Online Master’s in Nutrition Education

CNS Exam Prep

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 Master of Science in Nutrition Education. This program will prepare you to contribute to the ever-expanding movement for healthier lifestyle choices. You’ll study the scientific principles of nutrition and learn to develop scalable nutrition education programs and intervention skills, all in a program that’s flexible and built to work with your busy schedule.

AU will help you obtain the skills needed to secure a position in a variety of settings, including independent consulting, schools, nonprofits, government, corporations, health clubs, community organizations, and food companies. In addition, much of your coursework can be applied towards becoming a CNS, so you will be set up to succeed from day one.

American University’s fully online programs are led by expert faculty who are passionate about teaching. With flexible scheduling in a digital environment, you will get the experience and knowledge you need in the field of your choice.

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.*

Online Curriculum

The curriculum in this online program offers a broad range of subjects and skillsets in nutrition education to prepare you for your career, wherever it may take you.

Courses you may take in this program include:

Life Cycle Nutrition

Explore the role of nutrition through the entire life span, including conception, pregnancy, early childhood feeding, adolescence, adulthood, and old age.

Nutrition Education Methods

Examine the current status of nutrition and nutrition education, specifically in the United States, and identify the factors that influence nutrition status.

Nutrition Program Design

Study advanced principles in program planning for nutrition education activities. Building on nutrition education methods, this course emphasizes the development, implementation, and evaluation of nutrition programs.

Nutrition for Health

Learn about the role of nutrition in maintaining health and physical fitness in relation to the responsibilities and opportunities a nutrition educator.

Interest in the role of food and nutrition in promoting wellness and preventive care, particularly in medical settings, continues to increase.1 This is because there is always a need to monitor and improve the many facets of public health across organizations and businesses. This program will help prepare you for a variety of roles, including:

  • Wellness and Worklife Director: $156,614 per year2
  • Wellness Program Consultant: $86,926 per year3
  • Employee Health and Wellness Manager: $105,600 per year4
  • Nutrition Director: $107,693 per year5
  • Nutrition Educator: $59,990 per year6

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

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

“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

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Sources & Disclaimers

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Dietitians and Nutritionists.” Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/.
  2. Salary.com. “Wellness and Worklife Director.” Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://www.salary.com/.
  3. Salary.com. “Wellness Program Consultant.” Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://www.salary.com/.
  4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Employee Health and Wellness Manager.” Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/.
  5. Salary.com. “Nutrition Director.” Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://www.salary.com/.
  6. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Health Education Specialists.” Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/.

*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.