Western Carolina University

Online Professional Certificate

Register Online

The Online Certificate in School Nutrition and Wellness has been designed to meet the growing demand for Registered Dietitians, DTRs, allied health/medical and fitness professionals, school administrators, parents, and the general public who want to develop healthy food programs and strategies for children in today’s school systems. This Web-based Certificate program provides information on why nearly 20% of America's children are overweight or obese and how you can make a positive impact in your community to establish effective health, nutrition, and wellness policies that will be critical for reversing this serious problem. The health status of America’s youth will directly impact our nation's health care system, available labor pool, and national priorities for years to come.  With the knowledge gained through this certificate, participants will feel confident leading or participating in effective wellness committees, modeling optimal eating behaviors, and making your school and community environment healthy and positive. 

This Certificate program is appropriate for anyone concerned with child health and education including:

• Registered Dietitians/Dietetic Technicians
• School Administrators
• Teachers
• Health Educators
• Nutritionists
• Nurses
• Allied Health/Medical and Fitness Professionals
• Food Service Providers
• Caregivers
• PTA Members
• Parents

The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing agency for the American Dietetic Association (ADA) has approved the Certificate in Nutrition program for 20 Continuing Professional EducationUnits (CPEUs) or 10 (CPEUs) per course for both the Registered Dietitian (RDs) and Dietetic Technician-Registered (DTRs).

Who Should Attend:

This certificate program is appropriate for anyone concerned with child health and education, including school administrators, teachers, physical education teachers, health educators, nutritionists, nurses, food service providers, caregivers, PTA members, allied health/medical and fitness professionals, and even parents. With the knowledge gained through this program, participants will feel confident leading or participating in effective wellness committees, modeling optimal eating behaviors, and making your school and community environment healthy and positive.

Workplace Advantages and Benefits

• On-Going guidance, instruction, and interaction from instructors/faculty members that hold either a Master's or Ph.D Degree in Nutrition or a nutrition related field and/or are licensed Registered Dietitians.
• College courses provide CECs or CEUs for personal trainers and allied health/medical professionals seeking re-certification, re-licensure, or career advancement.
• A professional certificate from an accredited institution.
• Networking opportunities with industry experts.

Program Requirements

To earn the certificate you are required to complete all two core courses.  The two core courses are offered in an OPEN ENROLLMENT FORMAT, meaning you can register AT ANY TIME, and once logged in, you are provided 8 full weeks of unlimited access for each individual course you registered for with no penalty for finishing early.  Typically the program can be completed in as little as 8 weeks, but you must complete the requirements within two-years.

Award of the Certificate:

• Professional Certificate in School Nutrition and Wellness:  complete all two core courses within a period of two years

• Complete and receive a passing grade of (C- or above) in all courses; which includes quizzes, exams, written/research projects, and class assignments. 

Continuing Education Credits

For a complete list of the organizations and associations that have approved this program for continuing education, CLICK HERE. 

Demo

For an online demo go to http://www.efs2.pageout.net/

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Course Descriptions

Course 1:  School Wellness and Nutrition - Problems and Effective Solutions..........$249
This course provides background on government nutrition programs for children, and the political and budget constraints that have hindered advancement in nutritional science. It also provides knowledge about the foods served at school and why vending machines and junk foods have become staples at many schools. Finally, the course looks at the parental, community, marketing, and school-based influences on childhood nutrition.

Course 2:  Developing School Wellness-Children Nutritional Programs..........$249
This course will look at the changing food environment in the U.S., including Mrs. Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign, changes in the school lunch program, and examines school gardens as well as the organic and green movement. It will discuss the three steps to successful nutrition education and ideas for incorporating nutrition and fitness education into the school day. It will ask participants to think creatively about the best ways to reach kids through positive food, fitness and health behaviors!

 

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Program Coordinator:

Melissa Halas-Liang, MA, RD, CDE, is a nationally recognized Registered Dietitian, nutrition educator and wellness expert and is a spokesperson for the California Dietetic Association (CDA). She has over 15 years of experience in nutrition through the lifecycle, teaching, education and curriculum development, clinical/critical care, nutrition management, counseling, media and writing. She holds certificates in Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management and Wellness Coaching.

Melissa is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. She holds a BS in Clinical Dietetics, an MA in Nutrition Education, and was a Certified Nutrition Support Dietitian for 10 years. She also has a certificate for Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management and is a Wellness Coach. 

In August 2006, she founded SuperKids Nutrition, Inc. (www.superkidsnutrition.com) and the Super Crew to “Save the world one healthy food at a timeTM.” She provides nutrition articles, resources, learning activities and newsletters to thousands of schools in over 40 states and motivates families and educators to actualize a healthy life. 

Melissa is a firm believer in “walking the walk,” and practices living a healthy lifestyle daily. Whether it's helping families eat healthier or inspiring parents, clients and students to be more nutritionally fit, she believes good nutrition plays a vital role in spiritual, physical and mental health.

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Instructor

Christen C. Cooper, MS, RD
Christen C. Cooper, MS, RD, is an instructor for the Online Certificate in School Nutrition and Wellness.  She holds a Master's in Nutrition from Columbia University. She is founder of Cooper Nutrition Communications & Education, a firm that provides culturally-competent nutrition education to organizations nationwide.  Christen worked for Linking Food with the Environment (LiFE), a Columbia University environmental nutrition program. She has also worked for Today Show dietitian, Joy Bauer.  Christen currently serves on the advisory board of http://www.superkidsnutrition.com/, a website devoted to optimal child nutrition. She serves as a consultant for the New York State Attorney General, Red Rabbit Lunchbox, Provant Health Care, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and other organizations. She writes for Today’s Dietitian, NY Metro Parent, EatLikeAnRd.com, Aging Well, Livestrong.com, and other publications.