The Ultimate Guide to Nutrition Degrees
Many countries in recent years have encountered an increase in people having health complications caused by poor diet. Hence, specialists conversant with nutrition will become dear in years to come. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of nutritionists and dietician’s employment will increase by 15% between 2016 and 2026.
A degree in nutrition focusses on how diet and food affect human health, unlike a degree in health science, that assumes a multidisciplinary dimension to health science. Specialists with nutrition degrees have the capability of identifying the worst and good foods for people with medical problems or those who are overweight. Students pursue introductory science courses such as human nutrition, microbiology, and physiology before moving into specialized courses in fields like the food culture, pediatric diet, and sports nutrition. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Students who get a nutrition degree online can work in several careers. Among fields where they can work are clinics, restaurants, hospitals, school cafeterias, gyms, and community centers. Nutritionists may counsel patients suffering from health problems such as heart diseases, obesity, and diabetes, as well as work overseeing big hospital programs. They can also work as health fitness coaches. Additionally, dieticians and nutritionists can also work as clinical nutrition managers, health educators, and food service managers. Some assist businesses to market healthy foods to clients and design healthy menus for restaurants.
What you do with your nutrition degree will finally depend on the degree level you reach and your field of interest. You will need a bachelor’s degree, at least for most nutrition careers, while some will require masters or higher. Attaining a degree in nutrition online is more convenient and more accessible.
Why earn your degree in nutrition online
There are numerous advantages to getting a nutrition degree online other than on campus. As a student getting a nutrition degree online, you can learn from the comfort of your home. The online program will also make you more flexible and accessible, especially if you are working or obligated to your family. Various schools permit you to complete your coursework and access your lecturer at your convenience.
Accessibility
If you are pursuing an online nutrition course, you will be able to access the class discussions, assignments, and course material from any location. Students can study at their comfort even while traveling. All they require is access to a computer and a stable internet connection.
Flexibility
Various schools provide courses in which learners do not need to sign up for classes similar to that of their peers. Online studies offer flexibility in schedule, whether you want to study in the morning, late night, or during weekends.
School options
Students can get their nutrition degree online from their homes instead of uprooting their life and relocate to a new state or city. For distant learners, they can select the best school for their education goals instead of just going to a school that is nearby their home.
Diversity
An online degree in nutrition attracts people from not only across the country but also globally. Also, an online degree permits students to learn and interact with peers from various locations. Hence, these students expand their opportunities to network in multiple states.
Technology
Developments in online learning avenues make discussion threads and connecting by audio or video more real. Some of the online degrees will allow you to access your lecture at your most convenient time, while others will need you to engage in live video deliberations. Various schools offer extra IT resources to allow distance students to take their exams locally.
Types of Nutrition Degrees
People interested in acquiring an online nutrition degree should choose the level of education they seek to attain. Though advanced degrees will involve more commitment, time, money, and energy, they will also give you more job openings that are high paying. For instance, an associate nutrition degree holder will take two years to get their degree and qualifies only for entry-level jobs such as wellness coach and health food seller. On the other hand, a bachelor’s degree will take twice as long and has more career options.
Nevertheless, some advanced careers will require a nutrition master’s, where the master’s program will take about two extra years, depending on the type of the program. Specialists possessing a master’s degree or higher are more competitive for jobs with higher pay.
- Associate Degree in Nutrition
This particular online degree prepares learners to work in nutrition coaching and education. The students learn the fundamental effects of nutrition in adult’s and children’s health. The program explains how to prepare, select, and handle foods safely. To complete the program, you will take two years and require about 60 hours of coursework. Half of the hours entail general informative courses, while the other half involves elective nutrition courses.
Some of these online degrees will require the learners to do a capstone project. To apply, you must have a GED, a high school diploma, or equivalent. Associate degree holders qualify for entry-level jobs that include dietetic technicians, health food sellers, nutrition counselors, and wellness coaches. They usually work in fitness centers, clinics, and hospitals. They are also fit to sit for the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board examination. Associate degree holders can apply to join a bachelor’s degree.
- Bachelor’s degree
An online nutrition bachelor’s degree requires 120 hours of coursework. It takes four years for full-time students to attain their degrees. However, some factors can reduce this time, for instance, transfer credits, summer sessions, and accelerated course arrangements. The qualification to apply for this degree is a high school diploma, though some schools only admit associate degree holders.
These graduates can work in various careers. A few of these Bachelor’s degrees lead to RD certification, which allows the graduates to enter in the nutrition field as a registered nutritionist. Other careers for these graduates are food service managers, nutrition advisors, and health educators, and can work in hospitals, extended care facilities, and schools.
The degree exemptional emphasis on nutrition also prepares learners for more progressive degrees in a wide range of fields such as dentistry, nursing, public health, veterinary medicine, nutrition, and food science. Students can go for a master’s beyond finishing a bachelor’s degree to get more paying and competitive jobs.
- Master’s Degree in Nutrition
if you seek an advanced or managerial position in the area of nutrition may require a master’s program. Distance students taking an online master’s degree in nutrition can get ready for high-level careers without letting go of their present job. Most of these online programs will require about 30 hours of coursework and two years for completion.
Some programs will need you to engage in a capstone project or an internship program. To apply for the master’s program, you need to have a bachelor’s degree, although some schools will also require a minimum undergraduate GPA or GRE scores.
You can choose from various programs relating to any area of nutrition of your interest or your career goal. Some of the online master’s degrees in nutrition mainly concentrates on nutrition as it applies to the field of medicine. They equip learners with the know-how of how to use nutrition to prevent diseases and improve health. The graduates work in areas like extended care amenities and hospitals.
Some other programs concentrate on community nutrition or nutrition policies. These curricula examine how food programs, public policies, cultural differences, and food scarcity and availability relate to wellness and health in the U.S. Master’s graduates are eligible for public policy careers.
- Doctoral Degree in Nutrition
A nutrition Ph.D. will let you get into leadership positions in the area of nutrition. The program will arm you with knowledge of how to utilize diet and food in a medical setting to treat and prevent various diseases.
A typical Ph.D. will require approximately 65 to 80 hours of classwork for those with only a bachelor’s degree. It takes about five years for an average student to graduate. This time can vary depending on the factors involved. Admission to these programs is very competitive and entails a solemn commitment to academic rigor and time. It is a must for Ph.D. students to complete a residency experience or lengthy internship in a clinical background. The program also requires the students to write and defend a thesis related to the nutrition field.
Nutrition Concentrations and Specialists
Graduates who get an online nutrition degree are in a position to choose from several career opportunities, dependent on the field of concentration. The nutrition field provides specialties like community nutrition, fitness nutrition, food science, and dietetics. Other than sensitizing people about nutrition, nutritionists can also labor with sport and athlete teams, food companies, restaurants, and nutrition organizations. Additionally, they can manage the production of food, teach cooking classes, and write articles on health.
Some of these concentrations are:
- a) Fitness nutrition
Students specializing in this field assist people in progressing their fitness and mostly work with sports teams, athletes, and individuals to attain fitness goals.
- b) Dietetics
It is the study of how diet influences health. People who implement and maintain foods that are healthy are dietitians. Their places of work include schools, hospitals, private settings, and clinics, and they advance people’s health through coaching, support, and education.
- c) Community nutrition
There are various factors, such as culture, geography, religion, and social-economic status, that affect a particular community in getting healthy food. The field of community nutrition explores the nutrition state of a specific community. Specialists in this field assist communities in learning about, accessing, and preparing healthy food.
- d) Nutrition education
Nutrition educators teach people on how to make and choose healthy meals. They work in clinics, hospitals, community centers, and schools.
- e) Food science
This is a field that deals with scientific food aspects. Food scientists examine why particular foods taste good, how it influences our health, and how to make it have a better taste. They also work with restaurants and food companies to design and develop new products.
Nutrition Licenses and Certifications
Apart from having a degree and an internship experience, it’s a requirement in many states to get a state license. Very few countries do not have these requirements. Before you graduate, it is essential to look for the certification requirements for whichever country you wish to practice your career. Examples of certifications include:
- RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist): It is a nationally known certificate mandatory in many states. The Academy of nutrition and dietetics directs the certification through the Commission on Dietetic registration. To get this certification, you need to have a bachelor’s degree, pass an exam that costs $200 and have an internship practice.
- CNS (a Certified Nutrition specialist): It is directed by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists. To get this certification, you must have a master’s degree or a Ph.D., have an experience of 1000 hours, and pass an exam. The exam costs $300.
- CDR Specialty Certification: The certifications are offered in areas such as renal, gerontological, and pediatric. To qualify for this, you must take an exam at a fee of $350 to $450, and produce proof of professional experience in your field of specialty.
Career and salary outlook for graduates in nutrition
Specialists who attain online nutrition degrees can fit in many fulfilling careers. Some jobs entail advising and educating people on how to advance their health, while others emphasize managing programs dealing with nutrition. Graduates can work in schools, clinics, restaurants, hospitals, community centers, and gyms. They also assist in writing cookbooks, overseeing menus development, and work with people with diet-related issues, for example, diabetes, as well as organize healthy food programs in hospitals and schools.
Nutrition careers
Nutritionists teach people on how food and diet can influence their health. They conduct classes, assist restaurants in preparing healthy menus, and counsel patients on a personal level.
Registered Dieticians
They assist people in preparing and following a diet that will assist them in attaining health goals. They must at least possess a bachelor’s degree and have an internship experience. Many, though, have a master’s degree.
Clinical Nutrition Managers
These generally work in medical setups. They evaluate and monitor the nutritional needs of a patient and give recommendations depending on the response of the patient. They must at least possess a bachelor’s degree.
Director of Food and Nutrition Services
These oversee food operations that are large scale, for example, hospitals. They must not only have a good experience in communications, business, and nutrition but also must be aware of safety regulations and federal health. They must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
Health educator
They educate people on ways to progress their health through lifestyle, exercise, and diet. They must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
The Best Online Bachelor’s in Nutrition Sciences Programs
The International Food Information Council, through their recent research, reports that most Americans have an interest in options of healthy food. As a result, there is a high demand for well-trained wellness consultants, dieticians, and nutritionists.
Best Online Bachelor’s
According to the U.S. BLS, dieticians and nutritionists earn an annual salary of $60,370. Here are the five best programs in nutritional sciences.
- Arizona State University – Scottsdale, AZ
- University of Arizona – Tucson, AZ
- The University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa, AL
- Kansas State University – Manhattan, KS
- Eastern Michigan University – Ypsilanti, MI
Best Online Master’s
Getting a master’s degree will open doors to advanced careers in clinical setups. Here are the ten best institutions from where you can attain your master’s degree.
- Tufts University – Medford, MA
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh – Raleigh, NC
- University of Wisconsin – Madison, WI
- The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Champaign, IL
- University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA
- University of Georgia – Athens, GA
- Stony Brook University – Stony Brook, NY
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick – New Brunswick, NJ
- The University of Texas at Austin – Austin, TX
- The University of Utah – Salt Lake City, UT
Whereas a bachelor’s degree gratifies entry-level necessities for nutritionists, master’s or higher-level offers progressive skills and knowledge that lead to increased job openings and higher earning. The highest-paid specialist earns over $84,000 in a year, according to a report by BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics.)
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