Need Advice about Online Education and Going Back to School Online

Re: getting an online Nutrition degree

Cajun — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:37:01 GMT

Of course given the chronic state of "fatness" in America, one would question the CDC and like agencies nutrition standards.

Re: getting an online Nutrition degree

SteveFoerster — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:34:03 GMT

Clayton offers coursework in naturopathy, herbology, iridology, and homeopathy, none of which are embraced by mainstream medicine. I suppose it's possible that none of that is in their nutrition programs, but that just seems unlikely to me. In a way it's a shame, as they do seem to focus on some interesting things in their nutrition program, such as vegetarian nutrition, which is something to which the mainstream should be paying better attention.

I'm not trying to be a hater, I really want to like Clayton, but those things really give me pause. Anyway, as you said, they say they're working on recognized accreditation. I hope that's true and they keep moving in the right direction.

-=Steve=-

Re: getting an online Nutrition degree

lauramomof4 — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:36:37 GMT

Steve, I respect your opinion, but I think Clayton's nutrition programs seem to be evidence-based... could you explain more specifically what you mean, besides the fact that it's not traditionally accredited? I'm not trying to be difficult, just asking about your point of view. I do know that since they applied for accreditation they changed a lot of things, like more credits required, and more science classes, which I have heard critics say is a step in the right direction.

http://www.ccnh.edu/about/admissions/programs/bachelor_of_science_in_holistic_nutrition.aspx

http://www.ccnh.edu/about/admissions/programs/term_master_of_science_in_holistic_nutrition.aspx

Thank you! I have been reading here at the forums and learning a lot.

Re: getting an online Nutrition degree

SteveFoerster — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:11:40 GMT

lauramomof4:
Clayton does have a bachelor's degree in holistic nutrition as well so I think my question would still be relevant. I do know it would be difficult (or not possible at all) to go to any other school with a B.S. from Clayton though for someone who wants to further their studies.

Right. And if that's not enough of a drawback, Clayton's programs don't seem to be based on science, so it would be very difficult for their graduates to be taken seriously by nutritionists and dietitians who have graduated from evidence-based programs.

Clayton has applied for some accreditation that is approved through the DOE but I don't know what accreditation it is, and who know if they will be approved or when. I hope they will be!

Just about any institution can apply, so that alone is meaningless. Until they're accredited, they're unaccredited. Now, I believe that certain unaccredited schools might be right for certain students in certain circumstances. But trying to enter a regulated profession is not one of those circumstances.

(I realize that Clayton claims accreditation by the "American Association of Drugless Practitioners" and "American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board". I don't know enough about either of them to know whether they're bogus, but I do know that neither is recognized in any way that will help someone who wants to become a professional nutritionist or dietitian, so to me they don't count.)

-=Steve=-

Re: getting an online Nutrition degree

lauramomof4 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:02:05 GMT

Oops, I'm sorry... I have master's degrees on my mind because that is what I want for myself but I overlooked that she is wanting her bachelor's! :-) Clayton does have a bachelor's degree in holistic nutrition as well so I think my question would still be relevant. I do know it would be difficult (or not possible at all) to go to any other school with a B.S. from Clayton though for someone who wants to further their studies. Clayton has applied for some accreditation that is approved through the DOE but I don't know what accreditation it is, and who know if they will be approved or when. I hope they will be!

Re: getting an online Nutrition degree

lauramomof4 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:55:11 GMT

Kaplan University also has a bachelor's in nutrition science and I think it is regionally accredited too... (North Central?).

http://online.kaplanuniversity.edu/health_sciences/Pages/Nutrition_Science_BS.aspx

Depending on what someone wants to do with their degree though for nutrition, regional accreditation might not be as important I would think. I'm only speaking from what I have learned from what I have looked into for myself...to be a dietitian I think it would be probably mandatory, but a nutritionist is most often self employed. There are some other options for nutrition studies, like Clayton that is not traditionally accredited, but has a reputation for having an excellent master's in holistic nutrition. I have spoken with graduates who have been very successful in the field of nutrition who have graduated from Clayton. What is your opinion, Steve, about programs like these? Do you think it depends more on what you want to do with your degree?

Laura

Re: getting an online Nutrition degree

SteveFoerster — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:20:28 GMT

Thanks, Laura!

Jessica, of those, you might want to take the closest look at Eastern Michigan University, since it's regionally accredited and has an undergraduate program.

-=Steve=-

Re: getting an online Nutrition degree

lauramomof4 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:43:04 GMT

Hi, I'm new here, but I have very similar goals. For myself I wanted either regional accreditation or DETC would be my second choice, online or correspondence program,. These are the schools that I have found. Most of these are master's degrees but I some have associate's or bachelor's too. I hope this info might be helpful.

Eastern Michigan University: BS in Dietetics and Nutrition, MS in Human Nutrition http://extended.emich.edu/dietetics/index.aspx

Central Michigan University, MS Nutrition and Dietetics, http://www.grad.cmich.edu/ProgramSheets/Nutrition%20and%20Dietetics%20-%20MS.pdf

Rosalind Franklin University, MS Clinical Nutrition or MS in Nutrition Education, http://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/dnn/chp/home/CHP/Nutrition/tabid/1455/Default.aspx

St. Joseph College (Connecticut), MS Nutrition, http://ww2.sjc.edu/PDF/Graduate_School/nutrition_brochure.pdf

and then the last 3 are more holistic in nature but still accredited:

University of Bridgeport: MS Human Nutrition https://www.bridgeport.edu/pages/3246.asp

Huntington College of Health Sciences, www.hchs.edu They have diplomas, associate's, bachelor's, and master's. It is correspondence whereas most of the other programs are online (they seem a little behind technology-wise).

American College of Healthcare Sciences, www.achs.edu They have a short diploma in Holistic Nutrition or nutrition studies included in the Holistic Health Practitioner program.

Re: getting an online Nutrition degree

Cajun — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:48:55 GMT

Hi Jessica I just wanted to welcome you to the forums. Looks like Steve has done all the heavy lifting here and given you some really great leads. Like he said, there's just not a whole lot of offerings online in nutrition that are legit.

Re: getting an online Nutrition degree

SteveFoerster — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 11:58:39 GMT

jessicabruce:
It was sweet of you : ) i want to my bachelors in nurtition.. and i wanted to stick to california because somebody told me that there are some degree prgrams where i have to attend two to three classes or even some semester, so i want to avoid travelling due to some medical issues and would like to stick to my hometown :) what do you suggest?

There's surprisingly little for you, at least that's legit. I think that's why there are so many flaky schools out there offering nutrition programs -- real schools have sort of dropped the ball here.

There's one path that sounds complex, but would more or less get you where you want to go. It involves getting an Associate's degree first, then a Bachelor's degree.

First the Associate's. Penn State has an Associate's in Dietetic Food Systems Management. You wouldn't have to travel there to complete it.

Then, once you were done with that, you could transfer all those credits to Kansas State University, which has a Bachelor's in Food Science.

The reason I suggest doing things that way is that K-State requires an Associate's for entry into their Bachelor's program. Since all that work would transfer in, though, it would be two degrees for the price of one.

K-State also has a Bachelor's in Dietetics, but I think it's a Bachelor's degree completion program as well, meaning you'd still need to get an Associate's first. You'll have to ask them.

There's also the University of Northern Colorado, which has a Bachelor's degree completion program where you do most of your degree at a different school, but then complete it there with nine courses in dietetics.

Other than that, I'm not sure what's out there. Is this at all helpful?

-=Steve=-

Re: getting an online Nutrition degree

jessicabruce — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:11:11 GMT

Hey Steve,

It was sweet of you : ) i want to my bachelors in nurtition.. and i wanted to stick to california because somebody told me that there are some degree prgrams where i have to attend two to three classes or even some semester, so i want to avoid travelling due to some medical issues and would like to stick to my hometown :) what do you suggest?

Cheers,

Jessica

Re: getting an online Nutrition degree

SteveFoerster — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:33:58 GMT

Hi Jessica,

You were getting a lot of responses that included links to unaccredited schools, so as a moderator here I took the liberty of cleaning things up so you didn't get led astray. This is especially a concern with nutrition, where there are a lot of "holistic" programs out there that are unaccredited and not very well based in science.

Let me ask you something -- if you're interested in online learning, why would you want to stick only with schools in California?

Finally, are you looking for a Bachelor's or a Master's? It will help us find good choices for you.

Regards,

-=Steve=-

Re: getting an online Nutrition degree

jessicabruce — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:03:36 GMT

hey,

i want to start my graduation in Nutrition by december, so i am collecting some data. i was wondering if you could tell me the online nutrition schools in Calafornia and what are the different types of courses they are providing??

would really appreciate.

cheers.