Degree in Fitness/ Nutrition.

[Zelenn]

Has anybody here acquired a degree in Fitness or Nutrition?

I'm big into both. I'm a certified personal trainer with ACSM and I devour Paleo nutritional literature daily. I understand that Paleo hasn't 'caught on' with mainstream nutritional education (give it time), but I am interested in pursuing a degree in Nutrition (despite the thorough indoctrination of the 'amazing benefits' of wheat, corn, and soy) or Exercise Science. Preferably Nutrition, just because I like it more and its more fun for me.

I appreciate guidance from any and all who've done something similar. Thanks a lot.

[sanantone]

Are you looking for a degree where you an test out of at least the general education and free elective requirements? I wonder if Charter Oak State College's health studies program would work for you.

Charter Oak State College - Health Studies

TESC offers an undergraduate certificate in fitness and wellness services.

Thomas Edison State College: Fitness & Wellness Services

Fitness and Wellness is also an available concentration for TESC's BS in Human Service.

Thomas Edison State College: Flexible human services degree that leverages your professional expertise

You can search here for online nutrition programs with programmatic accreditation. Just click on the type of program you want and check the box next to "Only Programs Offering Distance Education."
http://www.eatright.org/ACEND/content.aspx?id=73

[Zelenn]

Thanks for the links.

I found this:

Central Arizona College - Degree Requirements - Dietetic Technician AAS

And these courses seem like what I'm looking for. This pathway ends with a AAS as a Dietetic Technician. That's more what I lean towards. Nutritional counseling and diet planning. I'd also like to teach people how to cook simple healthy meals (I love to cook.)

Now, the question is "How do I make something like this faster and less expensive?"

I don't suppose you can test out of a degree in Dietetics? I haven't seen too many Nutrition CLEPS lol.

I'm wondering if it wouldn't be a good idea to test out of a generic AS in General Studies from Charter oak and then bring that degree to a distance learning school like Central Arizona College and just add their Nutrition courses to a degree I'd already have?

Thoughts?

And, I know I'm gonna get smacked in the mouth for this, but what exactly are Charter Oaks requirements for an AS degree? I've been to their website and I found this:

http://www.charteroak.edu/catalog/2013-2...ements.cfm

Its the degree requirements, but its for their BA degrees. Is there something that I'm missing? Perhaps a link on their website I've missed?

[sanantone]

Or, you could just CLEP out of the general education requirements at Central Arizona College.

http://www.centralaz.edu/Documents/class...070711.pdf

[Zelenn]

Or, you could just CLEP out of the general education requirements at Central Arizona College.

I could take the CLEPS for Central Arizona College. Unless I'm wrong though, they don't award full credit for each CLEP exam. I believe that College Algebra is a 6 credit exam and I see that CAC offers only 4 credits for it. That would be a lot of CLEPs and I can't find anything on CAC's transfer credit policy.

[sanantone]

College Algebra is a 3 credit exam.

[cookderosa]

You should consider whether or not you'll ever want the RD credential that is typical in nutrition/food science. If so, the path is very specific. My background is as a chef, not a dietitian, so the path that worked for me might not work for others. That said, and don't take this the wrong way, but being "into" a diet du jour is not the same thing as studying nutrition academically. I'm not debating the health or lifestyle decisions of Paleo or any other, but realize that studying nutrition and or food science academically means studying evidence based practice. Terms like "mainsteam" might mean something different to you than they do to me, because to me "mainstream" means magazine-pop-culture-pseudoscience. In other words, the information is gained through word of mouth and sharing experiences as opposed to being researched, tested, evaluated, revised, reported, and published for criticism. I'm always skeptical of anything that's being marketed instead of reviewed, or that has attempted to go around the rigor of critique by just bombing the marketplace. Truly, I'm not judging, just saying that what you are looking for you might not find in a traditional nutrition / food science program, because it's based on science.

You may find good philosophical fits in the alternative medicine schools. I'd caution you to try and find an accredited one, but these schools are likely where you'll find a lot of support for WELLNESS through food as a lifestyle. This program is accredited and may be a good fit for you. Good luck! Nutrition Degree Programs | Bastyr University

[Zelenn]

College Algebra is a 3 credit exam.

Well, I stand corrected then. Thank you for the clarification.

Is it possible to get an AAS from Charter Oak and just add CAC's nutritional coursework? It seems so much simpler and I'm a simple man. I don't do well with complicated procedures and policies and convoluted social games. Politics makes my brain implode. lol

[sanantone]

Well, I stand corrected then. Thank you for the clarification.

Is it possible to get an AAS from Charter Oak and just add CAC's nutritional coursework? It seems so much simpler and I'm a simple man. I don't do well with complicated procedures and policies and convoluted social games. Politics makes my brain implode. lol

For what purpose? Do you want to become certified or licensed? The simplest method would be to call CAC and ask them how many CLEP credits they'll accept. Attending Charter Oak and then CAC would make the process more expensive and longer. You'll be taking more tests/FEMA courses than you need to get an associate's in nutrition. COSC also requires a cornerstone course for its associate's programs. You can't transfer your test out credits from COSC to CAC. CAC will require a CLEP transcript to be sent directly to them, and they will determine which tests they will grant credit for. Applying to COSC, sending transcripts to them, paying their fees, and taking their cornerstone course just makes the process more complicated. And, you probably still wouldn't have the needed degree in nutrition in order to become certified/licensed.

You need to look into what your state requires. If your state doesn't require that dietetic technicians be registered, then you need to look at what employers require. If you don't need any kind of special certification, then just complete some of the natural health certificates at Penn Foster.

[Zelenn]

cookderosa: Thanks for chiming in.

Paleo has mountains of scientific evidence and a growing network of Paleo RD's and Physicians who accept the science behind Paleo. Paleo is difficult for many to accept because it flies in the face of everything we've been taught and everything Big Pharma and Big Agra subsidize. Its hard to tell the massive political and financial structures funding grains, dairy, and soy that "Hey, we're going to eat our evolutionarially effective diet of meat and veggies, with boat loads of omega 3's and stay away from all your antinutrient containing grains, acidic and inflammatory dairy products, and your crazy genetically modified soy and the laundry list of problems that go with them. We've decided that saturated fat and cholesterol is actually, kinda necessary... oh and we're going to value magnesium over calcium since they use the same absorption pathways and all the calcium you're dumping into our foods is choking out our magnesium intake. We're also going to stop working ourselves into a neurotic mess over money and start going to bed at a reasonable hour. We also think its healthy to sleep for 9-10 hours in total darkness, but when were up we're going to expose large portions of our bodies to that dreaded enemy in the sky SUNLIGHT... and... we're not going to use sunscreen GASP!"



You can't tell that, even with stacks and stacks of peer reviewed scientific evidence, to the powers that be.