Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution. Applicants may have earned their Bachelor’s degree at any time and in any field.
• Cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.0
• We can only accept applicants who are U.S. citizens who reside in the U.S. 
• Compliance with the OHSU COVID-19 Vaccine Policy and OHSU Immunization Policy.

Application

To begin our online application, first create an account and select “Food Systems and Society” from the program list.

Within the online application, you will be directed to provide the following application components, each of which is described in more detail below: 

• OHSU Graduate Studies Application
• Letter of Intent
• Transcripts
• Letters of Recommendation
• Supplemental Questions

Note that you are not required to finish the application in one session. You can save your work, log out, and resume to the application later.

OHSU Graduate Studies Application

The Graduate Studies application has four sections. The first three sections are required for all students applying to any graduate program at OHSU. The fourth section is short answer questions relevant specifically to the M.S. in Food Systems and Society.

Letter of Intent

In 1,000 words or less, please tell us why you are interested in learning and thinking critically about food systems and society. Explain your motivation to better understand and advance social justice in the food system and the personal and/or professional experiences that have contributed to your interest. In addition, you may address your reasons for pursuing graduate study and/or indicate how participation in the Food Systems and Society program contributes to your goals.

Transcripts

Please submit either unofficial or official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended, including trade schools, community colleges, and four-year universities. Transcripts can often be obtained from a school’s website, usually through a student portal or the registrar’s website.

If you are admitted into the program, you will be prompted to submit official transcripts for all post-secondary institutions you have attended before registering for courses. Instructions will be provided. 

Letters of Recommendation

The application requires letters of recommendation from two individuals who can speak to your potential for success in graduate school. These can be from course instructors, advisors, supervisors, or colleagues at work, or from professional, civic, and volunteer contexts. 

To initiate the process in your application, provide the names and email addresses for your two recommenders in the application portal. Your recommenders will then be emailed a link to submit the recommendation online.

Please note that we are able to review your application even if your recommendations have not yet been received. We understand that the people writing your recommendations are busy and may not be able to submit their letters prior to the application deadline. 

Supplemental Questions

This portion of the applications asks questions that help us learn a little bit more about you. Some questions are multiple choice (Yes/No/Decline to answer) and some require a short answer. The questions ask for additional demographic information and about your past professional experiences and future professional goals. 

Application Fee Waiver

If you need to request a waiver of the application fee required through the application portal, please contact SOMgrad@ohsu.edu prior to submitting your application. 

Application Review and Admission Process

After you have submitted your online application, we will review it and respond to you shortly thereafter. If you are selected for an interview, we will contact you to schedule it, providing a short list of interview questions and suggested times for the interview.

If you are admitted into the Food Systems & Society Program, we will guide you through the OHSU enrollment process.

If you have questions regarding any of these elements, please reach out to us at fss@ohsu.edu. 

OHSU Background Checks

Prospective students are not required to disclose criminal convictions prior to receiving an offer of admission. Following a conditional admission offer, prospective students will undergo a pre-matriculation background check pursuant to policy and procedures available on the OHSU Public Safety website. 

While the M.S. in Food Systems and Society does not result in or require a professional license, please note that OHSU is a university of health professions, and it is possible that professional and occupational licensure requirements may prohibit individuals with criminal convictions from ultimately obtaining a professional license. Licensure requirements vary by state and prospective students are encouraged to consult their state licensing agency for more information.

If a prospective student is denied admission due to a criminal conviction, they may appeal the final admissions decision to the Office of the Provost at provost@ohsu.edu.

Tuition, Financial Aid, and Scholarships

Tuition & Fees

The tuition rate for the academic year 2024-2025 is $743 per credit; university fees are assessed on a quarterly basis. Tuition rates are updated annually.  

The total cost of attendance is publicly available through OHSU’s Estimated Cost of Attendance webpage. For a detailed breakdown of the FSS program tuition and fees, navigate to the 2024-2025 OHSU Tuition and Fees dropdown and click the Tuition and Fees document. The FSS program is on page 3. OHSU’s tuition and fee schedule is updated annually.

In addition to current estimated OHSU tuition and fees for graduate programs, the Estimated Total Cost of Attendance webpage contains other useful information such as estimated living expenses and the cost of books and supplies while attending OHSU.