Nutrition Department
M.S. Nutrition and Wellness:
Application Process
To apply to the Benedictine University Master of Science in Nutrition and Wellness, prospective students should submit directly to the Enrollment Center:
- A completed graduate application form.
You can also access an application to apply online
at: http://www.ben.edu/admissions/graduate/application.asp.
- $40.00 non-refundable application fee payable to Benedictine University. Write "M.S. Nutrition and Wellness" in the reference area of the check.
- Two letters of reference, using the Graduate School Reference Forms,
from persons who know you (the applicant) from a professional or academic perspective.
- Test score earned on the GRE within the past five years.
Information regarding the GRE may be obtained by visiting the GRE website
at www.gre.org. The university code is 1707.
- Exemption: Applicants who already completed an advanced degree (i.e., master or doctorate) in the United
States are exempt from the GRE requirement.
- Special exemption: Registered dietitians, nurses,
and physicians who provide a certified copy of their credential status
(or show current licensure certificate to MSNW Director who will copy it for the advising files) will receive a
waiver of the GRE requirement for the
M.S.N.W. program. (Rationale: These Health professionals already passed a national examination
related to the area of this master
degree.)
- Official transcripts from all previous colleges and universities attended. (It is the student's responsibility to request transcripts, including any from
Benedictine University by contacting Benedictine Central at 630-829-6500 or BenCentral@ben.edu.
A GPA of 2.5/4.0 is a required minimum GPA for consideration of acceptance. International students must provide transcripts evaluated by ECE, Educational Credential Evaluators, and must request a course by course evaluation of all coursework. Information about ECE can be found at www.ece.org.
- One page statement of career goals and program interest.
- International students must provide a TOEFL score of at least 550 paper based test or at least 213 computer based test, if English is a second language.
Please contact the Enrollment Center at 630-829-6500 or via email at
admissions@ben.edu if you have any questions, would like an information
packet sent to you,
want to know dates for the Open House, or would like to meet with a University Enrollment Center Representative.
M.S.N.W. Prerequisite Courses
Required prerequisite courses for this master degree are undergraduate (or graduate) courses in each of the
following:
- Physiology (requires a biology prerequisite),
- Biochemistry (requires basic and organic chemistry as prerequisites),
- Statistics,
- Basic nutrition, and
- Advanced nutrition (with physiology or biochemistry as a course
prerequisite).
It is expected that each of the aforementioned courses be at least 3 semester credits.
Recommended is a basic course in research
principles. For those pursuing the Exercise Physiology concentration, courses in anatomy and biomechanics are
additional prerequisites. It is highly recommended that all prerequisite courses have been taken within the past 10 years, unless
the applicant is a practicing healthcare professional (in which case a longer time frame is acceptable).
Applicants may be admitted on a probationary status if they have up to two prerequisite courses outstanding.
Prerequisite courses may be taken at Benedictine University. Students with probationary or "conditional" acceptance should
consult with the M.S.N.W. Director to determine "acceptable" prerequisite courses. Students who begin the program without
completion of all prerequisites will have limited course selection due to the nature of this program (i.e., nutrition and wellness program founded in the life sciences).
A GPA of 2.5/4.0 is a required minimum GPA for consideration of acceptance into the M.S.N.W. program.
International students should review the application procedures for additional inclusions.
Special Instructions for those interested in the Dietetic Internship concentration of the M.S.N.W:
Acceptance into the Dietetic Internship concentration is by a separate application and matching process.
Thus, students interested in this option
must submit two complete applications for admission:
- Submit one application for entry into the M.S.N.W. program directly to the Enrollment Center, using the seven procedures (as applicable) described above.
Students who do not apply and receive acceptance into the M.S.N.W. program are ineligible for acceptance into the Dietetic Internship concentration.
- Submit one application for entry into the Dietetic Internship concentration directly to the university Dietetic Internship Director. Make certain
to utilize the proper forms and submit the correct information as outlined in the
DI application procedures. Note that this application has specific deadlines each year,
and the completed M.S.N.W. application must precede it or be a concurrent application.
A Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Verification Statement is required on or before the start of first term from
those students “matched” to the university combined master degree Dietetic Internship program. Students cannot begin the Dietetic
Internship before receipt of the DPD Verification Statement by the Dietetic Internship Director. Students who are unable to complete
DPD requirements prior to the start of the first fall graduate school semester may be subject to dismissal from the Dietetic Internship program.
It is expected that prospective students applying to the Dietetic Internship concentration have a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) GPA (refer to your Supervised Application Form) of at least
3.0/4.0, nutrition course GPA of 3.2/4.0, and science GPA of at least 2.8/4.0.
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