Applicants interested in applying should reach out to us via email for assistance and information as they prepare their application. Our program participates in DICAS (Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application Service). Please review the application checklist portion of the website for more information on how to apply. All applicants are required to upload all materials on the application checklist to DICAS at the time they apply.
Regular Admission
Students intending to apply to SUNY Oneonta's online M.S. Nutrition and Dietetics Program must submit all application materials through DICAS. Please review the "Application Checklist" tab on the left hand side of the screen for the list of materials that are required as part of the application process. Contact the Graduate Admissions Office with any questions by email or phone at 607-436-2523.
We accept 20 students for each class. Finalists may be asked via a phone interview or email to describe their experiences or goals in more detail or to answer specific questions pertaining to their knowledge and skills related to dietetics. Please review the admission requirements below that pertain to your educational background for more information on eligibility requirements for the MS-Nutrition program.
You must be a permanent resident of the United States to be eligible to apply for this program.
- completed an accredited undergraduate program resulting in a baccalaureate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from a U.S. regionally accredited college/university or a foreign degree equivalent to at least a U.S. baccalaureate degree.
- verification of completion (or an intent to complete form if the applicant has not completed all degree requirements) signed by their undergraduate dietetics program director.
- If the applicant completed a dietetics program more than five years ago, the applicant will be expected to have work experience in the field and/or additional course work OR earn an acceptable score on the admission exam.
- an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- work and/or volunteer experience in dietetics or a related area.
Applicants without a B.S. Degree in Dietetics will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and must meet with the program director or assistant director before starting the application process and preceptor search to discuss program eligibility. This meeting will allow us to assess what courses you still need and provide you with a clear pathway to entry. Please carefully review the list of pre-requisite requirements below and then contact the program to review any courses you have taken (or plan to take) for alignment with the requirements outlined below. Please be prepared to provide transcripts, course descriptions, and course syllabi (in English) for all coursework you have taken (or plan to take) that you would like evaluated for equivalency to any pre-requisite area. The grade requirement for pre-requisite coursework is a B- or better in each course. Students from SUNY Farmingdale should contact their program director for the specific list of required pre-requisites at your institution that will be accepted for early action application into the SUNY Oneonta program.
Requirements for this category of applicants includes the following:
- completed an accredited undergraduate program resulting in a baccalaureate degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college/university or a foreign degree equivalent to at least a U.S. baccalaureate degree.
- completion of food and/or nutrition coursework that reflect knowledge of the following:
- Basic Nutrition/Principles of Nutrition (see NUTR 1100 course description)
- Food Science/Physical and Chemical Properties of Food (see FOOD 3500 course description)
- Foodservice/Quantity Foods/Menu Development/Facility Layout/Procurement/Production/Distribution and Service (see FOOD 2200 and FOOD 3300 course descriptions)
- Principles of Management/Foodservice Management (see FOOD 4100 course description)
- Lifecycle Nutrition (see NUTR 2300 course description)
- Medical Nutrition Therapy/Nutritional Assessment/Menu/Diet Planning/Nutrition Care Process (see NUTR 4400 and NUTR 4500 course descriptions)
- Micronutrient and Macronutrient Metabolism (see NUTR 4100 and NUTR 4200 course descriptions)
- Food Safety and Sanitation (completion of ServSafe Food Protection Manager Exam or Equivalent Exam)
- Completion of related work:
- Anatomy & Physiology 1 & 2 (see BIOL 2200 and 2202 course descriptions)
- General Chemistry (see CHEM 1111 course description)
- Organic Chemistry (see CHEM 2262 course description)
- Biochemistry (see CHEM 3302 course description)
- Statistics (see STAT 1010 course description)
3. an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
4. work and/or volunteer experience in dietetics or a related area.
Please Note: Hyperlinks above will take you to the Oneonta undergraduate catalog for course descriptions. Currently, we are unable to allow non-matriculated students access to these courses at Oneonta. However, you may take similar courses at any qualified US regionally accredited college/university to meet these pre-requisites. We have included these links to our academic catalog in order to provide you with additional information to use in selecting coursework at non-Oneonta institutions.
- Committed to learning and becoming a Registered Dietitian
- Positive and open to new experiences and ways of doing things
- Mature and self-motivated
- Well-organized, prompt, respectful
- Good oral and written communicators
- Good time managers
- Familiar with what dietitians do in hospitals, community settings, and foodservice operations
- Strong students capable of undertaking graduate level course work
- Team players with strong interpersonal skills
- Compassionate, nonjudgmental, open-minded
- Ethical, honest, able to maintain confidences
- Flexible and resourceful
- Willing to follow policies and procedures
- Able to self-assess
- Focused and capable of helping others stay focused on the plans
- Able to learn and succeed without having an on-site peer group
- Applicants who have been out of school for five years or more may be asked to provide evidence that their knowledge-base is current and/or to take a placement exam. See course policies under Accepted Students tab for our program's recency of education policy.
Early Action Applicants
SUNY Oneonta & SUNY Plattsburgh students who expect to graduate from their B.S. in dietetics program, and SUNY Farmingdale students that complete required nutrition pre-requisites, can apply for admission as Early Action Applicants. All applications for consideration must be received by the first Monday in December. The GRE exam is not required.
To apply as an early action applicant from one of the above programs you must have:
- A current signed Verification Statement or Intent to Complete form (indicating that you are graduating by the program start date in May from SUNY Plattsburgh or SUNY Oneonta)
- OR an official transcript from SUNY Farmingdale showing you will have completed a Bachelor's degree and all required pre-requisite courses (grades B- or better) by the May start date of the program (contact your program director at SUNY Farmingdale for the list of required pre-requisites courses)
- AND a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- AND have taken coursework within the last three years.
Preference for admission will be given to applicants who are committed to becoming Registered Dietitians and who have:
- developed the ability and willingness to assume considerable responsibility for their own learning.
- demonstrated the ability to solve problems and work and communicate effectively with others.
- demonstrated a commitment to community service and/or service-learning.
- a strong academic record that provides ample evidence of the applicant's ability to do supervised experiential learning and graduate work successfully.
Applications are reviewed and acted upon without regard to race, color, gender, religion, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or status as a veteran.
Accepted graduate students should expect to submit to fingerprinting, a background check and drug screening as required by their clinical facilities and/or JCAHO (Joint Commission Accreditation on Health Organizations). Most facilities require graduate students to have a number of immunizations (including the COVID vaccination series) and some may have to be certified in CPR and/or meet other similar requirements.
GREs
Applicants may have official GRE scores submitted; however it is not necessary to do so. Applicants should have official GRE scores sent to the university if their performance on the exam provides additional evidence of the strength of their preparation and ability to succeed in graduate-level course work.
Credit for Prior Learning
The online M.S. Nutrition and Dietetics Program courses may not be challenged. All graduate students must register for and complete all 12 courses required for the program.
Prospective graduate students who believe that they have previously accomplished the required didactic and/or practicum experience for any course module are encouraged to plan their supervised experiential learning to demonstrate their ability to meet the program competencies as soon as practical during each course module. In consultation with the graduate student's preceptor and the course instructor and program director, the graduate student may then devote required supervised experiential learning hours to gaining additional knowledge and experience related to the field of dietetics.