Advising Guidelines

Core requirements:
15 credits
Food Systems, 3 credits
Food Policy, 3 credits
Food and Culture, 3 credits
Nutrition in Food Studies, 3 credits
Capstone Seminar, 3 credits

MA Elective requirements:
18 (can take up to elective 24 credits)

Total credits required: 33 (can take up to 39)

Dual Degree Elective requirements: 9 

Advising process for Spring 2025

Current Students: Please submit your completed registration worksheet by Thursday, November 14th at 12:00pm to be cleared before registration on Monday, November 18th.  

Spring 2025 NEW students: you do not need to submit anything before we schedule your individual advising appointment. Once you confirm your fall courses, you can submit your completed registration worksheet. New student registration is December 3rd. 

To get cleared to register, submit your registration worksheet. Have the following information available: 

• • Your unofficial transcript or Degree Progress Report (to see what core classes you have taken) - only for continuing students

  • Your completed registration worksheet

  • N number

  • Your expected graduation term

There will be sessions for open advising (optional):

• October 29th, 3-4pm, Zoom

• October 30th, 9:30-10:30am, Zoom

• November 4th, 3:30-4:30pm, 411 Lafayette, 5th Floor

• November 11th, 3:30-4:30pm, 411 Lafayette, 5th Floor

How many credits to enroll in

If you work full time – take only 3 or 6 credits

If you work 20-30 hours – take 6 or 9 credits at the most

If you are not working – you should be able to handle a full 9 credit load.  

Please do not take more than 12 credits

Full-time study is 9 credits, part-time study is 4.5 credits.

We strongly encourage students to go to school part-time if possible, and pursue work opportunities in the field (internships, fellowships, etc). These opportunities are not for credit, but valuable for experience.

CORE CLASSES available Spring 2025: 

Food Systems
Food Policy
Food and Culture
Nutrition in Food Studies
Capstone Seminar (to be taken in your final semester)

Financial Aid

If you applied for full-time financial aid, you must take 9 credits.  If you decide to lighten your academic load, then you need to contact financial aid and request a part-time loan. Failure to notify the Office of Financial Aid of the change may cause you to lose your package. 

If you applied for part-time financial aid, you must take at least 4.5 credits. 

Part-Time or Full-Time Equivalency

If you are registering for your final semester and taking fewer than 4.5 credits and need financial aid, you can complete the part-time or full-time equivalency form. For international students, if you are taking fewer than 9 credits (full-time), you should apply with OGS for reduced study.  Read more in the NFS Grad Student Handbook! Remember: you need to be logged into your NYU account to access the Student Handbook.

International Students

International students can enroll in up to one online class total (3 credits). If you have questions, please speak with Nick Voelker or an OGS representative. 

Courses in Other Departments

If you plan on taking courses outside of Food Studies, you must contact an advisor in that program for approval to register (Stern and Wagner have their own processes). Food Studies advisors cannot approve or register you for any classes outside the Food Studies Program.

Food Studies Course Descriptions and Schedule

****After you’ve submitted your registration worksheet, Sam will clear you to register. To guarantee she can clear your advisor hold before registration, you must submit your worksheet by November 14th at 12pm. You still need to go online to Albert and register yourself. Registration for current students begins on Monday, November 18th with an assigned registration time (check Albert for time).  Registration for all newly accepted MA students begins December 3rd.***