from food and nutrition instructors who can comment on your academic ability, work experience, and leadership potential.).
- verified completion of the Didactic Program in Dietetics approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetics Association or a Declaration of Intent to Complete Didactic Program. (In the latter instance, SHS must receive that verification statement before the student enters the program.).
- Official academic transcripts in signed/sealed envelopes for all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, even if a degree or certificate was not earned. If a degree was conferred, the date must be indicated on the transcript. Students who have studied abroad also must provide English translations.
- GRE is required if an applicant is also applying to the MS program.
- official TOEFL scores from within the past two years, if English is not your first language (or if you have not earned a bachelor's and/or master's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or from an overseas post-secondary institution which is recognized by the Ministry of Education in the home country in English-speaking countries only):minimum score of 570 (paper test) or 230 (computer test) or 88(internet test) required.
Certificate in Sports Nutrition
The Certificate in Sports Nutrition program is designed for people with an undergraduate degree in nutrition, exercise physiology, kinesiology, sports medicine, athletic training, or related fields. Students who hold degrees in biology, physical therapy, and nursing may also qualify and apply. Applicants must have completed a year of human anatomy and physiology with a lab and a semester of an introductory nutrition course before applying.
Please submit these application materials in one packet:
- a completed application, including personal statement, resume, check-off sheet, and Certificate of Finances (for non-US citizens only);
- two letters of recommendation in sealed, signed envelopes from individuals able to comment on the academic ability, work experience, leadership potential, character, and personality of the applicant. At least one letter should be from a faculty member (if the applicant has recently graduated) or a current employer; and
- a nonrefundable $50 application fee, made payable to Simmons College.
- official academic transcripts,in signed/sealed envelopes for all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, even if a degree or certificate was not earned. When these transcripts are sent to you, do not open the sealed envelope(s) as this will render the transcripts as unofficial. If a degree was conferred, the date must be indicated on the transcript. Students who have studied abroad also must provide English translations.
- official TOEFL scores from within the past two years, if English is not your first language (or if you have not earned a bachelor's and/or master's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or from an overseas post-secondary institution which is recognized by the Ministry of Education in the home country in English-speaking countries only):minimum score of 570 (paper test) or 230 (computer test) or 88(internet test) required.
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