Contact
Sudha Raj, Director of Graduate Programs in Nutrition
562 White Hall
315-443-2556
Program Description
The program emphasizes critical evaluation of scientific information and evidence-based practice and research. Due to the varying backgrounds and professional interests of students, the master’s degree program is flexible. The master’s degree may also serve as a preparatory step toward more advanced study at the doctoral level.
The thesis involves investigative work on a specific topic, extensive examination and interpretation of nutrition literature on that topic, and the presentation of results in a clear and logical form. Completion of the thesis may require an additional year of study beyond completion of coursework.
Admission
Applications for the Nutrition Science Graduate Program are accepted until March 15th and admittance is for the fall semester only. All applicants must submit the following:
- Application
- Non-refundable application fee
- Official transcripts of earlier academic degrees
- Three letters of recommendation (preferably from faculty members)
- Personal statement reflective of career goals and objectives (including research)
In addition to the general admissions requirements of the Graduate School, Nutrition Science Graduate Program applicants must document completion of the following:
- WRT 105/205 Writing I & II - or equivalent 6 crs.
- PSY 205 Psychology- or equivalent 3 crs.
- Behavior/Social Sciences- or equivalent 6 crs.
- BIO 121/123 General Biology I & II - or equivalent 8 crs.
- BIO 216/217 Anatomy & Physiology I & II (plus lab) - or equivalent 8 crs.
- CHE 106/116 Chemistry I & II - or equivalent 8 crs.
- MAT 221 Statistics- or equivalent 3 crs.
- NSD 225 Nutrition in Health - or equivalent 3 crs.
While no single factor determines entry to the program, competitive applicants typically have a minimum of:
- G.P.A. of 3.00 or higher (undergraduate and/or master’s degree)
Admission decisions are made by the Nutrition Science Graduate Admissions Committee and are based on the student’s academic background (i.e., G.P.A.), experience (e.g., research activity, related work experience), letters of recommendation, personal statement and areas of interests.
If you have a bachelor’s degree outside nutrition and would like to become a registered dietitian, make an appointment with the director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), Nancy Rindfuss, M.A., R.D., to obtain an evaluation of your DPD status. The evaluation might dictate classes you have to complete prior to starting the program.
Part-Time Study
Students are able to pursue the degree part-time.
Financial Support
Limited department financial aid is available in the form of graduate assistantships and scholarship credits for students enrolled in masters and doctoral programs. Financial aid is determined based on merit.
Additional information regarding graduate financial aid can be found at https://graduateadmissions.syr.edu/funding/
Transfer Credit
A maximum of 30 percent of credits counted toward a master’s degree at Syracuse University may be transferred from another institution provided that the credits are an integral part of the degree program.
Students who complete their dietetic internship outside of Syracuse University may transfer up to 9 credits with the approval of the graduate committee. Of the 9 credits, only 3 of supervised practice may be transferred.
Degree
The M.S. degree requires the completion of a minimum of 30 credits, including a thesis.