You can get a degree or diploma in nutrition by studying online with a university or college.
- Australian DAA-accredited courses combine online study with occasional practical training on campus. They provide a pathway for you to become a dietitian.
- Other international and Australian courses allow you to study nutrition 100% online. Graduates learn about nutrition without qualifying to be dietitians.
Distance learning can help boost your nutrition knowledge and launch a career in this complex and changing field. You'll come away with science, research and presentation skills. And you'll be better equipped to advise on good nutrition, and lead a healthier life yourself.
Eating a balanced diet is vital for good health and wellbeing. Food provides our bodies with the energy, protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals to live, grow and function properly. We need a wide variety of different foods to provide the right amounts of nutrients for good health.
~ NHMRC
Why Study Nutrition Online?
Studying nutrition online is the convenient way to get a qualification. Distance learning courses greatly reduce the effort required to progress through program content.
- You can complete the academic parts of courses from anywhere you like.
- For accredited courses, you'll still need to attend a campus at least occasionally.
For online university study, you can do nutrition as part of a health sciences program. By enrolling in a broad health program, you may not have to commit to a major until the 2nd or 3rd year of a bachelor degree.
Online nutrition courses teach you about dietetics: how to apply nutritional knowledge to promote individual and community health. Diet awareness is vital to wellness, influencing how people manage weight, fitness and disease.
Nutrition Careers
Studying nutrition can benefit you throughout your life but also sets you up for certain types of work in health and food sectors.
The top 7 career opportunities for nutrition graduates are:
- Clinical dietitian – design nutrition programs to improve or maintain patient health
- Food and nutrition sales – sales-related positions in the food, beverages and supplements industries
- Food preparation – chef roles requiring knowledge of nutrition and allergen management
- Food technologist – the scientists / engineers of the sector, working on product development or production
- Health and diet advisor – health and nutrition advice to people outside of a clinical setting
- Health promotion – health promotion roles where having a better diet is a central message
- Specialist dietitian – clinical specialists focusing on certain health conditions or demographic groups.
Source: mallory.com.au
Alternative careers
The job opportunities go much further if you use your nutrition qualification in different endeavours.
- An advanced diploma or bachelor degree gives you a general qualification demonstrating high-level skills in analysis and research.
- You could fill general positions in public health, healthcare or food industries.
- University graduates also qualify for postgraduate study across many disciplines, including business administration, education, and project management.
International short courses
Online courses in nutrition are widely available from international providers. Many are free, or only charge for optional tests and certificates.
Tips for finding a good international course:
- Think about which subject you specifically want to learn about.
- Read articles on the subject to gather some basic knowledge.
- Find a course on that specific topic and jump in to test it out.
Completing a free course is a real achievement. Dropout rates are usually high due to
- no financial commitment by students
- poorer instruction quality and
- limited value of any certificates offered.
Alison free short courses
Alison, which is a well known e-learning provider globally, offers several "personal interest" nutrition courses. The free courses range in length from modules of 1-2 hours through to a Diploma in Human Nutrition that takes 10-15 hours of study. Alison covers popular topics such as modern diets, micronutrients, macronutrients, and metabolism. You could try the courses to improve personal knowledge and to see if you like studying nutrition online.
Benefits of a DAA-Accredited Degree
If you're serious about a career as a specialist nutritionist or dietitian, you probably should be aiming to complete a degree (bachelor or masters) that is accredited by the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA).
By completing a DAA-accredited program, you are eligible to become a member of the DAA. Eligibility allows you to simply call yourself an "accredited dietitian".
- There are no legal requirements for registration of dietitians in Australia.
- But many jobs require you to be eligible to become a member of the DAA.
- To be eligible for membership, you need to complete an accredited degree on the DAA list. Migrants to Australia must complete the Dietetics Skills Recognition exam.
Being a recognised dietitian in Australia offers career advantages. Many nutrition and dietitian jobs require you to at least be eligible for DAA membership. Some jobs may require you to also participate in the DAA's Accredited Practising Dietitian Program.
Although at this time there are no legal requirements for registration of dietitians in Australia, the vast majority of employers require employees to be eligible to become DAA members with dietetic qualifications and join the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) program. The APD Program is administered by DAA as a means of self-regulation by the profession, in order to obtain and maintain high levels of professional practice.
~ DAA
Can You Study to be a Dietitian 100% Online?
In short – no. It appears that every course which is an official pathway towards becoming a dietitian requires at least some on-campus attendance. These include extended diplomas that count towards DAA-accredited bachelor degrees, and accredited bachelor and masters.
All the Australian courses listed below are multi-mode. You need to live close enough to the university or college to attend multiple times per year.
- The main academic load can be studied online but important parts of the course are delivered on campus.
- On-campus sessions may be regular (weekly) or organised into occasional intensive blocks (where students spend 2 or more days at the school).
To work as a medical dietitian, you need to complete an accredited 4-year bachelor or 2-year masters degree in dietetics. For further details, see Good Universities.
Melbourne courses
SSNT diplomas and degrees
The Southern School of Natural Therapies in the heart of Melbourne offers diplomas and degrees in Nutrition. There are 3 specialist streams: Naturopathy, Nutritional Medicine, and Western Herbal Medicine. The Diploma of Health Science counts as the 1st year of a Bachelor of Health Science degree. Students learn how the body functions in health, how to communicate with clients, and evidence-based practice in complementary medicine.
Sydney and Brisbane
ACNT diplomas and degrees
The Australasian College of Natural Therapies has campuses in Sydney and Brisbane where it administers the practical components of nutrition courses. ACNR is associated with Melbourne’s Southern School (above) and actually delivers distance units for Melbourne students. It also offers majors in Naturopathy, Nutritional Medicine, and Western Herbal Medicine.
New South Wales
CSU Bachelor of Food Science and Nutrition
Charles Sturt University offers a Bachelor of Food Science and Nutrition. To demonstrate its commitment to distance learning, CSU only delivers the program as a distance education course. All students study online while also attending occasional residential schools – each lasting 2 to 5 days – at a CSU campus. CSU's larger campuses are in regional New South Wales (Wagga Wagga, Bathurst, Albury-Wodonga and Goulburn). Key subjects include biochemistry, food processing, human nutrition, and physiological sciences.
Rockhampton
CQU Bachelor of Medical Science
CQUniversity has a Bachelor of Medical Science program in which you can specialise in Nutrition. The practical program is designed to ensure you graduate with scientific knowledge, study and research skills, and professional health experience. Nutrition specialists learn how to work with individuals and communities to promote healthy lifestyle choices and prevent diet-related disease.
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Health Care
