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Huntington College of Health Sciences (HCHS), located in Knoxville, TN, announced in November that it has launched a fully-accredited distance learning/online bachelor’s degree program in nutrition that combines basic science courses with classes specifically addressing natural products and therapies.1 Courses in this new degree program include “Complementary and Alternative Medicine,” “Nutraceuticals,” and “Vitamins and Minerals,” as well as electives such as “Herbal Sciences” and “Sports Nutrition.” The program is intended to prepare graduates for a modern career in clinical practice or for a career in the nutrition and natural products industry.
“This bachelor’s degree program is delivered entirely through a distance learning venue, making it eminently suitable for the working professional,” said Gene Bruno, HCHS dean of academics, in an HCHS press release.1 “It can be completed in as little as 3.25 years, although students may take up to 6 years. Furthermore, approved courses from other eligible institutions may be transferred into the bachelor’s program, and students have an opportunity to earn college credit through equivalency exams, which is an ideal option for knowledgeable people with a background in the natural products industry.”
According to Bruno, the program’s accreditation and integrative approach distinguish it from most nutrition degree programs offered by other institutions. He noted that 3 of the elective courses for the new bachelor of health science (BHS) degree in nutrition are courses in herbal medicine, which were developed and are taught by Roy Upton, executive director of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and chair of botanical medicine at HCHS. “This is the 21st century,” said Bruno (e-mail, January 18, 2007). “It’s time to get past old prejudices and take an integrative approach to nutrition. Furthermore, nutrition practitioners constantly receive questions from their clients/patients on topics relating to natural products and alternative medicine. Consequently, it only makes sense that a comprehensive curriculum in nutrition should include coursework in these topics. Now, graduates of this program will also be able to make evidence-based recommendations to their clients regarding a full range of dietary supplements.”
To obtain the bachelor of health science degree in nutrition, a student must complete 43 courses (equivalent to 127 credit hours of study).2 Upon completing the program, the graduate is eligible for professional membership in the National Association of Nutritional Professionals and will have met all educational requirements to sit for the Holistic Nutrition Board Certification Exam.
HCHS was founded in 1985, originally under the name “American Academy of Nutrition.”3 HCHS and the BHS degree program are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council, which is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the US Department of Education, and authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. Students at HCHS come from a wide range of careers and backgrounds, including nutrition counselors, homemakers, health food store employees, registered nurses and dieticians, nutritional product marketers, and business executives, among others. More information about the college’s new nutrition degree, as well as its other academic programs, is available at the website http://www.hchs.edu/. Prospective students can also contact HCHS by email at studentservices@hchs.edu or by phone at 800-290-4226.
-Courtney Cavaliere
References
1. Accredited, distance learning bachelor’s degree program in integrative nutrition ideal for individuals in natural products industry [press release]. Knoxville, TN: Huntington College of Health Sciences; November 16, 2006.
2. Undergraduate Degree Programs page. Huntington College of Health Sciences Web site. Available at: http://www.hchs.edu/undergraduate.htm. Accessed January 19, 2007.
3. About Us page. Huntington College of Health Sciences Web site. Available at: http://www.hchs.edu/about.htm. Accessed January 5, 2007.
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