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Online Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Education

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Program at a Glance Better Others' Lives through Nutrition

The online Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Education from American University gives you the knowledge and skills you need to help others improve their health and well-being through more informed nutritional choices and a greater understanding of the connection between diet and disease.

This powerful program is unique in its dual focus.

  • Dive deep into the science of nutrition – macronutrients, vitamins & minerals, lifecycle nutrition, and more.
  • Use behavior change strategies and program design to support individuals and communities in making improved nutrition choices.

Request Info    How to Apply

Applicants will need to submit the following:

Program Objectives

Support Continued Nutritional Health

Throughout the Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Education, you’ll learn how to translate research into practice, develop effective nutrition education programs, and understand how to remove barriers to implement lasting change. By graduation you will be able to:

 
  1. Apply Nutrition Knowledge

    Understand how nutritional health intersects with other aspects of health such as physical activity, child development, aging, quality of life, and disease prevention, in order to analyze and demonstrate scientific knowledge in nutrition consistent with health recommendations for the human lifecycle.

  2. Create Nutrition Programs

    Design nutrition education programs and advance nutrition knowledge for diverse audiences in various settings, including schools, communities, public health departments, government organizations, and corporations, using select models and theories.

  3. Interpret Nutrition Research

    Understand where and how to find and interpret accurate, reliable, and evidence-based nutrition information and disease studies to integrate evidence-based findings with existing knowledge to achieve sound nutrition practices and improved health.

See How We Set the Standard

  1. Become a CNS®

    Many courses in the certificate program can be counted toward the requirements necessary to become a Certified Nutritionist Specialist®, a formal recognition for nutrition professionals who have met rigorous and demanding eligibility requirements.

  2. Use Dedicated Services

    Faculty, students, and alumni help you reach your career goals through the Faculty Mentorship Program, nutrition-specific webinars, networking events, and social media groups.

  3. Study Career-Based Topics

    Choose electives that serve your specific career goals so you can work on the projects and assignments that build real-world experience in your area.

Curriculum Overview

When you complete the online Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Education from AU, you’ll have the ability to develop and implement nutrition education programs in a variety of industries, interpret nutrition research to understand the connection between diet and health, and communicate information regarding nutritional health to the general public. In short, you’ll be ready to share nutrition information in a helpful way that promotes lasting change.

The online Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Education does not prepare you to be a clinical dietitian. The clinical aspects of nutrition, such as treating people with advanced cancer who need medical nutrition therapy, are not part of our program. Please be sure to read through our course descriptions and outcomes for a thorough understanding of the program.

We do, however, welcome students who already hold the Registered Dietician (RD) title and others who have a previous nutrition degree (as well as a wide range of others). These students often join our program to pivot or advance their careers in nutrition and drive better outcomes for their clients.

American University’s online Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Education prepares you as the expert who can design nutrition education programs and share nutritional knowledge in a way that helps people feel empowered to make lasting, healthier food choices and improve their quality of life.

When you complete the Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Education program, you’ll be able to:

Share your scientific knowledge in nutrition with populations of different ages, genders, and cultures that is consistent with health recommendations

Design and implement nutrition-education programs in a variety of settings

Use communication strategies such as social marketing and consumer-friendly health writing to communicate to the public and advocate for nutritional health

At American University, you’ll learn from a diverse group of subject matter experts whose experience and education has made them leaders in the field. All of our courses are taught by experienced and committed faculty, many of whom are:

  • Members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Fellows in the American College of Nutrition
  • Conducting and publishing research on the impact of nutrition on chronic disease risk factors, length and quality of life, obesity prevention, and other topics
  • Experienced leaders in education, consulting, program development, research, advocacy, community work and more
  • Building cross-sector relationships with national and local government agencies and non-governmental organizations

Our online certificate program serves as a stepping stone to the Certified Nutrition Specialist®™ credential. Additional coursework in biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, and clinical or life sciences, as well as 1,000 hours of supervised practice experience, are necessary for CNS® eligibility.

Webinars are hosted every semester on popular topics and trends such as Nutrition Policy, Food Access and Nutrition Insecurity, and Entrepreneurship. Webinars are free to students, and we encourage you to participate in as many as possible to expand your learning and build your professional network.

Complete your MS in Nutrition Education online in just 20 months at American University. If you are a student in the certificate program, you have the option to switch to the MSNE program, and you may be able to apply your credits from the certificate program toward this 30-credit program. Become better prepared for the next step in your career as a nutrition or public health professional.