How does it work?
- Tufts students need to review the equivalency tables of courses offered at the Friedman School and Simmons University for the Certificate. The equivalency tables identify the courses students may take at Tufts to fulfill the dietetics requirements and which courses (minimum of seven) they are required to enroll in only at Simmons University (no equivalent courses at Tufts).
- These necessary Simmons University courses may be completed simultaneously with your course requirements for your Friedman School degree. The course tables listed on the "Curriculum" tab show which Tufts courses fulfill specific Simmons University requirements and show that the last seven Simmons University courses (Table 3) have no Tufts course equivalent.
- Please check in with Friedman School’s Registrar to review your enrollment status options as you are planning your Simmons University course enrollment. After reviewing the courses you will be taking at Tufts for your degree program with your Friedman School Academic Advisor, and after seeing how you can fit in other Tufts courses that fulfill requirements, you are ready to talk with our contact at Simmons University, Dr. Kathrina Prelack.
Do I need the prerequisites to be eligible for admittance into the program?
- You do not have to have all prerequisites completed to be admitted into the program (refer to Table 1)
- Many of the Simmons University courses require undergraduate science course pre-requisites. For questions regarding whether prior coursework from other academic institutions will be accepted, you must contact Simmons University.
- If you have not been accepted into the Simmons University DPD Certificate program yet, please contact Leah Smith at 617-521-2718 for clarification.
- If you have been accepted into the Simmons University DPD Certificate program, then directly contact our Simmons University liaison, Dr. Kathrina Prelack to determine acceptance of a substitute course.
- A copy of the course syllabus is required for review that Simmons University will evaluate and determine if it is an approved course substitute. Please note that science pre-requisites are reviewed on a continual basis and you should obtain direct approval from Simmons University as to whether a specific substitute course will be accepted.
Does this lead to students having too many courses to take?
- If planned from the very beginning, some students can complete a full degree at Tufts while still finishing the undergraduate course requirements in dietetics at Simmons University within the four semester Friedman School degree program. However, many Friedman School students find that the demands of completing their course requirements at the Friedman School, as well as the required 6 courses at Simmons University, working/volunteering for needed dietetic experience, and working a part-time job makes this unrealistic.
- You can complete the Simmons University course requirements after graduating from the Friedman School, or alternatively, decide to spread your Tufts and Simmons University coursework over five or even six semesters at the Friedman School.
- While the Simmons University courses don’t provide you a degree, they will provide you a Certificate. Simmons University will be able to sign a verification statement that you have met the accreditation requirements set forth by the Accreditation Council on Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and that you have met the requirements for a dietetic internship.
- When developing a timeline for completion, students are highly encouraged to allot time to be spent outside of the classroom to obtain clinical and community experiences as this will strengthen their application for dietetic internships. Students from Tufts have two years after completion of their Friedman School degree to start the DPD coursework at Simmons University.
How are the finances handled?
- The Friedman School will continue to arrange for Simmons University tuition charges to be billed to Friedman School students’ Tufts account in SIS that are matriculated and have not yet graduated from the Friedman School (and are continuing to complete required Simmons University courses toward the completion of the Certificate). Once a Friedman School student graduates from Tufts, they will no longer have an account in SIS. Accordingly, if a Friedman School graduate is still completing their Simmons University requirements, Simmons University will bill the discounted Tufts/Simmons University tuition rate directly to the Friedman School graduate for any enrolled Simmons University courses they are completing for their DPD Certificate.
- Friedman School graduates that are still completing their Simmons University requirements will be eligible for 1098-T reporting from Simmons University. In addition, Friedman School graduates completing their Simmons University requirements will be eligible for Simmons University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) if the Friedman School graduate is enrolled at Simmons University full-time (9 or more credits of Simmons University coursework).
- Students accepted or enrolled at the Friedman School on at least a half-time basis (6 to 8.5 semester hour units for on-campus students and 3 semester hours for the blended program) are eligible for financial aid. Please check in with Friedman School's Registrar to review your enrollment status options as you are planning your Simmons University course enrollment. No federal or institutional funds are available to international students. Please be in touch with the Tufts Office of Financial Aid at 617-636-6574 to discuss your options; more detailed information is available here.
- Important to note: A Friedman School student that has graduated and is still completing their Simmons University requirements is NOT eligible for financial aid from Tufts. Friedman School graduates still completing their course requirements at Simmons University are eligible for Financial Aid from Simmons University.
What are other requirements of this “Articulation Agreement” with Simmons University?
- This agreement between Simmons University, through its College of Natural, Behavioral, and Health Sciences, and the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is intended to enable graduate students at the Friedman School to complete the undergraduate coursework needed to qualify for admission to dietetic internship programs.
- Under accreditation procedures, Friedman School students must apply formally to the Simmons University Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Certificate Program for which Simmons University will waive the application fee. Friedman School students must follow application procedures set forth by the College of Natural, Behavioral, and Health Sciences. Tufts students seeking to qualify for dietetic internship programs by taking coursework at Simmons University must agree, at the time of initial enrollment under this Agreement, to take a minimum of seven (7) nutrition courses at Simmons University.
- Simmons University will submit a consolidated bill to Tufts each semester for all Friedman School students enrolled, and Tufts agrees to pay the consolidated invoice within thirty (30) days of receipt. Tufts will be solely responsible for seeking payment from its graduate students.
- Specific mechanisms for course registration will be established upon execution of this Agreement. Friedman School students taking Simmons University courses will be subject to all Simmons University olicies and procedures, including but not limited to those policies regarding deadlines (e.g., drop/add dates and course withdrawal rules), grievances regarding grading, and honor code violations (i.e., academic dishonesty). Tuition refund for dropping courses will be structured according to Simmons University's policy.
- Simmons University will provide reasonable accommodation for disabled Friedman School students, provided such students notify Simmons University in writing of their needs at the time of enrollment. Such requests should be directed to Disability Services at 617-521-2474.
Who should I contact?
Friedman School Contacts:
Lynne M. Ausman, DSc, RD
Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry
617-636-3712
Marny Lyn Mitchell, MLA
Associate Director of Admissions
Friedman School, Tufts University
617-636-0864
Simmons University Contacts:
Kathrina Prelack, PhD, RD
Assistant Professor of Nutrition
617-521-2709
Kathrina.Prelack@Simmons.edu
Simmons University Office of Admissions
School of Nursing and Health Sciences
617-521-2605
SNHS@Simmons.edu