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Graduate Nutrition Admission Requirements

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 For more information contact Graduate Admissions  email mekellogg@viterbo.edu 

or Dr. Kelsey McLimans at kemcLimans@viterbo.edu

 

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Admission Requirements

Admission to Viterbo University’s Master of Science in Community Medical Dietetics program is selective and will consider students with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.  To be considered for admission generally, a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale will be required. In addition, students must satisfy the following multistep admission requirements:

  • Official graduate and college transcripts
    • Candidates must submit official transcripts from all schools where degrees have been earned, including graduate programs. Viterbo University requires that all schools (degree-granting and transfer credits) be regionally accredited higher education institutions. Official transcripts must be sent directly from the institution to Viterbo University, Office of Enrollment Operations, 900 Viterbo Drive, La Crosse WI 54601. 
    • Submit official transcripts for any pre-enrollment courses not taken at the degree-granting institution. 
  • A written statement of purpose (Essay). In 500 words, address the following question:
    • How will this program help you to reach your professional goals? Discuss your strengths and potential challenges.
  • One letter of recommendation (submit request inside your application portal)
    • Letters of recommendation should come from academic faculty or supervisors from work or volunteer experiences. Please complete the recommendation request form on the supplemental items page in your portal and an email notification will be sent to your recommender.
  • Successful completion of the following pre-enrollment courses with a grade earned of 'C' or better.  Coursework must be completed prior to enrolling and official transcripts must be sent.  
    • Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
    • Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab
    • General Chemistry or Chemistry for Health Sciences
    • Biochemistry
    • Organic Chemistry
    • Microbiology with Lab

      For guidance and pre-approval of pre-enrollment courses contact us.  We recommend looking at your local two-year university. Portage Learning Center/Geneva College, and  SUNY Online courses.

  • Verification Statement (required only for students entering Dual Master's with Dietetic Internship - Thesis and Clinical tracks)
    • Submit your Verification Statement; OR
    • Submit a signed document from your DPD Director, verifying your completion (and, the projected date of completion) of all didactic requirements.  Candidates must graduate and have all didactic requirements completed in order to enroll at Viterbo.
  • Student Financial Responsibility Agreement
    • Read, sign, and submit. The link will be available on your supplemental items list inside your application portal after the application is submitted.
    • This form will provide you will important Business Office policy information including items such as late fees, payment information, tuition deposits, refund policies, etc. 

Admission Interview and Decision

  • An interview for admission is required.  Once an application file is complete the Admissions Committee will reach out to schedule a Virtual Interview.  Interviews will be one hour in length. 
  • Admission decisions are made by the Community Medical Dietetics Admissions Committee and applicants are notified of the decision through the Office of Graduate Admissions.

International Applicants

As the M.S. in Community Medical Dietetics program is an online program an I-20 will not be issued. International transcripts should be evaluated by an official credential evaluation agency such as ECE.org or WES.org. Please review the English language requirements (link below) for information on this requirement.   

Visit the Viterbo international admissions requirement and English language requirements web pages for more details on applying as an international candidate.

Transfer and Waiver of Credit

Transfer Credits upon Admission

Individual consideration will be granted in the awarding of transfer credits.

  • Up to six graduate-level credits may be transferred into the 30 credit MS in Community Medical Dietetics for the current RDN path, if equivalent.
  • Up to 15 hours may be transferred into the 62 credit hour MS in Community Medical Dietetics - initial RDN/Direct Entry practice path. 

Credits must have been earned from a regionally accredited program, taken within the last five years, have an earned grade of 'B" or better, and be equivalent to the course it is replacing in the requirements at Viterbo. Coursework older than five years may be waived or given credit based on an individual review. Students who wish to transfer credits need to contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for details on the process. Courses will be evaluated for equivalency and written notification of acceptance of transfer credit will be provided to the student by the director. Transfer credit is only eligible for coursework taken prior to enrollment and petitioned for prior to matriculation.  

Transfer Credits after Admission

The faculty of the Viterbo University Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences program has carefully planned and developed a curriculum to meet the needs of the potential graduates of the chosen tracks. The content for the curriculum was designed for the curricular and graduate outcomes unique to this program and the specific role preparation.