Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution
- A satisfactory scholastic average, of a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale
- Prerequisites include the following:
- Introduction to Nutrition
- Statistics
- Psychology or anthropology or sociology
- General chemistry
- Organic chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Physiology
- Microbiology
- Two additional foundational science courses in chemistry or biology*
- Five foundational science laboratories that include 2-3 chemistry labs and 2-3 labs in the areas of biology, microbiology, molecular or cellular biology, physiology or anatomy or other science labs (not including food science lab)
- Nutrient metabolism (a course that covers macro and micronutrient metabolism, students may take this course as a prerequisite or while in the program—see "Preparing for Admission" below to learn more)
- Metabolic Basis of Human Health and Diseases, or equivalent (students may take this as a prerequisite or while in the program—see "Preparing for Admission" below to learn more)
*Examples include General Chemistry II or Organic Chemistry II, Introduction to Biology or AP biology, cellular and/or molecular biology, anatomy or others taken in the chemistry or biology departments.
Notes: It is preferred if students apply with 2 or fewer outstanding prerequisites as long as they can show they will be able to complete the courses prior to the start of the program. This excludes the Nutrition Function and Metabolism and Metabolic Basis of Human Health and Disease courses that can be taken while in the program for an additional program fee (see more details below). It is preferred if the introduction course or another advanced nutrition course has been taken within the last 5 years. A prerequisite GPA calculator can be found here and is a required part of the application.
- Volunteer or work experience (preferred but not required)
- Satisfactory interview
- Minimum of 3 letters of recommendation, 2 of which must be from a professor attesting to the student’s potential for success in graduate studies
- Satisfactory statements of purpose and personal history
- Evidence of English language proficiency, TOEFL (score of a minimum of 90 with a 22 or higher in reading and listening, 26 or higher in speaking and 24 or higher in writing) or IELTS, unless a degree was earned from either a regionally accredited U.S. college/university .
Continued Admission Requirements
Given the placement in professional training facilities, students will need to comply with all facility requirements. At a minimum, facility requirements include the following:
- Evidence of a clear criminal background
- Clear drug test
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of required immunizations through titers
- Basic Life Support certification (American Heart Association approved)
- Professional liability insurance
- ServSafe Manager Certification
- Basic Life Support certification (American Heart Association approved)
More detailed information about these requirements can be found in the handbook.
Preparing for Admission
A course in nutrient metabolism and the specific course Metabolic Basis of Human Health and Disease (NST 160) are prerequisites courses for the MNSD. While students may find equivalent courses at another university, these courses are not usually offered at a community college. Given the unique nature of these courses, students have one of the follow options to complete these courses:
- Identify a similar course at another university. This is likely possible for the nutrient metabolism course, however, unlikely for the Metabolic Basis of Human Health and Disease course.
- Complete the courses the year prior to the start of the program through the UC Berkeley Extension concurrent enrollment program.
- Complete the courses in addition to the MNSD curriculum during year one. This will result in increased program fees and a higher course load (16-19 units per semester rather than the planned 12-15 units.)
Questions? Contact dietetics@berkeley.edu.
