Description
This post-baccalaureate pre-master's Diploma in Nutrition will be offered by Brescia University College through the Division of Food and Nutritional Sciences. It is an 8- to 12-month bridging program or pathway (depending on one's qualifications) to the master's program, Master of Science in Foods and Nutrition (Thesis Stream), for international/non-traditional students who have studied food science, home economics or nutrition and have worked or volunteered in a nutrition-related field in their countries. Skills derived from these work or volunteer activities will be considered.

The post-baccalaureate pre-master's Diploma in Nutrition will allow international students to complete the prerequisite science and/or nutrition courses via an intense curriculum of at least five [5] foods and nutrition and writing courses each semester. If necessary, a 4-month intensive writing or ESL preparation will be required. Completion of the program is a guaranteed pathway to the master's program, MScFN (Thesis Stream). The curriculum is designed to assist them deal with the graduate courses by providing a Canadian context of the food and nutrition environment. The writing and/or ESL training will help them with the thesis preparation and writing.

Admission Requirements
The post-baccalaureate pre-master's Diploma in Nutrition is ideal for motivated students who have minimal or limited background in the required science and/or nutrition foundation to enter the master's program, MScFN (Thesis Stream). This assessment is required to determine specific courses that need to be taken by the student. Applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree or higher in foods science, home economics, or nutrition to be eligible to apply to this program. In addition, applicants whose first language is not English must furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language:

• TOEFL Internet-based (iBT), Paper-based (PBT), and the TWE
  The minimum score required on the TOEFL is 580 on the paper-based test with a 5 on the TWE; and iBT score of 90 with a minimum 25 on writing and speaking.
  [Western's TOEFL ID is 0984].
  
  
• MELAB
  A minimum overall score of 85 is required with no score less than 80 per section.
  
  
• IELTS International
  A minimum overall band score of 7.0 is required with no part less than 6.5.
  
  
• CanTEST
  A minimum overall score of 4.0 is required with no part less than 4.0.
  
  
• CAEL
  A minimum overall score of 70 is required with 60 per band and 70 on writing and speaking.
  

This is a competitive program with limited enrolment. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee admission. Subsequent admission to the master's program, MScFN (Thesis Stream), requires at least a 75% average upon completion of the post-baccalaureate pre-master's Diploma in Nutrition and a recommendation from the Director of the Graduate Program in Foods and Nutrition to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Program Requirements
The Diploma program will be comprised of the following required 4.0 FCE discipline courses:
Foods and Nutrition 3344A Diet and Nutritional Assessment
Foods and Nutrition 3351A Clinical Nutrition I
Foods and Nutrition 4453A Clinical Nutrition II
Human Ecology 4411F Research Methodology
Foods and Nutrition 3348B Food Production Management I
Foods and Nutrition 3361B Fundamentals of Community Nutrition
Human Ecology 2266G Communications
Sociology 2205B Sociology Statistics

In addition, the student will be required to take 1.0 FCE from the following writing courses if they have met the English proficiency mentioned in the admission requirements:
Writing 0012F/G Introduction to Advanced Academic Writing in English for Multilingual Students
Writing 1020F/G Writing: Introduction to University Essay Writing
Writing 2101F/G Introduction to Expository Writing
Writing 2023F/G Advanced Academic Writing in English for Multilingual Students

If a course in the above listing of required discipline courses is waived by the Division on the basis of prior course work, another FN/HE course will have to be taken (in consultation with the Division Chair), so that the total number of course credits is 4.0 FCE. Any of the following courses may be chosen as a substitute:
Foods and Nutrition 2232 Introduction to Food Science
Foods and Nutrition 2241B Nutrition Throughout the Human Lifecycle
Foods and Nutrition 3320A Global Policies and Food Safety
Foods and Nutrition 3342A Advanced Food Science
Foods and Nutrition 3364B Nutrition, Aging and Health
Foods and Nutrition 4422B Financial management and Control for Foods and Nutrition
Foods and Nutrition 4449A Food Production Management II
Foods and Nutrition 4455B Clinical Nutrition III
Foods and Nutrition 4462A Selected Topics in Community Nutrition
Foods and Nutrition 4471B Nutrition and metabolic processes
Human Ecology 2222F Professional Perspectives
Human Ecology 3349B Principles of Management

If determined by the Division to be necessary, students will be required to undergo four (4) months of advanced level ESL training in the summer months.

The application deadline will be January 31. Applicants who must apply for admission to the University are encouraged to begin the application process as soon as possible. Online application forms will be typically available in early November. Depending on their English proficiency, students may start their ESL training in May and take their courses from September to April.