Nutrition Education

The Nutrition Education certificate program focuses on the concepts of food literacy and health and wellness. It is designed for students interested in the nutrients in food along with their actions within the body, issues of nutrition status across the lifespan, and the impact of food choices on one's health, the environment, and the economy. Students can choose the direction of their studies by selecting course(s) that include the following areas: food preparation, performance nutrition, nutrition and aging, lifespan nutrition, or early childhood education. 

After completing the classes for this certificate, students may apply credits toward the Associate in Science in Nutrition and Dietetics for Transfer (AS-T). 

Employment possibilities include public/government agencies, daycare centers for the young and the elderly, food co-ops, recreation work, nutrition education (such as preschool and elementary school), health food stores and nutritional supplement sales, and substance abuse recovery clinics. Students who continue on to a four-year institution may advance their studies towards the registered dietitian credential, employee wellness counselor, nutrition counselor and other related careers.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• correlate dietary intake to weight management, sports performance, chronic diseases, and hunger.
• apply the scientific method to biological problems, and interpret scientific data in a reasonable manner.
• assess the various sources of nutrition information and demonstrate where to find reliable nutrition information.
• compare and contrast nutrient, caloric, and food requirements at all stages of the life cycle.
• describe ethnicity, ethnocentrism, and racism and analyze the impact of these on food habits and communication in the United States.
• assemble molecules demonstrating an understanding of chemical bonding and molecular structure to predict their chemical behavior.

† Data on course sections & enrollments atcensus (3rd week of term), retrieved by Folsom Lake College, Officeof Planning and Research

††Anticipate offering during the 2019 – 2020 AY

†††Anticipate offering during the 2020 – 2021 AY      

This certificate program is designed to broaden the knowledge base of individualsinterested in nutrition or for those who work in food, nutrition or healthrelated areas such as WIC (Women, Infants and Children), public health,nursing, allied health, culinary arts, fitness, schools, farmers’ markets, etc.Students wanting to earn the Associates in Science for Transfer (A.S.-T) degreein Nutrition & Dietetics or the anticipated Associates in Science (A.S.) NutritionScience degree can do so by taking additional courses beyond the 16 - 17 units required in this certificate as advised by an academic counselor.

Nutrition education includes the study of an overall understanding of general nutrition, sportsnutrition, vitamin/protein supplementation, functional food implementation,actions and benefit of antioxidants, and experience with meal-plan analysis forpersonal or client optimal health. Completion of this coursework will enrichacademic qualifications towards career enhancement opportunities anddemonstrate to potential employers a commitment towards continuing education.One objective of this certificate is to compliment students with active careerssuch as: personal trainers, group fitness instructors, and other health andwellness professionals looking to gain expertise in advising clients onnutrition-related topics. This program is also ideal for health enthusiastswanting to learn more about nutrition, healthy eating and overall personal wellbeing.

In 2018, the two closest of the University of California (UC) campuses, Berkeley and Davis, published the academic profiles for their incoming freshman. The average high school grade point average (GPA) was 4.16 – 4.30 and 3.97 – 4.25, respectively (1,2). The admission rate for freshmen is 14.9% (13,433 admits/89,614 applicants) and 41.2% (32,179 admits/78,024 applicants) proving the high competitiveness of the UC applicant pool (3,4). The transfer rate for both campuses was 23% (4,483 admits/19,212 applicants) and 55% (9,767admits/17,491 applicants) with a special notation indicating that 95% and 96% of admitted transfer students were from California community colleges (3,4). A 2013/14 analysis, Berkeley and Davis reported that 60.1% and 53% of thetransfer students graduated within 2-3 years (5,6). Further analysis revealed that 93% (n=67) of Folsom Lake College (FLC) students who transferred to UC Davis remained enrolled at the university through their first year (7).  It follows that by supporting students towardssuccessful certificate completion they may be better prepared to move ontowards further study either in the anticipated Nutrition Science A.S. or other FLC academic program. It would also provide a more financially viable avenue for 4-year degree completion at a CSU or UC in a timelier manner (8).

Resources: 

1. UC BerkeleyFreshman Admission Profile for Fall 2018. http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/berkeley/freshman-profile/index.html

2. UC DavisFreshmen Admission Profile for Fall 2018, http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/davis/freshman-profile/index.html

3.  UC DavisTransfer Admission Profile for Fall 2018, http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/davis/transfer-profile/index.html

4.  UC BerkeleyTransfer Admission Profile for Fall 2018, http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/berkeley/transfer-profile/

5.  UC Davis FallCalifornia Community College Transfers First Year Retention and 2-, 3- and4-year Graduate Rates (Fall 2016), http://budget.ucdavis.edu/analyses-reports-white-papers/documents/student-outcomes/Graduation-and-Retention-Rates-Transfer.pdf

6.  UC BerkeleyRetention and Graduation Rates, Graduation Rates By Entering Cohorts (AY2013-14), http://opa.berkeley.edu/uc-berkeley-retention-and-graduation-rates

7.  University ofCalifornia, InfoCenter, Undergraduate Graduation Rates, Transfer Retention andGraduation Rates by California Community Colleges (CCC), https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/ug-outcomes[accessed: October 6 2018].

8. UC CampusesStand Out Among Forbes’ ‘Best Value’ Colleges (March 2016), https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/uc-campuses-stand-out-among-forbes-best-value-colleges

Program Requirements/Course Sequence

 Proposed Sequence:

Year1, Fall = 8 – 10 units

Year1, Spring = 8 units

TOTALUNITS: 16 - 17 units