Everyone eats. Whether it’s a home-cooked meal or a quick midnight snack, many of us don’t think about the importance of nutrition—as both a consistent source of daily sustenance and a tool for building heart-healthy meal plans.
Through ACU’s Master of Science in Nutrition and Master of Science in Nutrition/Dietetic Internship, you will be immersed in a fully-online program dedicated to educating you in the areas of nutrition and clinical training, while preparing you for possible careers in the medical, education, and food service fields. Rooted in Christian values and practices, our graduate nutrition programs specifically focus on serving impoverished individuals and communities by cultivating a curriculum revolving around the theoretical concepts of nutrition education.
Why Study Nutrition?
According to the Center for Disease Control, the average student receives approximately eight hours (or less) of required nutrition education each school year, far below the close to 50 hours that are needed to cause any behavioral change. As reported, nutrition instruction has steadily declined from 85% to 74% between 2000 and 2014. This statistic is highly notable because research shows that a lack of nutritional education can cause a series of health-related issues including unhealthy eating habits, obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
In fact, a recent study conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that one in five U.S. deaths are directly related to heart disease caused by a lack of daily nutrition. Expressing the need for more nutrition education across the board, the journal strongly advocates for health care providers to establish curricular standards for education, training, and professional development for health care professionals.
With the thousands of online resources and influencers, the urgency to have skilled and educated nutritionists has never been higher. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs for nutritionists and dietitians are expected to grow 7% from 2022-2032, which is faster than the average occupation growth. Needless to say, nutritionists and dietitians play an important role in the community, and their contributions to society are only becoming more critical as our nation’s approach to healthcare shifts to being more proactive.
What Will I Learn As A Master’s Student Studying Nutrition?
Separated into two distinct programs, you can dive into the M.S. in Nutrition program or the M.S. in Nutrition/Dietetic Internship program, depending on your future career goals.
Through the M.S. in Nutrition program, you will study nutrition and dietetitics as well as learn tactical ways to educate others on their wellness journey. Taught by our top-rated faculty, you will take core courses, like Nutrition and Diabetes, Nutrition and Poverty, and Nutritional Genomics.
Similarly, through the M.S. in Nutrition/Dietetic Internship program, you will attain comprehensive knowledge of nutrition science but also obtain the necessary training to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians to become an entry-level registered dietitian. By partnering with the Opportunity Center Food Bank and the Summer Feeding Program, you will work with in-need families and facilitate special diet plans for underrepresented populations. Focused on tackling the issues of hunger, health, housing, and hope, you will also intern at several local clinics to gain experience in outpatient counseling and one-on-one clientele visits.
No matter which program you choose, our goal is to prepare you to become a well-qualified nutritionist or dietician, who models Christian values to lead and empower individuals toward living better and healthier lifestyles.
What Can I Do with a Master’s in Nutrition?
According to Indeed, applicants with a master’s in nutrition can obtain roles and salaries such as:
- Health educators implement programs in schools or organizations that offer services to the community that advance awareness of healthy living. Base salary starts at $27K.
- Wellness consultants are private nutritionists who provide consulting services on overall wellness or work in health plan administration. Base salary starts at $45K.
- Nutrition writers create content for magazines, newspapers or online outlets focusing on topics such as food trends, recipe reviews or food-based scientific advances. Base salary starts at $60K.
- Clinical social workers assess and counsel underserved populations regarding their nutrition. Base salary starts at $66K.
- Food technologists develop technology and systems that innovate for the future of food. Base salary starts at $69K.
- Registered dietitians focus on helping patients manage acute and chronic health concerns while advising them about their dietetic concerns and issues. Base salary starts at $68K.
As you can see, these jobs only scrape the surface for those interested in pursuing a master’s in nutrition. From working in private clinics to major corporations, the possibilities for nutritionists are endless and fruitful.
Through our nutrition programs, you will not only learn how to address nutritional concerns but also have the chance to receive hands-on training to further prepare you for one of the many careers in the field of nutrition and dietetics. Learn how to meet the nutritional needs of your community today. Contact ACU at 855-219-7300 for more information about our online M.S. in Nutrition or online M.S. in Nutrition with Dietetic Internship programs.