Eligibility Requirements

All Food System, Nutrition, and Health Program (FSNH) graduate degree applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree* or higher in any discipline (must be equivalent to a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution). For details about degree equivalences, please refer to the UW Graduate School’s minimum requirements.
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater for the final 90 quarter credits or 60 semester hours completed. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may still be considered for admission if their overall application has exceptional strengths (applicants with a lower GPA are strongly encouraged to provide additional information in the Extenuating Circumstances portion of their applications).
• Prerequisite Coursework
  • The required general nutrition course must be completed by the term of application.
  • All other prerequisites may be in progress or planned at the time of application but must be completed prior to enrollment.
  • There are additional coursework requirements for Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics (GCPD) applicants.
  • See our Prerequisite Guidelines for details.
• (Non-native English speakers) Fulfill the UW Graduate School’s English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements.
  • FSNH requires a minimum score of 92 on the TOEFLiBT (or TOEFL MyBest), 7.0 on the IELTS, or 125 on Duolingo.
  • See UW Graduate School Policy 3.2 for other ways to satisfy the ELP requirement.

*Note: In order to be eligible to apply for autumn quarter 2025 entry, applicants must have earned their bachelor’s degrees by the end of that summer. Applicants do not need to have their bachelor’s degrees prior to application.

Post-admission requirements

Admitted students who accept their offers* must do the following:

• Pay a $250 non-refundable deposit to the UW Graduate School.
• Submit official transcripts to both the UW Graduate School and FSNH.
• Undergo a Washington state background check and complete a number of other compliance items, including satisfactory participation in the Health Sciences Immunization Program (HSIP).
• (GCPD students) Complete a national background check and complete the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification prior to enrollment.
• (International students) Admitted international students requesting an F-1 or J-1 student visa must meet the UW’s financial ability requirement. Applicants should not mail financial ability documents or bank statements to FSNH during the admissions process. Individuals who are admitted to the program and accept their offers will be given further instructions. Financial ability requirement information is available on the UW Graduate School website.

*Note: Detailed information outlining the above requirements will be provided at the time of admission.