Nutritional Science MS: Info and Application

Complete the required prerequisites. These courses must be completed prior to applying to the graduate program.

• 1 semester of inorganic chemistry or general chemistry
• 1 semester of organic chemistry
• 1 semester of microbiology
• 1 semester of physiology
• 1 semester of statistics

Apply as a graduate student at Cal State Apply.

Complete supplementary information required by the Program.

• Graduate Application Checklist
• Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Resume Example
• Pre-Requisite Course Clearance Form and MS-DPD application
• Writing sample

• Graduate Application Checklist for Graduate Program - Option in Dietetics
• DICAS application.
  If you are currently enrolled in the CSU, Chico NFSC General Dietetics Program Option, you do not need to complete a DICAS application. If you have graduated from an ACEND Accredited dietetics program outside of CSU, Chico and received a DPD Verification Statement, you will need to complete a DICAS application in addition to the CSU, Chico online graduate application.

• Ensure that upon graduation, students use evidence-based practice in their chosen profession. Evidence-based practice is defined by the American Dietetic Association as “the use of systematically reviewed scientific evidence in making food and nutrition practice decisions by integrating best available evidence with professional expertise and client values to improve outcomes.”
• Provide pre-professional practice opportunities that benefit students while serving the North State community.
• Graduate students who are well prepared and secure nutrition-related employment in healthcare, state, or federally funded programs, industry, or education.
• Use program resources effectively and efficiently while maintaining quality.

• 90% or more of students who start the program complete it.
• 80% or more of students who apply to dietetic internship (DI) programs, to become Registered Dietitians (RDs), are accepted.
• 90% or more of students completing a DI program pass the national registration examination for RDs.
• 80% or more of students applying for doctoral programs are accepted.
• 75% or more of students secure nutrition-related employment in healthcare, state or federally funded programs, industry, or education. o Graduates of the program will indicate they are satisfied with the MS program in 80% of the items listed on the alumni survey.
• 80% or more of graduates of the program will indicate that the MS program prepared them for their first career-related position on the alumni survey and 80% indicate the pre-professional practice opportunity they had was beneficial.
• Measures of program resources will be monitored such as student to faculty ratio, offering a minimum of 2 graduate courses per semester, release time for the coordinator and faculty who chair culminating activities, availability of space and equipment, and financial support for students.

• 95% of students who started the program completed it.
• 89% of students who applied to dietetic internships were accepted.
• 100% of students completing the CSU, Chico Dietetic Internship passed the national registration examination for RDs (87% passed on the first exam attempt, 13% on the second attempt).
• 100% of students applying for doctoral programs were accepted (It should be noted only 2 students applied to programs).
• 95% of students secured nutrition-related employment in healthcare, state or federally funded programs, industry, or education.
• 96-100% of graduates of the program were satisfied (rating 3 to 5 out of a 5-point scale) with the MS program (12 items on a survey).
• 98% of graduates indicated that the MS program prepared them for a career and 96% indicated that their graduate internship that provided pre-professional experience was valuable.
• In 2017-18, the student to faculty ratio was 2.3 to 1. Graduate classes have an enrollment of about 10-15.
• Two NFSC graduate courses are offered per semester.
• The Department hires one to three graduate teaching associates per semester.
• These data are based on the program's last five-year review (2011-2018).

Graduates of the CSU, Chico graduate program should:

• Master breadth of knowledge in key content areas of nutritional science including macronutrients, micronutrients and research methods.
• Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate and analyze the scientific literature in a variety of areas of nutritional science.
• Demonstrate the ability to design and conduct an independent research project (a thesis or professional paper).
• Demonstrate proficient oral and written communication skills.