• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
• Original verification statement or declaration of intent from the Director of an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) documenting completion of ACEND-accredited academic coursework. To find a DPD program in your area, please use this tool provided by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 
• A cumulative grade-point average of all undergraduate courses of at least 3.0 (based on a letter grade system of A-4 points, B-3 points, C-2 points, D-1 point, F-0 points), or its equivalent in other grading systems
• Compliance with OHSU's pre-entrance requirements including the OHSU COVID-19 Vaccine Policy and OHSU Immunization Policy.
• While the program no longer requires the GRE for admission, applicants are welcome to submit their scores to OHSU (Institutional Code: 4865). 
• GPHN does NOT offer conditional acceptance

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.  However, 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.

Complete ACEND-accredited academic coursework in a Didactic Program in Dietetics and a minimum of a bachelor's degree from a US regionally-accredited college or university or foreign equivalent.

• Obtain an original verification statement or declaration of intent from the Director of the ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics documenting completion of these requirements. To find a DPD program, please visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 
• An English-language proficiency test, such as the TOEFL or IELTS, is required for all International Students who do not speak English as a native language and do not have a Bachelor's or Master's degree from a US institution. In general, the Graduate Programs in Human Nutrition requires TOEFL scores of 600 paper-based, 250 computer based, and 100 Internet-based, or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5.
• The GRE is no longer required for entrance into our programs. However, if you have taken the GRE and would like to share your scores, the institutional code for Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is 4865.
• A cumulative grade-point average of all undergraduate courses of at least 3.0 (based on a letter grade system of A-4 points, B-3 points, C-2 points, D-1 point, F-0 points), or its equivalent in other grading systems.
• For the MSFSS/DI program, students must continue to reside in the U.S. for the online portion of the program in the 2nd year.  

GPHN does NOT offer conditional acceptance. All of the above requirements must be met prior to admission. For more information on obtaining a verification statement with an international degree, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic Website.

Applications to the MSHN/DI and MSFSS/DI programs at OHSU must be completed through the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services  (DICAS). The OHSU MSHN/DI and MSFSS/DI programs will be participating in the Spring Application cycle, for a program start date of September 2025. Applicants are welcome to apply to more than one program. The MSHN/DI and MSFSS/DI applications are not the same so please carefully review the sections below for specific information for the MSHN/DI and MSFSS/DI applications. 

Application dates for the spring application cycle: 

• Application Due Date: January 5, 2025
• Notification Date: on or before March 1, 2025
• Applicant Decision Date: March 15, 2025
• Ongoing Enrollment (if spots remain): July 1, 2025

Applicants must complete all components within the online application including:

• All sections of the DICAS application
• All OHSU-specific program questions
• Three letters of recommendation (at least one from a DPD faculty member)
• Personal statement

Letters of Recommendation

The application requires letters of recommendation from three individuals who can speak to your potential for success in graduate school. These can be from course instructors, advisors, supervisors, colleagues at work, or from professional, civic, and volunteer contexts. At least one letter must be from a DPD faculty member. 

Personal Statement

In 1,000 words or less, please address the following questions: 

• Why do you want to enter the nutrition and dietetics profession?
• What past experiences will contribute to your success as a graduate student?
• Explain your motivation to better understand nutrition science and how the expertise of our faculty align with your interests.
• What are your short-term and long-term professional goals?
• How does participation in the MS in Human Nutrition program contribute to your goals?

Applicants must complete all components within the online application including:

• All sections of the DICAS application
• All OHSU-specific program questions
• Three letters of recommendation (at least one from a DPD faculty member)
• Personal Statement

Letters of Recommendation

The application requires letters of recommendation from three individuals who can speak to your potential for success in graduate school. These can be from course instructors, advisors, supervisors, colleagues at work, or from professional, civic, and volunteer contexts. At least one letter must be from a DPD faculty member. 

Personal Statement

In 1,000 words or less, please address the following questions: 

• Why do you want to enter the nutrition and dietetics profession?
• 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.
• What are your short-term and long-term professional goals?
• How does participation in the Food Systems and Society program contribute to your goals?

Applicants may receive a request for a brief virtual interview with faculty from the Graduate Programs in Human Nutrition.

If the signed DPD Verification Statement is dated five years or more from the starting date of the internship program, then the applicant must have completed, with a  grade of "B" or better and within the past three years, a minimum of 6 credit hours of coursework including  the following two required courses:

• Medical Nutrition Therapy or equivalent (300-level or above)
• Anatomy and Physiology or equivalent (300-level or above)

If these courses have already been completed, then an official transcript must be uploaded to DICAS as part of the application process. If these courses are in progress at the time of application, then the applicant must submit a letter to the program stating the following:

• Course name and number
• College or university where the courses are being completed
• Number of credit hours per course
• Name of course instructors
• Date when courses will be completed 

Per OHSU Policy 02-70-010, Academic Programs in the Health Sciences have a societal responsibility to train competent healthcare providers and scientists that demonstrate critical judgement, extensive knowledge and well-honed technical skills. This policy is to ensure that all candidates for an OHSU degree or certificate possess the essential skills and abilities necessary to complete the curriculum successfully. To be qualified for and continue enrollment in OHSU Academic Programs, prospective and current students shall meet both OHSU's academic standards and the technical standards. Prospective and current students with disabilities may utilize approved reasonable accommodations to meet academic and technical standards.

OHSU technical standards include nonacademic criteria that reflect the ability to:

• Acquire information from experiences and demonstrations conveyed through online coursework, lecture, group seminar, small group activities, and other formats.
• Recognize, understand and interpret required instruction materials including written documents, computer-information systems, and non-book resources.
• Manipulate the equipment, instruments, apparatus, or tools required to collect and interpret data appropriate to the domain of study, practice, or research.
• Follow universal precautions against contamination and cross contamination with infectious pathogens, toxins, and other hazardous chemicals.
• Solve problems and think critically to develop appropriate products and services (e.g., treatment plan, a scientific experiment).
• Synthesize information to develop and defend conclusions regarding observations and outcomes.
• Use intellectual ability, exercise proper judgement, and complete all responsibilities within a timeframe that is appropriate to a given setting.
• Communicate effectively and maintain, mature, sensitive and effective relationships with all persons including but not limited to clients, patients, students, faculty, staff, and other professionals.
• Operate in a safe manner and respond appropriately to emergencies and urgencies.
• Demonstrate emotional stability to function effectively under stress and adapt to changing environments inherent in clinical and professional practice, healthcare, and biomedical sciences and engineering.

At OHSU, we believe diversity means creating a community of inclusion. That is why we are committed to building an environment where students from historically underrepresented populations can thrive and maximize their potential. The Center for Diversity and Inclusion collaborates with schools and other programs or departments to provide the following services. Please visit the website for the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, where you can learn about OHSU's Community of Inclusion and Diversity Action Plan, internships, scholarships, professional development, and other resources. 

OHSU is committed to creating and fostering a learning and working environment based on open communication and mutual respect. If you encounter sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual assault, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, veteran or military status, sex, marital status, pregnancy or parenting status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or any other protected status please contact the Office of Civil Rights Investigations and Compliance (OCIC) at 503-494-5148 or ocic@ohsu.edu. Inquiries about Title IX compliance or sex/gender discrimination and harassment may be directed to the OHSU Title IX Coordinator: Angela Fleischer. Contact Angela Fleischer at 503-494-5148 or titleix@ohsu.edu.

Learn more about Title IX at OHSU