HOW TO APPLY FOR CIA
MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMS

1. Complete the application form.

2. Request official transcripts from all previously attended institutions.

Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions in the United States from which credit has been earned should be mailed to the CIA Admissions Office. Transcripts should either be sent in an envelope sealed by the school’s registrar, or emailed to the CIA via an official online transcript provider.

• If you have already completed your bachelor’s degree, your transcript must state your degree and degree conferral date to be considered official.
• If you are currently completing an undergraduate degree, your degree must be conferred by July 1 in order for you to be granted admission. All U.S. institutions must be accredited through one of the bodies officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions outside of the United States from which credit has been earned must be submitted to the CIA Admissions Office for review and evaluation. Applicants must demonstrate that they have successfully completed a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree before they may be considered for admission to a master’s program. Please be advised the CIA will not review graduate applications while a bachelor’s degree is in progress at a higher education institution outside the U.S. Applicants applying to a master’s program should complete the degree before submitting official transcripts.

3. Submit an essay.

Please write a personal statement that describes your purpose for pursuing this master’s degree and why you are a strong candidate for the program. Your response should be 500–1,000 words, and include the following:

• Your professional goals and how this program will help you achieve those goals in the food world
• Any relevant academic and/or professional achievements that allow us to understand you better
• Specific qualities and/or skills that you possess that will help you excel within this program
• For master’s in Food Business applicants: Please include your sense of which track you are interested in pursuing during the second year of the program—Restaurant/Foodservice, Food Product/Concept, or Strategy Management Track—and note how your track selection relates to your goals.

4. Ask for one letter of recommendation.

Through the online application, you will be prompted to provide the contact information for one recommender. He or she will then receive an electronic request with instructions for submitting a recommendation through the application portal. The email will be sent immediately upon saving your application.

• The recommendation should be completed by supervisors or professional colleagues who can attest to your professional abilities.
• A recommendation from a former professor is acceptable for applicants with limited professional experience.
• Your recommender can submit his or her letter before you submit your application.

5. Provide a copy of your résumé or CV.

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