Nutrition

This certificate is designed to give students basic knowledge and skills in nutrition science, food science, food preparation, and food safety and sanitation. The courses prepare students for entry-level employment as nutrition assistants, community nutrition workers, and dietary service workers in clinical, community, long-term care, and institutional foodservice worksites.

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This program introduces students to the principles and methodologies used in the study of nutrition and dietetics and allows students to acquire the foundational knowledge necessary to obtain entry-level employment in nutrition and dietetics. According to Labor Insight/Jobs (Burning Glass), some of the middle-skill nutrition jobs this certificate could prepare students for include nutrition assistant, diet/dietary clerk, dietary aide, and dietetic technician. The goals of this certificate are to prepare students to apply nutrition science to determine the effect of a variety of diets and eating patterns on health, translate scientific knowledge into practical applications, and recognize the relationship between nutrition-related policy and public health. In addition, this program will allow nutrition and dietetics students pursuing bachelor of science degrees in nutrition and dietetics to earn a certificate in their major prior to transfer. Discussions proposing a Nutrition Certificate of Achievement (Mt. SAC has had a Nutrition Skills Certificate for many years) emerged during Advisory Committee meetings for the Nutrition and Foods Program. The LA/OC Center of Excellence (COE) prepared a Nutrition Labor Market report, dated April 2018. Based on the labor market supply and demand data, the COE has determined that there may be an unmet need for the nutrition program in Los Angeles County. Here are a few important notes to consider: 1. Dietetic technician jobs are expected to increase by 11% through 2022. 2. Nearly 130 job opportunities will be available annually for this occupation through 2022 due to new job growth and replacement need (e.g., retirements). 3. There were 248 online job postings for middle-skill nutrition jobs in 2017. 4. Over 56% of the dietetic technician workforce holds some college coursework as their highest level of education, signaling that these positions are middle-skill and appropriate for community college level students.

REQUIRED CORE: HRM 52 Food Safety and Sanitation Yr. 1 Fall NF 1 Introduction to Nutrition as a Career Yr. 1 Spring NF 20 Principles of Food with Lab Yr. 1 Fall NF 25 Introduction to Nutrition Science Yr. 1 Fall OR NF 25H Introduction to Nutrition Science – Honors Yr. 1 Fall NF 28 Cultural and Ethnic Foods Yr. 1 Spring REQUIRED ELECTIVE: (Select one of the following courses:) NF 12 Sports Nutrition Yr. 1 Spring NF 30 Food Science Technologies Yr. 1 Spring NF 40 Healthy American Cuisine Yr. 1 Spring NF 81 Cooking for Health and Wellness Yr. 1 Spring NF 82 Vegetarian Cuisine Yr. 1 Spring NF 91 Work Experience in Nutrition and Dietetics Yr. 1 Spring

Entry level certificate program. The next level is the AST Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics

Currently, there are no other community colleges in Los Angeles County that offer a similar certificate. There are two community colleges in Orange County that offer a similar certificate, but neither is within reasonable commuting distance of Mt. San Antonio College (both are more than 30 miles away). Orange Coast College - Nutrition Education Certificate of Achievement (28.5-30.5 units) The following if from http://www.orangecoastcollege.edu (accessed 6/27/18): The nutrition industry is widely considered one of the fastest-growing and most prolific industries in Southern California, encompassing weight control clinics, health and exercise spas and gymnasiums, community agencies concerned with nutritional education, and manufacturers and distributors of nutritionally related products. Orange Coast College's nutrition program prepares students to advise clients on normal nutrition, weight control, and improved performance. This program prepares students for employment as entry-level nutrition education assistants. Courses cover anatomy and physiology, principles of food, nutrition therapy, cooking, and more. Orange Coast College is 31.9 miles from Mt. San Antonio College. Saddleback College - Nutrition Certificate of Achievement (25.0-26.0 units) The following is from http://catalog.saddleback.edu (accessed 6/27/18): The Nutrition program prepares students for a wide variety of employment opportunities involving the applications of fundamentals of normal nutrition. Employment possibilities include public agencies, day-care centers for the young and the elderly, food co-ops, recreation work, pregnancy clinics, education (such as preschool and elementary school), health clubs, gym and figure salons, health food stores and nutritional supplement sales, and drug abuse clinics. The program offers coursework for professional improvement, and some courses can be utilized as transfer courses for students pursuing a Bachelor's degree. Refer to the Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics transfer section of the Saddleback College Catalog, as well as the catalog of the intended college of transfer. Saddleback College is 41.9 miles from Mt. San Antonio College.

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