Nutrition Science Admissions

Upon admission to the Pacific MS - Nutrition Science program, the admitted student must meet the following requirements prior to the program start date.

• Criminal Background Screening. The Program requires students to undergo background screenings prior to matriculation and periodically throughout enrollment. Students have a fiduciary responsibility for the costs associated with the background screening. Recent violations which have yet to be adjudicated and positive findings on a background check may result in dismissal from the Program. Applicants are required to be truthful when completing their application in the Slate system regardless of time and disposition. Discrepancies noted on the pre-matriculation background screening will be investigated and may result in denial of matriculation or dismissal from the Program. Also, some clinical placements require an additional background screening immediately prior to the start of the rotation. Therefore, students may be required to complete multiple background screenings throughout enrollment, at the student’s expense.

Prospective students apply to the MSNS program by completing the online Slate application, which includes the four sections below. Students will also submit a $50 application fee.

1. Personal Information
   • Student enters biographical information and Slate release statement.
      
2. Academic History
   • Student lists colleges attended and respective GPAs.
   • Transcripts. Official transcripts from all institutions attended post-high school (this includes vocational/technical school transcripts), must be submitted in Slate as part of the application. Students can order their official transcripts within Slate for their institutions attended. Please do not send transcripts to the University of the Pacific during the application phase.
      
3. Supporting Information
   • Resume/CV. Students upload resume/CV in the Documents section of the application. The resume/CV must include your Work and Volunteer Experience and Extracurricular Activities.
      
4. Program Materials
   • Three short-essay questions. Students will enter their short-essay responses in the Slate text boxes. Each short essay should be no more than 300 words.
   • Two letters of recommendation. Students will send requests to their recommenders within Slate. Recommenders will be required to submit their recommendations to Slate. At least one letter must come from an academic faculty member. The second letter can be a work/volunteer supervisor or additional academic faculty member.
   • Proof of RDN credential. Applicant who are practicing dietitians must upload proof of their RDN credential and include their registration number.
   • Verification Statement or Declaration of Intent. Graduates of DPD and DI programs must upload their verification statement signed by their DPD or DI director. Current dietetic interns must update their declaration of intent form issued by their program director.

Have questions about your admission requirements and Slate application? Our Pacific Graduate Admissions team is here to help:

Office of Graduate Admission
Knoles Hall, 2nd Floor, Room 207B
3601 Pacific Ave., Stockton, CA 95211
Phone: 209.946.3929
Email: gradadmission@pacific.edu

A selection committee, comprising the Program Director and faculty, reviews qualifications and skills and rates each applicant using a standardized Applicant Score Sheet. A committee approach is used to prevent unconscious biases. The selection committee selects students on a competitive basis, based on their application and interview.

The MS - Nutrition Science Program uses the following selection criteria to assess applicants’ ability to be successful in the program and is listed in order of importance below:

• Academic Preparation — A strong applicant is one who has done well in both professional nutrition courses and general science courses, with particular attention to advanced nutrition (macronutrient and micronutrient metabolism), anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry courses.
• Two Letters of Recommendation — Your letters of recommendation should be from those who know you well enough to comment on your strengths, your achievements and those qualities that will make you successful.
• Essay Questions — Applicant’s responses to Pacific’s three short-essay questions are reviewed. Strong responses:
• Address all components of the questions
• Include specific examples
• Follow the instructions
• Highlight your skills and suitability for the program, including leadership skills, critical thinking and problem-solving and professionalism.
• Resume/CV — Valued work and/or learning experience is that which gives an applicant responsibility, time management, problem-solving, ability to work with others and leadership skills.
• Interviews — The selection committee invites applicants to interview who meet criteria. Strong interview candidates demonstrate effective communication, professional skills, problem-solving and personal self-reflection and attributes.

Up to 9 transfer units can be granted for prior coursework, with priority given to advanced clinical credentials, on a case-by-case basis*.

*Advanced clinical credentials to be considered must have requirements related to the number of hours of related experience obtained and successful performance on the certification exam. Examples include those administered by CDR: cdrnet.org/board-certified-specialist.

Students must be able to achieve and maintain certain technical standards of knowledge and skill to successfully complete the MS - Nutrition Science Program:

• Reliable access to a computer and the Internet
• Basic computer literacy including but not limited to efficient navigation learning management system (Pacific uses Canvas), proficiency in using office software such as MS Word and Powerpoint, ability to communicate via email, and ability to join video conferences (eg. via Zoom and/or Microsoft Teams)