At American University, you’ll learn from a diverse group of subject matter experts whose experience and education has made them leaders in the field. All of our courses are taught by experienced and committed faculty, many of whom are:

• Members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Fellows in the American College of Nutrition
• Conducting and publishing research on the impact of nutrition on chronic disease risk factors, length and quality of life, obesity prevention, and other topics
• Published in the Journal of Nutrition and other leading journals
• Experienced in working in public health, clinical, community and research settings
• Regularly featured on top news outlets such as CBS News, C-Span, Washington Journal, and others
• Building cross-sector relationships with national and local government agencies and non-governmental organizations
• Experienced leaders in education, consulting, program development, research, advocacy, community work and more

Additionally, the department hosts relevant and timely webinars every semester on popular topics and trends such as the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, Food Addiction, Nutrition Policy, Entrepreneurship, and Nutrition Equity and Food Access. Webinars are free to students, and we encourage you to participate in as many as possible to expand your learning and build your professional network.

Graduate from the MS in Nutrition Education program ready to make an impact with your:

• Knowledge of how to design nutrition education programs and advance nutrition education in various settings including schools, communities, public health departments, and the food industry.
• Practiced experience interpreting nutrition research and an understanding of where to find accurate, reliable, and evidence-based nutrition information.
• Understanding of how nutritional health intersects with many other health topics such as physical activity, child development, aging, quality of life, disease prevention, and health policy.
• Understanding of how gender and cultural differences affect health and nutrition and an ability to be able to reach across cultures to educate people of all backgrounds.
• Increased knowledge of cognitive behavioral techniques and other applications used to assist others in changing lifestyle behaviors to address health risk factors such as stress, obesity, smoking, poor diet, and limited physical activity.

We want to be clear, the online Master’s in Nutrition Education does not prepare you to be a clinical dietitian. The clinical aspects of nutrition, such as treating people with advanced cancer who need medical nutrition therapy, are not part of our program. Please read through our course descriptions and outcomes for a thorough understanding of the program.

We do, however, welcome students who already hold the Registered Dietitian (RD) title or bring other clinical expertise to the program. These students often join our program to pivot or advance their careers in nutrition and drive better outcomes for their clients.

American University’s online Masters of Nutrition Education prepares you to be the expert who can design nutrition education programs and share nutritional knowledge in a way that helps people feel empowered to make lasting, healthier food choices and improve their quality of life.

Our online nutrition education degree program serves as a stepping stone to the Certified Nutrition Specialist®™ credential. Additional coursework in biochemistry, anatomy & physiology, and clinical or life sciences, as well as 1,000 hours of supervised practice experience, are necessary for CNS® eligibility.

Enhance your skills in just one year with the 100% online Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Education. In this 18-credit program, you’ll complete six relevant courses for the next step in your career as a nutrition or public health professional. Topics include life cycle nutrition, education methods, nutrition for health, and more. You can also apply certificate credits toward American University’s online MS in Nutrition Education degree.