Food Science and Human Nutrition Graduate Program Frequently Asked Questions

Applications and supporting documents should be submitted directly to Colorado State University Graduate Admissions.

• You must arrange to have one official transcript sent to Colorado State University, Graduate Admissions, from all colleges and universities attended.
• Three letters of recommendation are required. Provide email addresses of recommenders when applying. The CSU on-line system will solicit letters directly from these contacts.
• The Statement of Purpose (see information about this below) should be no longer than two pages, single-spaced, standard 12-point font.
• Resume
• Indicate your area of interest on the online application.

Official transcripts must be sent to:

Graduate Admissions
Office of Admissions, 1062
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062

**For international applicants – please ensure that official transcripts include a certified translation into English

Yes! Visit the Graduate School site to learn about fee waivers and other options.

Please direct your questions to:

Paula Coleman
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition
234 Gifford Building
502 W. Lake St.
Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1571
paula.coleman@colostate.edu

The TOEFL (for international students) is required as part of the application.

TOEFL –

• 80 (internet version), 550 (paper), 213 (computer), or 6.5 on IELTS

TOEFL and IELTS scores should be reported to: Colorado State University (Code #4075)

The Statement of Purpose should include the following, in no particular order:

• a little about yourself, your background and how you got interested in nutrition;
• your specific interest area(s) (Nutritional Sciences, Community Nutrition, etc.);
• any particular focus within your interest area, e.g., childhood obesity or food security, etc. (This does not limit you but gives us an idea of where you are leaning);
• briefly, why you want the M.S. or Ph.D. – what do you intend to do with your degree; and
• if appropriate, why you want to become a Registered Dietitian.

Yes. All materials MUST be received by this date.

Official transcripts from all previous universities attended should be submitted electronically through the Registrar’s Office to Colorado State University or mailed via sealed envelopes to the following address:
Graduate Admissions
Office of Admissions, 1062
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062

The Prerequisite courses for our graduate program are:

Nutrition Specialization:

• General Chemistry with lab (CHEM 107, 108)
• Organic Chemistry with lab (CHEM 245, 246)
• Biology with lab (LIFE 102 or BZ 110/111)
• Physiology (BMS 300, and the lab 302)
• Biochemistry (BC 351)
• Human Nutrition (FSHN 350, online FSHN 530) – Recommended for nutrition students without a background in nutrition or biochemistry.  MUST be taken prior to starting the first semester of the program.   

Food Science Specialization:

• General Chemistry with lab (CHEM 107, 108)
• Organic Chemistry with lab (CHEM 245, 246)
• Biochemistry (BC 351)
• Food Chemistry (FTEC 447) – can be taken after acceptance

Interdisciplinary Studies in Food Science/Safety Specialization:

• General Chemistry with lab (CHEM 107, 108)
• Organic Chemistry with lab (CHEM 245, 246)
• Biochemistry (BC 351)
• Food Chemistry (FTEC 447) – can be taken after acceptance
• Food Safety (FTEC 400)
• General Microbiology (LIFE 205 or MIP 300)
• Food Microbiology (MIP334)

Please visit www.transferology.com to check on transfer equivalency and to verify your prerequisites.  Courses will not actually transfer into CSU, rather, your transcripts will be checked to verify that you have completed these courses.

You must complete the required prerequisites for your application to be reviewed. If you are currently enrolled in pre-requisite courses at the time of your application, your application may be put on hold until such a time as the grades are submitted. For those students in food science, FTEC 447 can be taken during the first semester you are enrolled.

Courses from community colleges are acceptable but it is likely that you will not be able to find biochemistry, food chemistry or the advanced nutrition class (e.g. FSHN 350) at a community college. You should also be aware that some of the prerequisites that you could find as a one semester course at a university might be a two semester sequence at a community college.

We accept about 20% of applicants each year.

Acceptance of graduate transfer credits is determined on an individual basis with approval from your adviser, committee members, and the Graduate School. A minimum of 24 credits must be earned at Colorado State University, 21 of which must be earned after admission to the Graduate School. Our master’s degree requires a minimum of 35 credits, therefore, a possibility of 11 credits from another institution could be transferred. Information on transfer of credit from other institutions can be found in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin on the CSU Graduate School website.

Our department offers a limited number of research and teaching assistantships that are awarded on a competitive basis. There are also competitive fellowships available through the College of Health and Human Sciences. Student Financial Services can provide information on other available assistance.  Learn more about Graduate School Financial Aid.

NO, we do NOT offer a graduate degree in Sports Nutrition.

We welcome international applications to our graduate program. We require official GRE and TOEFL or IELTS test scores. TOEFL scores of at least 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 80 (internet-based) are required. An IELTS score of 6.5 is required. Test results are to be sent directly to the University from the testing center (code 4075).

Obtaining Colorado residency takes one year (365 days) prior to the beginning of classes in the semester for which you are expecting in-state tuition; this process can be complicated. Please refer to Student Financial Services website. Should you be accepted into the program, there is the possibility of deferring your admission term by one year. However, you must obtain adviser and department approval before postponing your start date. Once approved, an Update Request Form will be emailed to you through your online application.

Our limited number of assistantships are highly competitive. Applications are sent each spring to newly accepted and returning students. Awards are based on the needs of our faculty, merit, and academic preparation in the appropriate course content. Assistantships pay a monthly stipend and a portion or full in-state tuition depending on the hours/week awarded. Research assistantships offer a tuition premium paying the difference of out-of-state tuition for the first year.

A number of options exist, although ALL options lead to a Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science and Nutrition. The department has two approved specializations, Nutrition or Food Science. Within the two specializations, it is possible to focus on Community Nutrition, Nutritional Sciences, and/or Food Safety.

This is a three step process:

• You must meet Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics didactic course requirements (which differ slightly in different universities).
• Subsequent to the courses, you need to complete a ~ 1000 hour internship (supervised practice).
• You must take and pass a national exam.

Please note: NONE of the M.S. programs by themselves meet the requirements to become a RDN, but ANY option can be used to meet the course requirements. The number of additional credits that would be required will vary by the option and could include courses for credit or challenge exams.

Three required FSHN food service management and food science courses may be challenged. There is also a 2 credit food preparation lab and a food service practicum that you must take. The dietetic requirements also include a course in microbiology with lab and a business management course, which may be taken at CSU or transferred from another university or community college.

For further information, please view our Coordinated Masters Program page: CMPD Information

Or contact Dr. Brittney Sly via email:brittney.sly@colostate.edu

Although six to seven current master’s students will meet their internship/supervised practice requirements through our Coordinated Program, others will complete an external post-graduation internship. Students CANNOT apply to the CMPD until they have completed at least one semester of graduate work. Applications for the CMPD program are in December and the “internship” starts in August. Unless you have an undergraduate degree in nutrition you are generally more competitive for the CMPD program during your second year of graduate school.