Career Watch: Taking Nutrition Courses Online

by Jennifer Edwards, Career Counselor

For those individuals considering a career as a nutritionist, there are a variety of job opportunities available. The demand for nutritionists and dietitians is on the rise, as more people are focused on taking care of their health.

To enter this field requires a college degree and then subsequent certification, which means several years of study. Fortunately, there are nutrition courses available online, which is good news for busy people who don’t have time to attend school during the day.

Normally, going to university or community college means driving to school. If you don’t live close to campus, you will spend a lot of time commuting, which means paying for gasoline and parking fees.

The great thing about studying nutrition on the web is that you can do it all from the comfort of your own home. For example, if you are working full-time, online learning will give you the flexibility to attend school whenever your schedule permits it. You have a better chance of completing your degree when you can control your schedule and manage your time.

Study to be a Nutritionist Online

When you take nutrition and diet classes online, you can choose when you want to study, which makes managing your time that much easier. The great thing about online learning is that you can pursue a nutrition degree in your spare time, at your own pace.

Think about it – when you go to a regular college, you are in a classroom with many other students. If you have a question, the teacher may not be able to give you the personal attention that you need. Nutrition courses on the Internet allow you to learn comfortably in a relaxed environment.

Online classes differ from a normal classroom because there is no set pace for your learning. If you are highly motivated to get a degree in nutrition, then you can study at a fast pace and graduate quickly. Alternatively, you can go slow and gradually work towards your degree.

Get a Nutrition Degree on the Web

On the other hand, if you are looking to study part-time and then eventually find work as a dietitian, the online campus will allow you to do that. Regardless of your level of motivation or time commitment, you can get a nutrition education on the web if you want one.

Careers in the nutrition industry are expanding rapidly, and there will be many future job opportunities for accredited individuals. You can get all the training and certification you need through nutrition courses online, if you are willing to make the effort.

These diet and nutrition classes can be less rigorous than classes at a normal school, as there is no need to commute to and from school. Online learning provides you with a flexible class schedule tailored to any hours that you may choose.

Nutrition Schools Online

In recent years, well-known universities have begun offering courses online that have the same content as that in their regular classrooms. Studying nutrition at night or on weekends is a lot easier this way.

It’s possible to complete a Bachelor’s degree by taking classes on the web through an extension of the regular university. This is the latest in continuing education efforts by many colleges and universities to meet the needs of people who want to make a career change while working full-time elsewhere. Studying to become a nutritionist has become much easier as a result.

In order to become a licensed nutritionist or dietitian in the United States, it is very important that the college or university you attends be accredited with one of six regional accreditation agencies.

The United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognize six regional accrediting agencies. Any online nutrition school accredited by one of these 6 agencies helps future employers and others be sure that the person who attended a school satisfied at least the minimum required standards necessary for employment as a nutritionist or dietitian.

The Northwestern Association of Schools and Colleges (NWSCU), the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA), the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSASC), the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SASC) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) form the six regional accreditation agencies in the United States of America.

An optional accreditation program allows some colleges and universities to offer distance education and apply for Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) accreditation. The DETC is an accrediting agency approved and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Students with an interest in obtaining a nutrition degree online should be concerned if a particular school is not accredited by one of the regional agencies. Be sure to thoroughly investigate any accreditation a college claims to have before enrolling for nutrition courses online.

(published November 16, 2011)