Integrative Nutrition

Specialized Certificate

About the Integrative Nutrition Program

Overview

Certificate Benefits

Demand and Job Prospects

Explore Program

About the Integrative Nutrition Program

Overview

The Integrative Nutrition specialized certificate is a career-focused training program designed for those who want to learn about food as medicine and to coach their patients and clients, families and friends, and members of their communities in understanding the value of food and nutrition as a means to promote health and wellness and prevent and combat disease. This program is designed for existing health professionals, those who aspire to careers in healthcare, and interested laypersons in San Diego, Southern California, and beyond who seek to develop or deepen a focus in diet and nutrition with a holistic orientation.
It is composed of online and live sessions taught by U.C. San Diego health professionals, acclaimed researchers and authors, and expert plant-based chefs. It provides the skills and knowledge required for a basic foundation in the rapidly growing field of Integrative Nutrition.

Certificate Benefits
The program meets continuing education requirements for all holders of a CNS credential.
Foundations in Nutrition I and II offered through the UCSD Diego Division of Extended Studies Integrative Nutrition certificate program provide 60 C.E. units to fulfill the Foundational Nutrition coursework eligibility requirements for the MD/DO pathway to the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS). BCNS requires M.D./DOs to complete other specific coursework, obtain a passing exam score, and document 1,000 hours of clinical nutrition practice experience. BCNS reviews each candidate individually, including current course descriptions, transcripts, and experience, to determine eligibility. To learn more about becoming a CNS, visit www.NutritionSpecialists.org.
Courses offered by the UCSD Diego Division of Extended Studies Integrative Nutrition certificate program are eligible for 10 C.E. units per course unit for current Certified Nutrition Specialists.

Who should take the certificate?
This program is designed for:

Existing health professionals
Those who aspire to careers in healthcare
Those who seek to develop or deepen a focus in diet and nutrition with a holistic orientation
College-level coursework in relevant areas of at least one of these subjects is preferred: culinary arts, non-dietary healing arts, dietetics, nutrition, biology (biochemistry, cell/plant biology or microbiology), or chemistry (inorganic, organic, or analytical). However, individuals are welcome to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Cooking experience is not required but will be helpful

Demand and Job Prospects
Healthcare in the U.S. has been dramatically shifting in recent years toward a greater focus on prevention and wellness, as evidenced by the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010. In 2011, the National Prevention Strategy (NPS) of the ACA was released with a stated goal of increasing the number of healthy Americans at every stage of life. Nutrition and healthy eating were listed as one of its seven primary priority areas.
Healthcare professionals will be able to utilize the certificate to expand their existing scope of practice by incorporating food as medicine. Program graduates will be able to provide services such as counseling in the following areas:

Use of food as medicine
Diet-centered home health assistance
Healthy and natural food production for individuals
Groups, schools, and businesses
Personal and group cooking instruction

These types of services will help meet the needs of added target audiences, including new parents and younger people with a growing awareness of the importance of wellness, disease prevention, and self-care and the rapidly increasing population of baby boomers with age-related health concerns.

Delivery Method

Online

The program meets continuing education requirements for all holders of a CNS credential.

Foundations in Nutrition I and II offered through the UCSD Diego Division of Extended Studies Integrative Nutrition certificate program provide 60 CE units to fulfill the Foundational Nutrition coursework eligibility requirements for the MD/DO pathway to the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS). BCNS requires MD/DOs to complete other specific coursework, obtain a passing exam score, and document 1,000 hours of clinical nutrition practice experience. BCNS reviews each candidate individually, including current course descriptions, transcripts, and experience to determine eligibility. To learn more about becoming a CNS, visit www.NutritionSpecialists.org.

Courses offered by the UCSD Diego Division of Extended Studies Integrative Nutrition certificate program are eligible for 10 CE units per course unit for current Certified Nutrition Specialists.

Who should take the certificate?

This program is designed for:

Existing health professionals
Those who aspire to careers in healthcare
Those who seek to develop or deepen a focus in diet and nutrition with a holistic orientation
College-level coursework in relevant areas of at least one of these subjects is preferred: culinary arts, non-dietary healing arts, dietetics, nutrition, biology (biochemistry, cell/plant biology or microbiology), or chemistry (inorganic, organic, or analytical). However, individuals are welcome to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Cooking experience is not required, but will be helpful

Healthcare in the U.S. has been dramatically shifting in recent years toward greater focus on prevention and wellness, as evidenced by the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010. In 2011, the National Prevention Strategy (NPS) of the ACA was released with a stated goal of increasing the number of healthy Americans at every stage of life. Nutrition and healthy eating were listed as one of its seven primary priority areas.

Healthcare professionals will be able to utilize the certificate to expand their existing scope of practice by incorporating the use of food as medicine. Program graduates will be able to provide services such as counseling and coaching in the following areas:

Use of food as medicine
Diet-centered home health assistance
Healthy and natural food production for individuals
Groups, schools, and businesses
Personal and group cooking instruction

These types of services will help meet the needs of additional target audiences including new parents and younger people with a growing awareness of the importance of wellness, disease prevention, and self-care, as well as the rapidly increasing population of baby boomers with age-related health concerns.

Format: Online

Part 1 Core Courses offered online every quarter, Part 2 Practical Portion offered online only during Winter and Summer quarters

Estimated Cost: $2,860

Not including books ~$200 or certificate fee - $95

Duration: 12 months

Contact

Department: Healthcare & Behavioral Sciences
Phone: 858-534-9262
Email: unexhealthcare@ucsd.edu

Courses

Number of courses: 8
Total units: 14

Nutrition PracticumFPM-40624

Units: 0.50

$195

To complete the program in Natural Healing and Cooking, students will also be required to demonstrate their skills by remotely hosting a mini-cooking class after the completion of the Natural Healing...

See Details

Upcoming Start Dates:

June 24, 2024

Typically Offered: Winter, Summer

Download PDF

Industry Certification

Foundations in Nutrition I and II offered through the UCSD Extension Integrative Nutrition certificate program provide 60 CE units to fulfill the Foundational Nutrition coursework eligibility requirements for the MD/DO pathway to the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS). BCNS requires MD/DOs to complete other specific coursework, obtain a passing exam score, and document 1,000 hours of clinical nutrition practice experience. BCNS reviews each candidate individually, including current course descriptions, transcripts, and experience to determine eligibility. To learn more about becoming a CNS, visit www.NutritionSpecialists.org.

Courses offered by the UC San Diego Extension Integrative Nutrition certificate program are eligible for 10 CE units per course unit for current Certified Nutrition Specialists.

Advisory Board

October 12, 2020

The Top 6 Healthcare Careers You Can Do From Home

Healthcare may not seem like an obvious work-from-home career option, but there are a number of professional areas perfect for working remotely. Check out our top 6 recommendations for this rapid growing industry.

August 20, 2019

Healthy for Life: 7 Keys To Success

Holistic nutrition-expert Jeanne Grosset offers her e-book "Fit & Trim for Life: 7 Keys to Success" free for those looking to change their lives by changing their eating habits.

July 23, 2019

Humanities Professor Starts New Career in Healthy Cooking

Niran Abbas is passionate about healthy eating, cooking, food production and the effects of food in aiding a sense of well-being. "I wanted to understand a different approach of using food as a healing mechanism," she explains. “I look at food as both health and pleasure.”

April 29, 2016

Cooking up a healthy life

UC San Diego Extension’s new Integrative Nutrition certificate teaches the ingredients for a healthy life.

Stay Updated

Subscribe to our emails and be in the know about upcoming events, quarterly updates and new courses & programs. You can expect to receive course and workshop discounts, important resources and tailored information based on your interests.

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Choose an Area of Interest *

By signing up you agree to the privacy policy.

You must agree to the privacy policy to continue.

Request Information

Interested in the Program?

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone Number

Question / Comments

By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by our website in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Subscribe to emails from UCSD Division of Extended Studies

Apply Now

Ready to get started?

This certificate requires an application before taking any courses. There will be a $0 fee to apply to this program. Students will also be required to pay a $95 certificate fee upon enrollment into the program after acceptance. View the complete Certificate Registration and Candidacy Guidelines.

APPLY TO THIS CERTIFICATE

Integrative Nutrition

Page Tools

About the Integrative Nutrition Program

Courses

Delivery Method

Foundations of Nutrition I: Introduction to Nutrition ScienceBIOL-40320

Upcoming Start Dates:

Foundations of Nutrition II: Diet and DiseaseBIOL-40321

Upcoming Start Dates:

Food as Medicine: The Art and Science of Food, Nutrition and Self-HealingFPM-40618

Upcoming Start Dates:

Behavior Change and Lifestyle CoachingFPM-40587

Upcoming Start Dates:

The Business of Integrative NutritionFPM-40619

Upcoming Start Dates:

Advanced Nutrition TopicsFPM-40620

Upcoming Start Dates:

Natural Healing and CookingFPM-40623

Upcoming Start Dates:

Nutrition PracticumFPM-40624

Upcoming Start Dates:

Industry Certification

Related Documents

Advisory Board

Related Articles

The Top 6 Healthcare Careers You Can Do From Home

Healthy for Life: 7 Keys To Success

Humanities Professor Starts New Career in Healthy Cooking

Cooking up a healthy life

Stay Updated

Interested in the Program?

Interested in the Program?

Ready to get started?

Ready to get started?

Share This