A career as a dietitian or nutritionist ranks high amongst coveted careers in America. The reason? Dynamic nature of job duties, interaction with people, and the feeling of making a valuable difference in someone’s life, all make for happy, satisfied dietitians and nutritionists in the US. That’s why many people are opting to get the requisite education for this career. But as with any degree and education, time and thought must be invested in selecting the right institution and degree.
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ accrediting agency for education programs related to nutrition and dietetics. Only if you have graduated from one of the program accredited by the ACEND will you be able to take the exam to become a registered dietician.
Beware Of Diploma Mills
As with any other online degree, the problem of diploma mills exists for Online Nutrition Degrees too. These are institutions that are not supervised by a state or professional agency. The courses and degrees they offer are substandard and worthless, not requiring students to do much work. In order to ensure that the Online Nutrition Degree you are going for is accredited and approved by the US Department of Education, make sure you do your research thoroughly, assess various options, and go for a legitimate nutrition school.
Degrees and Programs Offered
Many degrees come under the ambit of nutrition and related programs. From associate’s to master’s degrees, online schools in various US states are now offering top quality programs in nutrition and dietetics for students to pursue.
Some examples are:
- Diploma Programs in Nutrition
- Diploma in Dietary Supplement Science
- Associate of Science program in Applied Nutrition
- Bachelor of Health Science program in Nutrition
- Master of Science programs in Nutrition
There are many other programs offered, such as those in Health Sciences, Food Sciences, Clinical Nutrition, Nutrition Education, Nutrition and Dietetics, etc. depending on the particular college or university you go for.
Nutrition Specialties
As a student of a nutrition program, you’ve got the option of choosing from many different specialties. These include sports nutrition, pediatric nutrition, women’s nutrition, nutrition management, or management and nutrition, geriatric nutrition, cardiac nutrition, diabetic nutrition, etc. You can opt for the particular specialty depending on your own individual interest.
Regardless of the degree or specialty you go for, one thing is certain: your choice should be a legitimate program accredited and recognized by a state or professional accrediting agency. So while it’s a great idea to search extensively for a nutrition school that meets your particular requirements, don’t forget to do the research and ensure that you get enrolled in a reputed, accredited, top-quality college.
