Good nutrition is increasingly recognized as a vital part of staying healthy and preventing illnesses and diseases throughout the lifespan. This is understood to be very important in the 21st century: By staying healthy and fit through good nutrition and exercise, you are more likely to have fewer long term health problems, which saves on health care costs for society.
Because we understand that eating healthy foods is so important to our well being, demand has been increasing in the last decade for experienced nutritionists and dieticians. And the future of the field is looking very bright.
Job Growth for Nutritionists Is Strong
The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the number of jobs for nutritionists and dieticians in the next 10 years will increase by a healthy 16%. This is much faster than average. This rise in demand will be very important for the improved health of Americans, because at least ⅓ of Americans today are obese.
Obesity leads to serious and deadly diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease. More nutritionists and dieticians will be needed to both care for these people and to prevent others from getting these diseases by promoting healthy diets.
If you think that you want to make your career in this exciting and growing field, you should think about earning a master’s degree in nutrition.
What Nutritionists and Dieticians Do
Nutritionists and dietitians are experts in how to use food to promote good health and to reduce and manage disease. They provide advice to clients on what they should eat so that they live a more healthy way of life. You also may advise clients on their diet to reach a specific goal.
Your typical duties as a nutritionist include:
- Assessing the nutritional and health needs of your clients
- Counseling patients on ways to eat a more healthy diet and how to deal with nutrition issues
- Come up with meal plans while taking cost and preferences into account
- Promote healthy diets by talking with groups about nutrition, diet and exercise
- Write regular reports and do follow ups to track progress
Major types of dieticians and nutritionists include these:
- Clinical nutritionists and dieticians: These experts offer medical nutrition therapy. They usually work in clinics, hospitals, long term care centers, sometimes in private practice, etc. They devise nutritional plans that are based upon the health and diet needs of patients or residents. They also counsel patients on how to boost health through a good diet.
- Community nutritionists and dieticians: Come up with programs and talk to the public about nutrition, health and food topics. They may work with certain groups of people, and often work in public health clinics, government agencies and nonprofits.
- Management dieticians: These professionals manage and plan food programs. They often work in food service organizations such as hospitals, prisons, schools and cafeterias. They may be responsible for purchasing food and handling budgeting.
Licensing
Most states will require that nutritionists and dieticians have a license so that they can practice. Also, many dieticians and nutritionists opt to get their Registered Dietician Nutritionist or RDN credential, as many employers prefer to see this. This credential is administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Earn Your Master’s in Nutrition with No GRE Online
To advance in the growing nutrition field and to help others live a healthy and productive life, you can earn your master’s degree in nutrition online. These days, there are plenty of excellent online nutrition master’s degree programs that you can earn online with no GRE test. This will spare you many hours of prep time, not the mention the expense of paying for the test.
Accreditation
You should remember that there are two types of accreditation to be thinking about. One is the general accreditation for the university that you should see from one of the US Department of Education regional accreditation agencies below:
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC-CIHE) Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
The other type of accreditation is for the program itself. As you are looking at online master’s in nutrition programs, it is good that the program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
Consider the online master’s in nutrition programs below if you want to advance your nutrition career:
#1 Arizona State University
The online Master of Science in Nutrition from Arizona State University is based upon the foundations of dietetics and nutrition, and will improve your skills in project management, your ability to interpret research literature, and solve problems in nutrition. This program is suitable for nutritionists and dieticians who have a bachelor’s degree in the field and have worked for at least a year.
You will develop new competencies in nutrition research, and also advanced practice knowledge in the specific areas of nutrition that interest you. The program of two years culminates in a capstone project that allows you to design and evaluate a specialized nutrition program in a workplace setting.
More information:
- Campus: Tempe AZ; online
- Type: Non-Profit
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
- Tuition: $682 per credit hour
- GRE/GMAT Required: No
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On Campus Requirements: No
- Programs Offered: Master of Science in Nutrition
#2 Northeastern University
Northeastern University offers a Master of Science in Applied Nutrition that is led by experts in the field, such as practicing dieticians, exercise scientists, and clinical psychologists. Together, all of these professors provide you with an excellent foundation in nutrition, metabolism, disease prevention, clinical behavior and health promotion.
The core nutrition classes that you take will be complemented by the nutrition practicum that you complete. This will allow you to work with registered nutritionists and fitness specialists.
You have the choice of four concentrations:
- Obesity and Eating Disorders
- Nutrition Education
- Nutrition and Fitness
- Business and Entrepreneurship in Nutrition
Learning objective include:
- Apply theories and research about dietetics and nutrition in real world scenarios
- Look at metabolism, physiological actions and how vitamins, proteins, fats and carbohydrates work together in the body.
- Explore application of basic nutrition principles to the treatment and prevention of many diseases
- Investigate theories and programs that facilitate behaviors that lead to good health
More information:
- Campus: Boston MA; online
- Type: Non-Profit
- Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC-CIHE) Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
- Tuition: $489 per credit hour
- GRE/GMAT Required: No
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On Campus Requirements: No
- Programs Offered: Master of Science in Nutrition
#3 American University
Nutrition problems in society are very common; according to experts, at least five out of 10 chronic illnesses in the US are related to poor nutrition. When you earn a master’s degree in nutrition, you can help to reduce misinformation about health and nutrition, and help people in your area to make better food choices that will allow them to live longer.
American University offers an online Master of Science in Nutrition Education that stresses the science of nutrition and also vital educational strategies that are needed to change behavior. This two year advanced degree will provide you with the nutrition knowledge and skills so that you can enjoy a long career in nutrition education.
This degree can be earned in just 20 months online. After you graduate, you will be ready to do the following:
- Share your scientific knowledge in health and nutrition and provide health recommendations to all populations
- Design and implement comprehensive nutrition programs for schools, universities, corporations and government entities.
- Use advanced communication skills to speak to the public and to advocate for better health and nutrition
- Come up with nutrition studies and use research to analyze diseases and how nutrition affects them
More information:
- Campus: Washington DC; online
- Type: Non-Profit
- Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- Tuition: $589 per credit hour
- GRE/GMAT Required: No
- Minimum Time Commitment: 20 months
- On Campus Requirements: No
- Programs Offered: Master of Science in Nutrition
#4 University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota offers a Master of Science in Nutrition Education and Counseling that takes two years to complete, and features one campus visit to Grand Forks ND that is one week in length. Goals of this accredited program are to teach nutrition professionals who are able to:
- Integrate nutrition research, practice, service and teaching to target nutrition problems and to come up with effective solutions
- Communicate accurately and clearly with clients about their nutrition needs
- Show critical thinking abilities and awareness of nutrition problem solving
- Show the highest degree of professionalism and ethical conduct
Required classes are:
- Biochemical and Physiological Basis of Nutrition: Macronutrients
- Biochemical and Physiological Basis of Nutrition: Micronutrients
- Nutrition Education and Program Planning
- Seminar in Nutrition
- Research Methods in Nutrition
More information:
- Campus: Grand Forks ND; online
- Type: Non-Profit
- Accreditation:Higher Learning Commission
- Tuition: $360 per credit hour
- GRE/GMAT Required: No
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On Campus Requirements: Yes
- Programs Offered: Master of Science in Nutrition Education and Counseling
