FAQ

It depends! Some credits will and some won’t. You can check to see if your credits transfer by visiting Transferology.com

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, 230 South Lasalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604, telephone 1-800-621-7440; www.hlcommission.org. UW–Madison, which was first accredited in 1913, was last accredited in 2018–19, and will go through a reaccreditation process again in 2028-29. Verify status here.

Food science is the study of all things food. More specifically, food science is the study and application of science to the analysis, processing and manufacturing of foods. These sciences include chemistry, biology, microbiology and physics. The goal of discovery in the realm of food science is to solve today’s global-to-local food and health problems including hunger, food waste, food safety and chronic disease, while providing a safe and nutritious food supply to all.

Our curriculum begins with foundation courses in the basic sciences of chemistry, biology, microbiology and physics. Student’s progress to advanced, food-focused courses including food chemistry, food analysis, and food microbiology. See roadmap for a four-year sequence of courses.

Yes! With timely and creative planning there are options to study abroad and complete the degree within four years. Opportunities include France, The Netherlands and Australia. More information can be found at the CALS Study Abroad page.

Upon completion of our degree in food science, graduates are qualified to work as professional food scientists in a wide range of businesses and government agencies. The most common positions are in research, product development, production management and regulatory enforcement.

Check out this video by Abbey Thiel (PhD ’20) that highlights a few jobs available to people with food science degrees.

Yes. Each year we award around $50,000 through numerous scholarships. More information can be found at the CALS Scholarship and Awards page.

A bachelor’s in nutrition & dietetics (major: nutritional sciences) provides students with the coursework needed for a career in dietetics. Upon graduation, students will receive a statement verifying completion of a DPD program needed to participate in the majority of Supervised Practice Programs. Students who wish to be a credentialed Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, must complete a Supervised Practice Program (Dietetic Internship), plus hold a master’s degree.

The bachelor of science degree (major: nutritional sciences) is focused on the sciences necessary for a solid background in the biological aspects of nutrition. The program offers study in zoology, bacteriology, genetics, chemistry, physics and math along with nutrition classes. It includes all of the pre-requisite courses required for medical school and provides an excellent foundation for graduate or professional study. With graduate work, this option prepares students for work in research labs, clinics or experiment stations. Employment opportunities without graduate or professional study are limited. It does not provide the coursework needed to obtain the Registered Dietitian credential.

If you have successfully completed a B.S. Degree in nutrition & dietetics from UW–Madison, you will receive a DPD verification statement, which is required for entry into a Dietetic Supervised Practice Program (Internship). Acceptance into an internship looks at many factors. Some of these include:

• Overall undergraduate GPA and GPA in science and professional courses (3.3 or above, although a slightly lower GPA may be accepted along with strong work or volunteer experience)
• Dietetics-related work and volunteer experience
• Leadership experience
• Letters of recommendation
• Letter of application
• Interview
• Acceptance can be highly competitive depending on which dietetic internship you apply to.  The UW–Madison’s DPD program prepares all its graduates for successful placement into a dietetic internship.  Nearly all students who apply for dietetic internships are placed.  Graduates of the UW–Madison’s DPD program also show high success rates on the registration exam (> 90% on the first try, surpassing the national average). For further information, see “Improving Your Chances for an Internship.”

The DPD is the in-class instruction that provides students with a bachelor’s degree and the coursework needed to apply to a Dietetic Supervised Practice Program (see below).

Dietetic Internships are post-baccalaureate, supervised practice programs. During the internship, knowledge and skills obtained from the DPD coursework are applied in actual work settings. Some internships offer a stipend and others may charge tuition. More information on DI can be found on our Dietetic Internship page.

A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) is knowledgeable in the science of nutrition. An RDN learns how to interpret research studies and apply that knowledge to counseling individuals on how to improve their lifestyle and health. They are able to review a person’s medical history, current symptoms, medications, supplements, exercise routine, weight and eating habits and give advise that is safe and effective for them to reach their goals.

A nutritionist may or may not have the credentials of a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Some nutritionists claim they have credentials, but if they are not an RDN, their credentials may not be backed by science, education and experience.

The Verification Statement attests to your successful completion of the DPD and can be considered as important as a diploma for the DPD. Every student will need a Verification Statement before they start their Dietetic Supervised Practice Program (Internship). YOU CANNOT START YOUR INTERNSHIP WITHOUT ONE.

The Verification Statements will be sent directly to you, NOT the DI program. DO NOT submit this request until after your degree is posted to your transcript!

If you have graduated, you may obtain a Verification Statement by submitting the following to Tara LaRowe at tllarowe@wisc.edu:

• Official UW–Madison transcript with the degree posted;
• Official transcripts from all other college/universities attended (unless submitted previously);
• Request Form – Verification Statement;
• Academic Requirement Checklist.

Please allow 1-2 weeks for completion of the Verification Statement.

If you have not submitted the proper documentation to Tara LaRowe prior to requesting the form via DICAS, your request will be denied. Once the appropriate form has been completed, you will be able to review it and then add your electronic signature so it can be included in your application. If you are matched, you will need to send a “hard copy” to the internship program.

It is recommended to reach out to a faculty member prior to paying the application fee. The Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences is a direct admission program, which means that students are admitted directly, per the approval of the faculty members. The funding landscape is always in flux, therefore the program cannot confirm which faculty trainers are taking students for the next admissions cycle. Faculty members can be found on our faculty page.

We don’t have application fee waivers for international students. You can view our Funding for International Students page for more options.

Countries that are exempt from the English Proficiency are: Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Canada (unless English is not the exclusive language of instruction at the degree granting institution), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa (see Canada parenthesis), Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

More information about your country (even if it’s not listed above) can be found at the graduate admissions page.

Applicants are exempt if:

• English if the exclusive language of instruction at the undergraduate institution;
• You have earned a degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or University not more than 5 years prior to the anticipated semester of enrollment;
• You have completed at least two full-time semesters of graded coursework, exclusive of ESL courses, in a U.S. college or University, or at an institution outside of the U.S. where English is the exclusive language of instruction. Completion of graded coursework cannot be more than 5 years prior to the anticipated semester of enrollment.

Additional information information for international students can be found at the International Student Services page.

Minimum TOEFL requirement: 92 for tests taken before January 21, 2026
Minimum TOEFL requirement: 5.0 for tests taken on and after January 21, 2026
Minimum IELTS requirement: 7.0
Minimum IELTS Indicator requirement: 7.0
Minimum Duolingo English Test requirement: 125

Information can be found at the graduate school requirements page.

The University of Wisconsin no longer requires the Graduate Record Examinations, but you are more than welcome to submit your score.

Student can now transfer credited courses, but not the credits. Students still need a certain number of required course credits while attending UW–Madison.

All of our accepted students are offered a research assistantship, provided with tuition remission. Students are responsible for segregated fees but there are scholarships available throughout the academic year. You can visit the UW–Madison Funding page for more information.

We do not accept two/three years bachelor’s degrees. Fruthermore, our institution does not consider a Higher National Diploma to be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. If you apply with an HND, you would not be eligible for admission.

You can contact the Food Science Graduate Program Coordinator at Foodsci_grad_program@mailplus.wisc.edu.

• Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or its equivalent and a minimum grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
• Have completed the following prerequisite courses:
  • General Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Biological Sciences
  • Physiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Statistics
  • Human Nutrition
  • Clinical Nutrition
• Apply to the UW–Madison Graduate School via the Madison Graduate School Electronic Application. Your application must include a statement on your reasons for applying; three letters of recommendation; TOEFL scores if applicable; and unofficial transcripts submitted through the Graduate Portal.

No, this program does not take the place of an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).

You can complete this program in as little as one year, or you may choose to complete it at your own pace.

You can reach out to either of the following:

• Makayla Schuchardt (mlschuchardt@wisc.edu), MS, RDN, CNSC
• Caitlin Seifert Irland (cseifert@wisc.edu), M.Ed., Graduate Program Manager