Thursday, November 24, 2011

Online Nutrition Courses Teach You Healthy Habits

By Michelle Conner


If you are interested in becoming a nutritionist, you have many options of degree programs available to you. Selecting your program is one of the most important career-related decisions you'll make! Your degree program will prepare you with the technical knowledge and practical skills you need to find employment in the growing field of nutrition. Knowing what to look for in a program can help you to make an educated college decision.

Nutrition is a growing field, which is probably why you are interested in it in the first place. Just wandering through a grocery store and seeing the number of boxes boasting whole grains or zero trans fats will tell you how food companies have evolved to appeal to a growing desire for healthy dietary options. Often, people with special dietary or weight loss needs consult with a nutritionist or dietician to help them come up with balanced meal plans that support a healthy lifestyle. Your degree will teach what you need to know to enter this expanding field. Look at the courses in nutrition information to understand how you can become a nutritionist and help others lead a balanced lifestyle.

You'll need to make sure that the programs you are considering are accredited by the accreditation council of the American Dietetic Association. A degree from a program that is not accredited will not be accepted by the American Dietetic Association certification program. You'll want to get your education and experience from the best program you can find. Accreditation generally means that a program is top quality and meets high standards of excellence when it comes to academics, commitment to improvement, and other aspects of a great college program that should be of importance to you.

You'll want to find out what kind of financial aid programs your school has available to you. College can be a great expense, no matter what your major. Find an accredited nutrition program that offers merit-based tuition reductions. Some programs may offer on-campus jobs where students can work in the cafeteria or food court of their school while earning money to help with college expenses. Read more from eLearners resources and gain practical experience towards your nutrition career.

Another factor to consider is the size of the program and the student to faculty ratio. Of course, your personal preferences will determine what size program you should attend. Some students actually enjoy a large crowd, as it gives them the chance to meet and network with a variety of students from diverse backgrounds. Other students enjoy learning in a small class environment where the professors can give more personalized attention to each student.

Internships are recommended for college students in most majors, but for a nutrition degree, it is generally required of you. For certification from the American Dietetic Association, as well as for most employment opportunities, students must have completed a supervised internship. You'll want to know if your school offers assistance in finding an internship, including cooperation with internship programs and quality regulation of internship opportunities.

What employment opportunities were available to recent graduates of a prospective program? If graduates from the past few years have generally been able to find jobs in their field, this is a good sign that a program prepares students well for the workforce. You'll want to know that your program is setting you up for success and has a good reputation among potential employers.




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