• For the stand-alone MSHN program, applicants must be a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist or have an original signed verification statement signifying completion of an accredited dietetic internship program or a letter from your dietetic internship director stating that you are in good standing in the program with the intent to complete the dietetic internship prior to matriculation at OHSU
• 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.
• 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.

Applicants who wish to apply to the MSHN program alone and not in combination with the dietetic internship must be Registered Dietitians (RD) or have a Verification Statement signifying completion of a dietetic internship program accredited by Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

To be considered a RD, international students and professionals who completed their training outside the United States must meet one of the two criteria below:

1. Complete all certification requirements (didactic, experiential and examination) in a country with whom the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) has a reciprocity agreement. CDR currently has reciprocity  agreements with the following foreign regulatory boards.

• Dietitians of Canada (DC) 
• Dutch Association of Dietitians/Ministry of Welfare, Public Health and Culture (NVD)
• Philippine Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
• Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI)

2. Graduate from an international dietetics program, determined to be “substantially equivalent” by ACEND, and take the CDR entry-level registration examination for dietitians. This option is only available to students who apply for registration eligibility to CDR on or before July 1, 2019. For a list of international dietetic programs determined to be “substantially equivalent," visit the ACEND website. 

Additional requirements

In addition to the RD requirement above, international students must complete the following requirements prior to applying to the program:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

GPHN does NOT offer conditional acceptance. All of the above requirements must be met prior to admission.

For more information about graduate studies at OHSU and international applicants, visit the OHSU Graduate Studies website.

Applications for the MSHN stand-alone program are submitted directly to OHSU through OHSU's application portal. MSHN student applications are considered year-round, but priority is given to applicants who submit applications by the following deadlines for admission to each term:

• September 1^st, 2024 for Winter Term 2025
• January 1^st, 2025 for Spring Term 2025

The program may consider applicants for future terms if their preferred term is full. Applicants can apply for more than one term with one application

Application

Create an online account; select “MS Human Nutrition” from the program list.

Don’t worry about finishing the application in one session. You can save your work, log out and return to the application at a later time. Your information will be saved.

Within the online application, you will be directed to submit: 

• OHSU Graduate Studies Application
• Personal statement 
• Official transcripts
• Letters of Recommendation
• Proof of status as a Registered Dietitian or verification statement showing completion of an accredited dietetic internship

GRE

While the program no longer requires the GRE for admission, applicants are welcome to submit their scores to OHSU (Institutional Code: 4865). 

Personal statement

For those applying to the MS program with a thesis option, please include with your application a typed statement that addresses your professional career goals, your motivation for graduate study, research interests/experience and any scientific publications or presentations you have authored.

For those applying to the MS program with a capstone (non-thesis option, please include with your application a typed statement that addresses your professional career goals, your motivation for graduate studies, relevant experiences in teaching, research, publishing, and/or volunteering and how our program will help you achieve your academic and professional goals.

Transcripts

An official transcript is required from each college or university attended and must arrive at OHSU in an official, sealed envelope on or before the application deadline. 

Letters of recommendation

Applicants must submit at least three recommendations. 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, or colleagues at work, or from professional, civic, and volunteer contexts. If you have research experience, it is recommended that a recommendation be provided from your research supervisor(s). 

You will need the names and email addresses for your three recommenders to submit in the application portal. Your recommenders will then be emailed a link to the online recommendation form and can submit the recommendation online. You will be able to see in your online application checklist if the recommendation has been received. 

Proof of status

For current or recent graduates of a dietetic internship program (individuals who have yet to become a Registered Dietitian with the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR), the application packet must contain an original signed verification statement signifying completion of a dietetic internship program accredited by Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) or a letter from your dietetic internship director stating that you are in good standing in the program with the intent to complete the dietetic internship prior to matriculation at OHSU. Applicants who are Registered Dietitians must provide official documentation from CDR signifying current status as a Registered Dietitian.  Registered Dietitians should call CDR at 1-800-877-1600 ext 5500 and provide their name and RD # and request an official RD verification letter be sent directly to the Graduate Programs in Human Nutrition. 

Application fee

Applicants must submit a $70.00 application fee. 

Students must show successful completion of prerequisite coursework, or evidence of relevant professional experience, within the past five years. If the student needs to complete additional coursework in order to meet "recency of education" requirements, the actual requirements will be determined on an individual basis following discussion between the program director and potential applicant. Completion of recommended requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

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