MS Application for Admission

All applicants to a Masters program must apply online through Sonoran University's Admission Portal.

Prospective students who wish to enter a master's degree program in the 2023-2024 academic year must complete and submit the below requirements, in addition to specific program admission requirements prior to matriculation:

1. 4-year Baccalaureate degree or equivalent (contact admissions department for requirements). Total postsecondary coursework must be completed at an accredited or candidate college or university. Within the United States, accreditation must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (non-U.S. residents see International Applicants for more information).
2. Completed application. The admissions application requires the submission of:
   1. Completed application through Sonoran University Application Portal
   2. Non-refundable application fee (see Tuition and Fees)
   3. Letter of intent/personal statement
   4. Resume or curriculum vitae
   5. Official transcripts from an accredited or candidate college or university where the highest degree was earned. Within the U.S., accreditation must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. U.S. Veterans must also submit military training transcripts. Additional transcripts may be requested on a case-by-case basis.
   6. A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale is preferred. However, Sonoran University uses a holistic admissions process, and all applicants with a GPA below 2.75 are encouraged to apply to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

MS Admission Requirements

Applicants are required to meet and adhere to the Institutional Admission Policies and Requirements as well as the Admission Policies and Requirements for their specific program. This section contains admission policies and requirements specific to the Masters programs.

Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition (MSCN)

Prospective students who wish to enter a master’s program must complete and submit the following requirements prior to matriculation.

1. A completed online application and application fee payment, see Tuition and Fees.
2. A current resume
3. A personal statement
4. Official transcript from the institution that conferred the student’s highest awarded degree. Coursework/degree must be completed at a regionally accredited or candidate college or university. Applicants can verify if their institution qualifies using the U.S. Department of Education’s database of accredited postsecondary institutions. Official transcripts should be sent electronically from the institution directly to Sonoran University at transcripts@sonoran.edu
5. A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale is preferred. However, Sonoran uses a holistic admissions process for the MSCN and MSNBL programs, and all applicants with a GPA below 2.75 are encouraged to apply to be considered on a case-by-case basis.
6. International Applicants must submit foreign transcripts from the institution that conferred the student’s highest degree earned.  This transcript must undergo a course-by-course evaluation by a member organization of either the National Council on the Evaluation of Foreign Education Credentials (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Fees for this service are the responsibility of the applicant.
7. All military transcripts for former members of the armed services.

Additional MSCN Admissions Requirements:

1. Students may submit optional letters of recommendation if they wish to strengthen their application.
2. A video conference interview may be required at the discretion of the Admissions Committee or program Dean.

Executive Master of Science in Nutritional Business Leadership (MSNBL)

Prospective students who wish to enter the executive MSNBL program must complete and submit the following requirements prior to matriculation:

1. A completed online application and application fee payment
2. A current resume
3. A personal statement
4. Official transcript from the institution that conferred the student’s highest awarded degree. Coursework/degree must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university. Applicants can verify if their institution qualifies in the U.S. Department of Education’s database of accredited postsecondary institutions. Official transcripts should be sent electronically from the institution directly to Sonoran University at transcripts@sonoran.edu
5. Two (2) professional letters of recommendation. Early career candidates must also submit a letter of recommendation from their current employer.
6. Early career candidates (less than seven (7) years of professional work experience) must submit one professional letter of recommendation addressing the leadership potential of the candidate
7. Complete an in-person interview, qualified applicants selected for an interview will be contacted by the Admissions Office.
8. International Applicants must submit foreign transcripts from the institution that conferred the student’s highest degree earned. This transcript must undergo a course-by-course evaluation by a member organization of either the National Council on the Evaluation of Foreign Education Credentials (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Fees for this service are the responsibility of the applicant.
9. All military transcripts for former members of the armed services.

International Applicants

International applicants must also satisfy these additional application requirements:

1. International transcript evaluation completed for the highest degree earned in a foreign country.
2. Sonoran University reserves the right to require international applicants whose first language is not English to provide an official English Language Test report (IELTS or TOEFL preferred). Sonoran University requires a minimum score of 80 on the Internet-based test or IELTS Band 6.5.
3. Transcripts from international institutions must be translated and evaluated by a NACES or AICE member transcript evaluation service. Fees for this service are the responsibility of the applicant. The applicant must request a course-by-course and degree evaluation. The transcript evaluation service must mail the official report and all transcripts directly to Sonoran University's Admissions Office. These documents must be received before an evaluation of the applicant’s file can begin. Additional coursework materials, such as catalogs, course descriptions, and syllabi, if requested, must be translated into English by a professional service.
4. International applicants admitted to Sonoran University’s Executive MSNBL program must be prepared to apply for and obtain an F1 Visa to attend the on-site immersive component of the program in the United States (see F1 Visa Information).

Post-admit Enrollment Requirements

Students admitted to a Masters program must satisfy the following enrollment requirements prior to matriculation:

1. Successful completion of Sonoran University’s safety and training courses.
2. Transfer Credit Evaluation (if applicable) - Students admitted to an MS program who have completed graduate-level coursework or have graduated from a domestic or foreign accredited graduate school or program may apply for transfer credit. To comply with VA requirements, all U.S. Veterans with any graduate-level coursework must be evaluated for potential transfer credit, see VA Benefits for more information. Transfer credit will be determined during the admissions process and will not be considered after matriculation, see Transfer Credit Policy.
3. Technology Requirements - Laptop and reliable high-speed internet for use in completing coursework. To review the minimum requirements, please visit Sonoran University's technical check and requirements webpage. 

Concurrent Enrollment for Masters Students

Sonoran University offers a pathway that allows current MS students to complete the requirements for both MS degree programs (MSCN and MSNBL) concurrently. This creates an opportunity for our MS students to graduate with the MSCN and the MSNBL degree. Students should contact the Admissions Office for more information.

Application Deadlines

Students may apply for admission into both MS Nutrition programs at the same time, or students already enrolled in Sonoran University’s MSCN program are eligible to apply through the Admissions Office as early as quarter 1 for admission to the MSNBL program and begin the MSNBL program as early as quarter 2 of the MSCN program. Students already enrolled in the MSNBL program are eligible to apply through the Admissions Office as early as quarter 1 for admission to the MSCN program and begin the MSCN program as early as quarter 3 of their MSNBL program.

Eligibility

To be eligible for concurrent enrollment, a separate application is required for each degree program and students must meet admissions requirements for both programs. Students admitted into both the MSCN and MSNBL programs will be charged the lower of the two credit rates.

Once a student is admitted to their secondary Master's degree program, pre-matriculation concurrent enrollment requirements must be met.

Concurrent Enrollment Eligibility Requirements (CEER) for Masters Students

Once admitted, concurrently enrolled students must continue to meet all concurrent enrollment requirements outlined within the University Policies section of the catalog and maintain satisfactory academic progress in each program.

1. Only select, predefined common coursework can be shared across programs.
2. Registration in both programs will be required each quarter,
3. Leaves of Absence LOA may apply to both programs.
4. Graduate credit transferred from another academic institution may only be applied to one program. The maximum time for completion of each degree requirement applies to each degree individually.
5. Since MSNBL program courses are only offered once per year, a student requesting a special schedule to reduce their workload are advised to continue their MSNBL courses.