Nationally accredited program?

[cookderosa]

I tried asking Hawthorne before if they'd consider enrollment (probationary, even) in the master's program without a bachelors degree, and they just pointed me to the certificate programs (which are different in content). It's worth a try again, though, now that I'm about at the point of having an undergraduate degree. I'm not interested in Hawthorn for financial reasons, mostly for personal reasons, although they're pretty credible in the holistic health arena, so I do think it will mean more than an unaccredited degree in most other fields. Natural health folks tend to be pretty unimpressed with government, so they're likely to be less concerned with accreditation and more concerned with the college's associations with other organizations they trust.

This is true, however, the state you practice in does have a government, and you'll want to be sure you're legally allowed to practice whatever it is you hope to practice. If your state requires your degree to be accredited, you'll want to know that in advance.

I'll speak just to field (culinary & nutrition) which is full of people breaking the law. People breaking health department regulations, practicing nutrition without a license, and so on. I don't have the time or motivation to report them, but others do.

My parents were part of the holistic health arena you're speaking of. My dad is a chiropractor, my mom a nurse (passed away in 2009) - who used dosing rods, pyramids, and crystals on my chakras instead of mediine. I was an adult living on my own before I ever went to ANY doctor or received any type of medication or vaccination of any kind. The whole lifestyle...you know what I'm talking about.

So, I get what you're saying about choosing a degree that's respected by the community you're trying to service. But, here's the thing about choosing an unaccredited degree- you'll have no ability to discern between activism and science because your teachers are not held to scientific standards. An activist teaches their point of view to people equal or less than them, and wants them to adopt it. That group of people don't posess the scientific chops to make actual counter-arguments or challenge their assertions. A scientists tells other scientists to test and retest and poke holes in their findings. It's a point of view issue. When you look at programs like Bastyr vs Hawthorne, it's 100% possible that the content is identical and the work to earn it is identical. The difference is how the rest of the world views your credential. You'll only be respected by people with less training than you, because after all that time-work-money, someone else with a degree from an accredited program wins every time.

[a2jc4life]

But, here's the thing about choosing an unaccredited degree- you'll have no ability to discern between activism and science because your teachers are not held to scientific standards.

This is, frankly, offensive. The ability to discern between activism and science lies with the person choosing to do -- or not do -- his research, not with which biased source he decides to blindly trust. (Every source is biased.) An accredited degree doesn't guarantee sound science, either.

As for whether an accredited degree will allow me to practice in my state, it doesn't make any difference. Until I reach a certain level of education, I can do nutrition counseling but not use the title "nutritionist," and once I reach a certain level, it doesn't matter if it's accredited or not -- the hours matter. But I'm also not looking to practice clinically.

I'm well aware of what the masters degree will and won't give me the credentials to do (although they are in process of seeking accreditation). I just need to know how to most readily check off the "have a bachelors degree" box so I can get to that point.

[jsd]

What state are you living in that requires a bachelors degree to practice but doesn't require that it be accredited? that... doesn't sound right.

[a2jc4life]

What state are you living in that requires a bachelors degree to practice but doesn't require that it be accredited? that... doesn't sound right.

Virginia. There are no limitations on the actual practice of nutrition & dietetics, apart from the overall limitations regarding practicing medicine without a license (i.e. not allowed to diagnose, treat, etc.). The limitations are on the use of the title "nutritionist" or "dietician," and there are several different ways to meet the requirements for that (including, but not limited to, having a regionally-accredited degree in "nutritional sciences, community nutrition, public health nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, or human nutrition").

(We're also one of something like 7 states that lets you take the Bar Exam without law school. The alternative process is a pain the butt, and most people would probably find it easier to just go to law school, but the state does recognize that most things can be learned through alternate routes.)

[jsd]

The Virginia law doesn't provide options to use the title other than regional accredited degree (on top of other requirements)

http://www.nutritionadvocacy.org/sites/n...ter_27.pdf


I live in CA, we also allow people to sit the bar without law school, but just like you stated for VA, it is a huge pain. It's something crazy like 14 people have ever done it, or some other insanely low amount.

[a2jc4life]

Yes, it does. I literally just read the law from the Code of Virginia on VA's website. It honestly makes virtually no practical difference, though, other than title. (However, it's likely that by the time I'm ready to move on to my masters, Hawthorn will have achieved accreditation. It's my understanding from them that they're unaccredited not because of not seeking it or not qualifying, etc., but simply due to the longevity of the process, which isn't finished yet.)

[jsd]

edit: nevermind, I don't actually care all that much.

[a2jc4life]

My guess is they confused their or's and their and's. There are 6 different options listed, and a regionally-accredited degree is only the first one.