Online Nutrition Education Programs

100% Online

12-24 Months

Financial Aid & Scholarships Available

Up to 6 Transfer Credits Accepted

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Help Others Lead Healthier Lives

Educate, motivate, and advocate for improved nutrition behaviors among individuals, organizations, and communities with American University’s fully online graduate programs in nutrition education. Learning online in flexible courses, you can pursue either a graduate certificate or master’s degree and gain the skills needed to contribute to the ever-expanding movement for healthier lifestyle choices. Graduate with the skills needed to secure a position in independent consulting, schools, nonprofits, government organizations, and other settings.

Online Merit Scholarships

$14,000 — No Separate Application Required

Prospective students who have a cumulative 3.0 GPA or above (on a 4.0 scale) in their undergraduate program can qualify for the Online Merit Scholarship of up to $14,000. As part of your application process, your academic history will be reviewed to see if the scholarship can be applied; there is no separate application to fill out.*

Explore AU’s Online Nutrition Education Programs

With online programs from AU, you will have the flexibility to earn a degree with any type of schedule. You will learn new skills and expand your knowledge under the guidance of our experienced faculty, all while gaining valuable experience in the field of your choice.

  • 100% Online
  • 30 Credits Hours
  • 12-24 Months

Study the scientific principles of nutrition and learn to develop scalable nutrition education programs and intervention skills. This program also includes Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) Exam preparation.

  • 100% Online
  • 18 Credits Hours
  • 12 Months

Develop your knowledge of nutrition education, programming, and policy and prepare to address food and nutrition-related issues in a wide range of roles. Can be applied toward the full master’s degree.

Learn From Top Experts in Nutrition Education

The nutrition education programs offer a broad range of courses to prepare you for your career, wherever it may take you. Learn more about what makes our programs unique:

Engaging Electives

Choose from a diverse selection of career-focused elective courses that align with your interests.

Student Webinars

AU hosts webinars each semester on popular topics such as health literacy, food access, nutrition writing, and more.

Mentorship Program

In the online master’s program, you will be matched with a faculty mentor for guidance with career development.

“Being online, it allowed me to pursue the MS all the way from Ecuador! Additionally, I have been able to work while studying. Of course, it has been a challenging task, but the structure of the courses and the guidance of the instructors have ensured a rewarding academic experience. I realize work and study complement each other, and it has been wonderful to count on the instructor and other classmates’ expertise.”
– Carolina Espinel, AlumnA

Highly Rewarding Roles in Nutrition Education

Nutrition educators who promote wellness and preventive care have the potential to make a significant impact on public health. The constant need to monitor and improve nutrition education and habits has led to steady growth in employment for dieticians and nutritionists, with approximately 73,860 of these professionals employed across many industries in the U.S. as of 2024.1 AU’s graduate certificate and master’s degree programs will help prepare you for a variety of roles in nutrition education, including:

Director of Nutrition Services $71,248 per year2

Wellness Program Manager $67,167 per year3

Nutrition Educator $62,860 per year4

Alumni Employers

As passionate change-makers, our alumni are employed in various settings all over the country. You can find some of them working at these organizations:

  • American Liver Foundation
  • Beyond Hunger
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • Noom, Inc.
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture

Where Passion Becomes Purpose

American University delivers a collaborative, immersive, and personalized online learning experience from the heart of Washington, D.C., to anywhere in the world. As an online student, you’ll take rigorous courses led by the same outstanding faculty members who teach on campus. We are committed to helping you reach your professional and educational goals by maintaining the high quality of instruction that AU programs have been known for since 1893, all while you benefit from the convenience and flexibility of online learning.

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Sources and Disclaimer

  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023: 29-1031 Dietitians and Nutritionists.” Apr. 3, 2024. Retrieved Apr. 23, 2024 from https://www.bls.gov/.
  2. Payscale. “Average Director Food and Nutrition Services Salary.” Retrieved Apr. 23, 2024 from https://www.payscale.com/.
  3. Payscale. “Average Wellness Program Manager Salary.” Retrieved Apr. 23, 2024 from https://www.payscale.com/.
  4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Health Education Specialists.” Apr. 17, 2024. Retrieved Apr. 23, 2024 from https://www.bls.gov/.

*As part of your application process, your academic history will be reviewed to determine if the scholarship can be applied; there is no separate application to fill out. You’ll be notified of the scholarship status when you’re admitted to the program, or shortly thereafter. To receive the scholarship, which is applied equally to the fifth and sixth courses of the program, you must remain in good academic standing. Certificate programs are not eligible for scholarships.