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This college is not an accredited institution nor would I recommend it. My comments in my first post apply equally to this organization.

Its "accreditation" is by an unrecognized accreditation association.

In Health
Jeff

Hi Jeff,
Is the Northern Colorado University that you listed that offers the online courses/didactic degree the only one that offers it online that you know of? Accredited of course. Thanks for the info!

It took me 14 years to get my BS degree, and I just finished my masters online with the University of Phoenix. I was just introduced to Dr. McDougall's site, thanks to Dr. Matt Lederman (www.exsalus.com) who spends two weekends a month at my small South Dakota VA hospital. I LOVE IT! I've also considered some type of nutrition training, since at 38 and with a masters degree, I'm still not sure what I want to be when I grow up ("independantly wealthy" seems to be escaping me!). I've lost 4 pounds in two weeks, and I love the foods!


So Gwen, my point is, it's never too late! And there is nothing worse than regretting something you didn't do!

Yeah, but the *accredited*, "legitimate" colleges teach quackery too! As I wrote in another thread, when I studied nutrition at one of the largest universities in the country, they portrayed vegetarianism as a fad diet followed only by the trendy or naïve. And the very first question on the very first test was something like, "Vegan diets are likely to be deficient in: (a) Protein (b) Calcium (c) Iron (d) Vitamin B12 (e) All of the above" You can guess what the "correct" answer was. I'm also willing to bet that most colleges erroneously teach that plant protein is "incomplete".

But if you're going to get bad info no matter where you go, then you might as well go with the accredited program, because then you at least have some credibility.

One of the great things about Jeff is that he doesn't just take some authority's word for it when they make some claim about nutrition. He goes to the actual scientific studies to see what they actually say. Both the unaccredited and legitimate colleges teach stuff that's not backed by the actual science, so going to the studies is the only way to really know what's true and what's not.

I'm a university psychology professor part time. Every year I get at least one or two students from the non-traditional category, e.g. in their 60's or 70's getting a master's degree in psychology or counseling which is the program I teach in. Last semester I had a 72 year old woman whose husband passed away last year and she was volunteering at a nursing home and realized she could offer more if she had a degree so she went for it! It's always fantastic to have these older students because their wisdom and life experience adds SO much more to the class discussion. Do not hesitate because of your age, it's never too late.

I honor your desire.

However, as with anything, a sage piece of advice is to check with those who are doing what you want to be doing and see what it took for them to get there and how well they are compensated for doing it.

I have given you my experience.

Who knows, maybe I am wrong.



In Health
Jeff

I highly recommend the Great Courses. They are true college-level courses, and are of very high quality. Every course offered is on sale at least once per year, so if you are watching your budget, wait for a sale.

Perhaps. But again, they do not provide a solution to the issue at hand. They do not prepare one to earn a living as a health care profession in the way that is practiced here.

In Health
Jeff

I just finished all three courses and have my certificate: Cornell University & T. Colin Campbell Foundation. I took the courses to help me personally understand plant based nutrition and the concepts presented in The China Study.

I definitely recommend them, particularly if you are or want to become involved in nutrition and dietary counseling.

Many years ago, I looked into a university masters program with the intent of pursuing an RD. When I went in for a counseling session with the advisor, I learned that the internships are typically unpaid. Then some research on typical salaries in the field, observing the struggles of others I knew trying to make a go of it, plus some real introspection about whether it was right for my personality led me to the decision that I was just as happy to continue to pursue it as an avocation while staying the course in my current, typically higher-paying, profession.

I don't regret it, but I do think that we do not put the right value on some professions. Jeff is worth his weight in gold (so it's good he practices CR. he he.)

My wife and I have searched high and low to try to find a (non MLM) way to earn a decent living teaching/helping others how to feel better, loose weight, heal their self, etc.. with their diet with no luck.

We are almost to the point of we cant make a living helping them heal their self why not help them kill their self?!? If they want to shovel lard, sugar, salt and fried dough down their pie holes then why not sell them what they want to buy? It's all about the bottom line, right???

We recently bought a concession trailer for something to do on the weekends during our short summers and to take our minds off our regular business. We are selling 100% fruit smoothies with no added sugar or HFCS, 100% fruit and fruit juices. Still a lot of sugar per serving but at least it's from real fruit. There are a lot of cheaper options then 100% fruit which we may have to go for if we let profit become our motivator.

We are fighting the temptation of adding high profit deep fried anything to our menu.