FAQ

• How long is the MA in Clinical Nutrition program if I also do the Dietetic Internship?
  The MA in Clinical Nutrition Program includes 15 pre-requisites, plus the MA program itself, which totals approximately 4 years. The Dietetic Internship is 6 months long.
• Does the department offer any scholarships?
  Currently, the department is not offering scholarships, but for information on scholarships offered by the University, please go to:

  http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/steinhardt/db/gad/24#schoolbased.

• I'm filling out my application. What are the correct "major codes" and "option codes" for your programs?

  UNDERGRADUATE:

  Nutrition: HONF-RDS
  Food Studies: HONF-FDS
  Food Management: HONF-MGT

  GRADUATE:

  Clinical Nutrition (34 or 40 credits): HOND-CNU
  Foods & Nutrition: HOND-FNU
  Food Culture: FOOD-CUL
  Food Systems:  FOOD-SYS
  Community Public Health: HCPH-CPH
  International Public Health: HCPH-IPH
  Public Health Nutrition: HCPH:PHN

  DOCTORAL:

  Nutrition: HOND-PhD
  Food Studies:HOFD-PhD
  Public Health: HEPH-PhD

• When is the application deadline?
  All Fall applications are due February 1st. Spring applications are due November 1st, and applications for PhD programs are due December 15th.
• Does your department offer Graduate or Teaching Assistantships?
  Yes. Applications are available through the Dean's office. For detailed information on specific programs, please visit http://www.nyu.edu/academics/ga.html. Please be advised that most GA and TA positions are offered to doctoral students.
• What is the cost of your program?

  For information on tuition costs, please visit http://www.nyu.edu/bursar/tuition.fees/. Since these numbers change each semester, be sure to check this site often to be aware of the latest figures.

  Tuition costs are the same whether you are a United States citizen or an international student.

• Can I take a pre-requisite course as a non-matriculated graduate student and then transfer my credits in if I decide to enter the program?
  Yes. If you have any questions, please contact Mark Perez in the Steinhardt Student Services Office at 212-998-5033. Please be advised that taking a course as a non-matriculated student does not guarantee admission into the program. However, if you are accepted into the program, the course(s) you have taken will transfer in.
• How do I obtain pre-approval for transfer credits as a graduate student?
  Since transfer credits are determined on a case-by-case basis, please call the department to schedule an appointment with a program advisor. Usually, you will need to bring in a copy of the syllabi from the courses you wish to transfer for review by an advisor.
• I am an undergraduate student, thinking of transferring in from another university. How do I know which of my credits will transfer over to your program?
  When you are admitted into New York University, the Admissions Office reviews your transcript and decides which of your credits transfer over. Before beginning your first semester, you will be required to meet with an advisor here in the office, with whom you will review the statement of transfer credits.
• How many credits do I need each semester to maintain matriculation status?
  The University defines full-time coursework as a minimum of 12 points per term and part-time course work as at least 6 points per term. For more information, contact Registration Services (82 Washington Square East, 3rd Floor) at 212-998-5055.
• How many credits can I take per semester?

  Undergraduate: A full-time course load ranges from 12 to 18 credits.

  Graduate: Full-time graduate students take 12 credits per semester, while part-time students usually take 3 or 6 credits per term.

  Your credit load for the coming semester will ultimately be decided by you and your advisor during your registration appointment.

• How long will it take me to complete a graduate degree?
  Since each student's course load differs, it is hard to establish a set time length to complete a graduate program. Full-time students take 2 years to complete the MPH program and full-time Nutrition and Food Studies students usually complete a master's degree in approximately two to three years. Part-time students usually take four to six years to complete the degree. You are given a total of 6 years in which to complete the degree. To figure out how many semesters it will take you to complete your degree, take the number of credits needed for your degree and divide them by the number of credits you plan to take each semester.
• What if my official GRE scores are not available by the deadline?
  We recommend you take the test at least 10-12 weeks before the application deadline date to insure your test scores arrive on time. However, it is acceptable to have all of your materials in by the deadline, including a copy of your unofficial scores if the official scores arrive no later than 3 weeks later. Note: The ETS Institution Code is 2556. A departmental code is not required.
• Do I need to take the GRE's?
  All Doctoral applicants and students applying for the Master's of Public Health programs must submit GRE scores, even if you are transferring from another university or other Departments at NYU. Please refer to the question about specific program requirements for information on minimum scores. Keep in mind that in reviewing applications, all materials are considered, including undergraduate GPA, CV, work experience, and personal statement.
• Once I have applied, when will my decision be mailed?
  Admission decision letters for the Fall semester are sent out in late March, while Spring decision letters are sent out in late November. Decisions are not communicated via email, phone, or fax.
• Do you have a culinary arts program?
  Although we offer some culinary training classes which support the degree-oriented academic programs, we do not offer a degree in culinary arts.
• I see there are some pre-requisite undergraduate-level courses I need to complete for the graduate programs. Do I need to take these before I apply?
  No. These courses can be taken at New York University once you have been accepted into the Master's program.
• My undergraduate degree is completely unrelated to the graduate degree I want to pursue in your department. Can I still apply?
  Yes. We consider application from students with a wide range of backgrounds and undergraduate degrees.
• What are the requirements for each program?

  Undergraduate requirements:

  • Personal statment (approximately 500 words)
  • Resume
  • 2 official high school (and any college-level courses, if applicable) transcripts
  • TOEFL scores (international applicants only). Note: The ETS Institution Code is 2556. A departmental code is not required
  • 1 recommendation from a teacher and 1 recommendation from a counselor. We do not require a separate form for the letters.
    
  • SAT/ACT scores (please note that we do not have "cut off" scores)
    

  Graduate requirements: Along with your application, be sure to submit all the necessary materials. For all graduate programs, you must submit the following:

  • Personal statement (approximately 500 words)
  • Resume
  • 2 official transcripts from all academic institutions you attended after high school. Students with transcripts from schools outside the U.S> must submit a WES course by course evaluation with their application.
    
  • TOEFL scores (international applicants only). Note: The ETS Institution Code is 2556. A departmental code is not required.
  • Recommendations are not required for any of our programs. However, if you have strong references, up to 3 are encouraged. We do not require a separate form for the letters. However, if your reference is written by a professor, they should write the letter on university letterhead; if it is written by an employer, company letterhead is recommended.
  • For the Foods & Nutrition concentration, you must have a healthcare credential in addition to a bachelor's degree.
    

  The MPH program requires a minimum GPA of 3.2 and a minimum GRE score of 500 on each part. MCATS are also acceptable.

  If you are unable to download the application, you may also obtain one by calling one the admissions offices (212-998-5030 for the Steinhardt graduate office; 212-998-4500 for NYU's main undergraduate office.)

  Doctoral requirements: Along with your application, be sure to submit the necessary materials. For all doctoral programs, you must submit the following:

  • Undergraduate or Master's degree from an accredited institution.
  • An overal GPA of 3.5 or better in at least one prior academic degree.
  • A cumulative GRE score of at least 1200.
  • TOEFL scores (international students only). A minimum score of 600 is highly advised.
  • Current resume or curriculum vitae. This should include information about:
    • Previous academic training in related field at the undergraduate or master's level
    • Previous work experience in related field
    • Potential to make a contribution to the profession

  • Personal statment (about 500 words) explaining:
    • Why you are applying to the doctoral program
    • Your career goals and how doctoral training will help you achieve these goals
    • How doctoral work will help you contribute to the profession
    • Three letters of recommendation from employers, former professors, or professional colleagues who have observed your work.

  • Clear focus and goals expressed through the application and interview process.

  For the doctoral programs in Nutrition and Dietetics, applicants are also required to have:

  • One prior degree (bachelor's or Master's) in nutrition or dietetics
  • Undergraduate and Master's degree in the area of specialization within nutrition (ie: history, psychology, etc.)

  Applicants coming in without a Master's in nutrition will have to complete additional graduate-level credits on top of their PhD requirements.

  For the doctoral program in Public Health, applicants are also required to have:

  • Undergraduate or Masters degree in an area related to the doctoral program and/or successful completion of pre-requisites
  • Clear focus and goals expressed through the application and interview process.
  • Competitive applicants often have GRE scores totaling >1200
  • Extra consideration is given for peer-reviewed publications and experience in public health research
• How do I apply to one of your programs?
  To apply to any of our programs, click "Download Application" at the top of our homepage. Then, choose the appropriate application (undergraduate, graduate or special/non-matriculating student) and follow the instructions.
• How do I make an appointment to meet with an advisor to learn more about the program?
  If you are interested in the Nutrition or Food Studies programs, please give us a call at 212-998-5580 and we'll be happy to schedule an appointment for you. Please note that appointments can only be made for the current month in which you call. If you are interested in speaking to someone about the Public Health program, please contact Lisa Kroin at lisa.kroin@nyu.edu.
• How do I obtain information materials about the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health?
  All materials are available on the department website. You can view program handouts for each of our programs by clicking on "Academic Programs" in the left-hand column of the department homepage, and then choosing the specific degree track you are interested in. You are also welcome to stop by our office for program handouts.