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Best Online Degrees in: Holistic Nutrition

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Explore a Bachelor's Degree in Holistic Nutrition

Individuals hoping to pursue a career in dietetics or nutrition with a holistic outlook can pursue an online bachelor's degree in holistic nutrition. Holistic nutrition teaches students how nutrition and natural health interact with the human body and overall health. Students study a number of courses in biology, human anatomy, and diet and nutrition. In most cases, graduates holding a degree in holistic nutrition can pursue a career advising individuals and patients on holistic nutrition in a personal health organization, clinic, health club, or as a personal nutritionist. In most cases, an online bachelor's degree in holistic nutrition can be completed in three to five years, depending on the school and program.

Featured Online Programs

Class Curriculum

Online bachelor's degree programs in holistic nutrition provides courses students with a total understanding of the human body and its functions, and how a proper, natural diet can increase one's overall health. Students must first complete basic-level courses in human anatomy, biology, chemistry, English, and communications before moving onto major-specific courses. Once students begin courses specific to the major, they can expect classes in nutrition, public health, vitamins and minerals, diet strategy, and food service management. Some actual courses offered in nutrition and exercise courses are:

  • Advanced Holistic Nutrition. This course teaches students the importance of digestive enzymes and assimilation of food nutrients as they relate to the acid and alkaline balance of a person's diet.
  • Applied Nutrition. In this course, students learn how to determine a person's true dietetic nature by correctly utilizing the concept of nutrient-per-calorie. This concept helps students evaluate nutritional content when planning meals and diets.
  • Natural Health Lifestyles. This course primarily focuses on how the combined principals of detoxification, a pure diet, adequate sleep, regular exercise, and emotional balance can lead to better overall health. Students also learn the benefits of a hygienic diets, vegetarian diets, vegan diets, and raw food diets, and their effect on optimum health and nutrition.

Most bachelor's degree programs in holistic nutrition allow students to complete coursework at their own pace within an allotted time for a specific class or assignment. Most programs do require the completion of a capstone project related to the field, while others may require the completion of an internship, before graduation as well.

It is also important to remember that most states require individuals working as dietitians to be certified, or licensed in the state where they work. Requirements for certification and licensure typically include a bachelor's degree in nutrition or a related field, supervised work experience, and passing an examination. One way to become licensed is to earn the Registered Dietitian (RD) credential administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Although this designation is not always required, the qualifications required to earn an RD are similar to those necessary for become a licensed dietitian in the states require licensure. Most employers prefer, if not require dietitians to be registered as an RD.

Building a Career

Graduates of an online bachelor's degree in holistic nutrition should be able to find entry-level employment as a dietitian. Dietitians, who are sometimes referred to as nutritionists, are typically employed by hospitals, public health clinics, long-term care facilities, large corporations with on-site cafeterias, or in some cases, by large health clubs and gyms. In most cases, dietitians are typically responsible for developing individualized or group nutritional programs based on patient or client needs. If working in a cafeteria setting, they may be responsible for buying food, overseeing the kitchen staff, or completing other business related tasks. Those working in community nutrition usually work for public health clinics, government and non-profit agencies, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and educate groups of people about proper nutrition and its benefits.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for dietitians and nutritionists is expected to increase by 20% through the year 2020. The Bureau also reported the median annual income for dietitians and nutritionists was $53,250.

It is important to remember that jobs are heavily dependent on the economy and the location of the individual seeking employment. Entry-level positions in the field typically pay considerably less. The Bureau reported that the lowest 10% of workers in the field earned less than $33,330.