I've been in this predicament as well. I thought I found everything I ever wanted at Huntington College of Health Sciences--it's online, fully accredited, and the staff are really friendly and the programs are supposedly really good. Unfortunately, no amount of research could tell me that the place is just disorganized, the program is basically you reading a book and answering multiple choice questions without any direction or guidance, the exams are worded vaguely (with multiple right but not correct answers), and the staff "loses" your emails and communications! I pay way too much money for them not to spell check their lessons and double check their facts (I found several errors). Don't go to Huntington College of Health Sciences!

Think twice about Hawthorn. I took 2 Master's level classes at Hawthorn, it was like going backwards to junior high. 5, 10, and 15 minute lectures? Really? I did all the lectures in one night, and all the reading in one week, and I'm not a genius. I already have half the credits I need for my MS in chemistry, so I do know what master's level classes should be like, particularly in the sciences. The teacher I had for both (2) classes didn't follow his own syllabus and never answered questions, and never returned assignments until the very last day - then they were all returned at once. This is not a good way to give feedback. He was just too busy with his "real" job, and never answered email. Further, even though I mentioned this in my class review, I was assigned the very same teacher that I requested not to have. For this baloney I paid $500.00 per class and that doesn't count text books.

Many of his students like him, I am in the vast minority here. They are the kind of students that hang upon every word and seem to not be able to function without a self proclaimed guru making their decisions for them. If you really need to be spoon fed your knowledge, and don't mind junior high level classes that masquerade as master's level classes, and you don't mind not getting any feedback whatsoever, then this is the school for you. If you don't mind a school that claims to be in the process of getting accredited, and then drags it out for years (by which time you will have graduated from a NON-accredited school), then this is the school for you. If you prefer to be made to feel like you know something, rather than actually knowing it, then this is the school for you. If you have more than $10,000.00 and 2-3 years to waste for something that claims to be an MS degree but is truly sub-standard, then this is the school for you.

I have now put in 20,000 hours of reading alone; this does not include seminars, talking to other professionals in the field and doing my own experimenting - I'm glad I saved the $10,000.00+ it would have cost me for a bogus degree from a non-accredited online school. There are genuine schools out there, but I do not consider Hawthorn to be one of them.

Take a look at the American College of Health Sciences, the response time is far better (since Hawthorn's is nonexistent!), the texts are better, it isn't cheap but it is accredited by the DETC, the online school accrediting agency. Double check me to be sure I'm correct before making any decision, please. And no, I did not go there, but I have a friend who did.

Who ever is taking the Precision Nutrition Cert should do their homework. The cert is not accredited with the NCCA, which other groups like NSCA, NASM, ACSM etc... are fully accredited and approved. They told me they chose not to, just go to the website under FAQ's and see what they say. I like Dr. Berardi, but I think they shortcutted because of the lengthy process it takes to get accredited which is not the right way to do business. Just my opinion. You are better off getting a fully accredited degree in Nutrition....isn't that what Dr. Berardi did with his background, yep it is, so his Precision Nutrition is a company that is in it to make money like all the other self-proclaimed and self created groups in the the fitness industry....just more fitness marketing of a product. Go check out Alan Aragon who is a well respected guy who got his MS in Nutrition and disagrees with Dr. Berardi. Oh well, Caveat Emptor like with anything in life. Do the homework when looking for a school to attend or a product to buy.

You can have a view of http://onlinenutritiondegree.org/ which offers you info about the different accredited online nutrition degree programs in the US.

I'm studying to become an R.D. at an accredited university. Originally I researched online nutrition and found that the vast majority of programs are not accredited and would not qualify me for a license to practice as an R.D. The programs online that are accredited were out of state for me (Michigan and Colorado). I took the cheapest route and moved to a college campus to take classes in person. The online price tag was $30,000 per year. In person it's $6,000 per year for me.

The relocation caused me some serious stress because I had to pass off my house to a property management group and fill it with tenants. That covered my mortgage. I just put the house up for sale while my tenants have 9 months remaining on the rental agreement. I bought some time and made it work.

No way was I paying $30,000/year for a bachelor's.

Something to think about.

I would say search for accredited schools nearby where you live in-state. You can probably fulfill 2 years worth of required courses at a community college first prior to your entrance into an accredited university where you will have to complete a dietetic internship and pass a national exam.

It's a ton of work but I consider myself more valuable than 95% of MD's, most of them having completed only one nutrition course at med school, that course being a complete joke and mockery of paleo principles. As an independent R.D. with my own practice (likely a Diabetes and Obesity Care Clinic), I can do far more for patients than a general practitioner. My task is to find a paleo-friendly endocrinologist to partner with.

I'm bumping this up. I hope that's ok. I have the same question and am hoping more people getting a look at this might have some more answers. I'm especially interested in accredited universities where at least some of the professors would be paleo friendly or at least not rigid USDA plate followers.

I've been looking into Bauman College- I think Diane of Balanced Bites did their program.

I'm currently taking a certification course from John Berardi's Precision Nutrition organization: http://www.precisionnutrition.com/products/certification

The nature of this course is a bit different from most, in that it is geared toward people who want to coach others; it is targeted largely toward personal trainers and strength coaches who want to be able to advise their clients on nutrition.

What I really like about it is that half the course is focused on the behavioral and psychological aspects of working with clients, as just knowing how people should eat is not enough if you want to help them succeed. Rather than theory on what "should" be effective, the folks at PN teach you strategies that they have seen work very well with their various clients (from top athletes to regular men and women looking to lose some fat or gain some muscle).

As far as the nutrition science content, I imagine there is some conventional wisdom that is not quite correct (although I'm not that far into the course yet), but most of it is very sound and gives you a solid understanding of physiology and the like.

http://www.integrativenutrition.com/

Thanks guys. I'm also interested in this. Great to have your advice!

Cara http://primroseandpaleo.wordpress.com

Try the Nutritonal Therapy Association? http://www.nutritionaltherapy.com/

The University of Alabama has an online MS in Human Nutrition with the option of completing the didactic requirements to sit in on the RD exam, if desired.

http://academicoutreach.ua.edu/page.cfm?page=degreeWeb&wpid=29&wmid=156&wcid=282

I am currently applying to this program and taking a non-degree course at UA online while the application is being processed. It is an accredited program and I like the class I am currently taking (Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism - NHM 362).

This program will definitely add to my current understanding and set me up for further education when I can move closer to a reputable school.

hawthorn university. They have a masters in holistic nutrution that is mentored and affordable. Their teaching is based on the ideas of Weston price.