Admissions

Dec. 1 | The priority due date is Dec. 1. All materials must be submitted by Feb. 14. A $50 non-refundable fee is required to apply. 

You must submit the following materials through the graduate school application portal to be considered for admission. Select Clinical Nutrition MS.

Resume: Limited to one page and listing relevant experiences within the last five years related to the field of dietetics where possible.

Statement of Intent: Not to exceed 1,000 words; include a summary of relevant educational, professional and research experiences, as well as career and professional goals. Your statement will be reviewed for writing quality and fit of your stated goals with the program's purpose and scope.

Official Transcripts: Submitted from corresponding institutions for all post-secondary coursework completed and demonstrating successful completion of all prerequisites before you start the program.

Letters of Recommendation: Three (3) letters from people who have knowledge of your strengths and goals, including professors, clinical instructors or employers. Areas of discussion can include personal and professional development and follow-through, work ethic, interpersonal skills, maturity and attitude toward learning, and critical thinking.

Verification of ServSafe® Manager training and certification: You can take the ServSafe® course and certification by June 1.

TOEFL Scores: If you are an international applicant whose first language is not English, you must submit TOEFL scores unless you graduated from an accredited university where English is the language of instruction.

DPD Verification Statement - optional: If your bachelor’s degree is from an ACEND–accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), you must send your verification statement to Kristen Braunscheidel at kmlanski@buffalo.edu.

Step 1: Foreign Degree Evaluation: A detailed course-by-course evaluation is required to evaluate your previous academic preparation and identify the courses you will need to meet the program prerequisites.

The summary section of the evaluation report must state the degree is equivalent to a degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution.

Step 2: Once you have received the results determining that your degree is of US equivalency you will then need to submit that degree evaluation and a self-evaluation of your pre-requisite course status to UB.

• In that correspondence, provide the program director with the Foreign Degree Evaluation report and the pre-requisite course self-evaluation and explain that you wish to apply as a student.
• The program director will evaluate the Foreign Degree Evaluation report and pre-requisite self-evaluation to determine whether it can be accepted, and if so, what additional courses will be needed to satisfy the program's pre-requisites.
   
  Regardless of your degree major, you must complete a US-based Community Nutrition course prior to admission.
  

• Please note that you may be required to complete the entire program to become eligible to sit for the credentialing exam.

Step 3: Apply to the program.

• Syllabi for each prerequisite course showing subjects with course descriptions in pdf format. A degree does not take the place of course syllabi. (Syllabus must be in English or a translation must be provided.) 
• Required: English Language Proficiency (<2 years old).

Step 4: At the completion of the program and upon receiving a verification statement, you will become eligible to take the CDR exam to become credentialed as an RDN in the U.S.

Important information:

• This degree program is a STEM program, which includes CPT and OPT.
• Financial forms and bank statements do not need to be submitted unless you have already been admitted. Upon acceptance, submit these no later than April 15.

The Interview

After a preliminary review of applications, the selection committee will extend an invitation to students who meet the requirements and demonstrate potential for success as graduate students in a professional program at the University at Buffalo. Interviews will be conducted via zoom.

Enrollment is limited. Students are selected upon evaluation of the following factors: completion of admissions requirements, including pre-requisite coursework; academic ability; evidence of potential for future practice as registered dietitian nutritionist; interview performance; and evidence of personality traits indicating an ability to work effectively with people.

Acceptance

After the interview, students deemed appropriate for admissions will receive a letter of acceptance from the Clinical Nutrition MS program director. This letter will contain more information about the next steps.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

The PLAR application is designed to grant credit towards supervised experiential learning hours and/or projects based on the qualified applicant’s knowledge and learning, as demonstrated through prior coursework, paid work, or volunteer experiences. PLAR is separate from credit transfer. Credits transferred from post-secondary colleges or universities are handled by the Office of the Registrar.

To receive credit towards supervised experiential learning hours and/or projects, students may submit a portfolio documenting how their prior work/volunteer experience helped them meet the competencies required for an entry-level dietetics practitioner as outlined by ACEND.

The portfolio must contain:

• A completed PLAR application form.
• Samples of projects, reports, presentations, and professional practice that demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in dietetics for which PLAR credit is requested.
• Evidence that shows/demonstrates advanced knowledge and skill, not just work history.

PLAR does not award credit for:

• The number of years you have spent in a job.
• The number of workshops attended.
• The level of your position.
• The effort or time you have invested in preparing your portfolio.

Request the PLAR application and portfolio instructions upon admission. Submit the portfolio and PLAR application to the program director by August 1 prior to beginning the program as outlined above.