Nutrition (MS)
Our Master’s in Nutrition program is designed for students with backgrounds in nutrition, biology, health sciences, health education, athletic training, exercise physiology and physical education. You'll be prepared for a wide range of careers as health educators, researchers and more.
Whether you are in the field looking to enhance your skills, are motivated to increase your knowledge base on your way to becoming a Registered Dietitian, or have a desire to make an impact on health of those in your community, our program specializes in educating nutritional health and wellness professionals throughout our communities. Our traditional on-campus program provides a quality educational program for students in the greater Boston and eastern New England. Our online program offers the same quality curriculum in a convenient online format, perfect for working professionals, Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Interns across the country.
Learn more about the MS in Nutrition program.
How to Apply
On-Campus & Online
To get started on your application for the on-campus or online program, click the link below:
On-Campus and Online MS in Nutrition and Health Promotion Program Fall 2023
We are still accepting applications for the Master’s in Nutrition for Fall 2023 on a rolling basis. Admissible applicants are guaranteed a scholarship of $10,000 and additional funding may be available for qualified applicants.
On-Campus and Online MS in Nutrition and Health Promotion Program Spring 2024
Priority application deadline: October 15
Students applying for the priority deadline will get an automatic application fee waiver.
Final application deadline: December 1
Admissible applicants are guaranteed a scholarship of $10,000 and additional funding may be available for qualified applicants.
Application Requirements
Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree (BS or BA) from a regionally accredited US college or university or an overseas institution of higher learning recognized by the Ministry of Education in the home country. An overall GPA of 3.0 or better is required in the prerequisite courses and the accumulative GPA.
Admission Options for MS Program
- Simmons undergraduate students (majoring in nutrition or dietetics, biology, public health, or exercise science) with an overall GPA of 3.3 or higher may apply for the Master's program at the end of their second semester junior year (deadline: February 15). Students must be approved by the Nutrition Department to pursue this pathway If accepted, such students may take graduate nutrition courses during the senior year. Thereafter, they would be enrolled exclusively in graduate nutrition courses and classified as a regularly enrolled graduate student. Do not use the MS in Nutrition application on the website. Contact the Nutrition Department for more information.
- Undergraduate degree candidates at other academic institutions may apply during their final year of study. Entry terms are for fall or spring.
- Applicants who already possess an undergraduate degree may apply for fall or spring. Please note, international students may only apply for the fall semester.
Application Procedure
An applicant will be considered for review if the following requirements are submitted and completed by the deadline:
- Complete application
- Personal statement
- Current resume
- Three letters of recommendation
- Official college transcripts from all institutions attended, whether or not a degree was earned
- If applicable, additional requirements for international students
Once you submit our electronic application, please check the self-service portal to determine that all required application materials have been received. If something is listed as not received, it is because the materials have not yet been attached to your application. During peak application activity, it can take several business days to upload documents to applications. Call us at 617-521-2605 if you have questions about application materials.
If you wish to apply to the MS and DPD and/or CSN, please submit one application for all of these options. Do not submit a separate application for each of these programs. Use the drop-down box to select the program or combination of programs you wish to apply to. If you are applying to the Dietetic Internship (DI) and also want to apply to the MS and CSN, you must apply through DICAS, not a separate application for the MS or CSN.
Academic Records: Transcripts
Official transcripts are required for all courses completed (undergraduate and graduate) at regionally accredited U.S. post-secondary institutions, whether or not a degree was awarded or regardless of when the courses were taken or if the courses are specific to the program to which you are applying. This requirement includes courses which appear on another transcript as transfer or study abroad credit. If you attended a study abroad program and the grades appear on the transcript of your home institution, you do not need to submit a separate transcript. Check with the Registrar's Office of your undergraduate institution to confirm this. If there are no grades listed on your home institution's transcript, and a separate transcript exists, we require an official copy. Allow sufficient time to request/obtain this transcript so that we receive it by the application deadline. Educational documents should clearly indicate the degree and date awarded. Such transcripts must be received in signed/sealed envelopes. Photocopies or copies "issued to student" are not acceptable.
If you are applying for September entry and will be enrolled in the fall semester just prior to the application deadline, please email a copy of your grade report as soon as possible since the official transcript will not arrive until after the deadline. Ensure that your name and the school you attended are clearly listed and indicate the program to which you are applying. We will still need an official transcript from the institution but your grade report will allow the admission review process to proceed.
If you have earned a degree abroad, academic records must include end of year marks sheets for each year of attendance, not just final exam results or a copy of the degree. Educational documents should clearly indicate the degree and date awarded. Overseas post-secondary institutions must be recognized by the Ministry of Education in the home country. Academic records in the native language and an official English translation (if needed) are required. English translations must be provided by someone other than the applicant, family member or friend. It may also be necessary for the applicant to submit an interpretation by a foreign credential services agency. Interpretations of foreign credentials by an evaluation service do not replace official academic records. These evaluations are assessments of the curriculum and are not accepted in lieu of official academic documents. Contact our office at 617-521-2605 to determine if this is needed. When you call, please be prepared to provide the name of the institution and country where the degree was earned.
The Office of Admission also accepts electronic transcripts from certain vendors including eSCRIP-SAFE, Parchment, and National Student Clearinghouse.
Standardized Tests
The GRE is not required for any of our graduate nutrition programs at Simmons University.
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.
Additional details regarding this requirement are listed under the For International Applicants section below.
Recommendations
Three recommendations, written within six months of the deadline, are required. We do not accept recommendations from individuals with whom you have a personal relationship (family members, friends, religious personnel coaches or politicians). Instructions for the recommendation process can be found within the application
Enrollment Deposit
All accepted applicants are required to submit a non-refundable $750 enrollment deposit. This deposit is applied to the first term bill.
Deferred Entrance
An accepted student may request, in writing, to the Director of Admission a deferral of the entrance date for a maximum of one year. The student must indicate what he/she will do in the interim. If granted a deferral, a non-refundable enrollment deposit is required by the date stated in the letter of admission to ensure enrollment.
Reapplication Procedure
An individual who wishes to re-apply should call the Office of Admission at 617-521-2605 for details about this process. All re-applicants are required to submit any official academic transcript for courses completed since the initial application.
Transfer Credit
Accepted applicants who enroll in the M.S. program may petition to transfer a maximum of two graduate courses into the M.S. program provided the credits were not used for a previously conferred degree and were completed within five years of the petition. This petition must be approved by the Chair of the Nutrition Department and the Dean of the College of Natural, Behavioral and Health Sciences. The student must have earned a grade of B or better.
Course Waivers
Students who enter the program with a strong background in a particular content area may petition for a course waiver. Such waivers require demonstration of mastery of course content. Students receiving course waivers must still complete the required number of credit hours, accomplishing this by taking additional electives to replace the waived credits. The decision to accept waivers is determined by the Chair of the Nutrition Department.
Resources
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees at Simmons are updated annually each spring. They are assessed each semester based on the number of credits enrolled, the level of degree, and the particular program of study.
Merit scholarships and funding options
We believe that your exceptional academic preparation and hard work should be rewarded.
Health insurance
All students taking 9 or more credits are required by Massachusetts State law to enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan or be covered by a health insurance plan with comparable coverage.
Contact us
Questions? Contact us via email or at 617-521-2605. We're happy to schedule visits and campus tours.