Nutrition essentials

Microcredential
Online
delivery
Introductory
level
4
courses

“What should we eat?” It’s a question asked everywhere, from cafeterias and kitchens to clinics and classrooms. Oregon State University’s Microcredential in Nutrition Essentials online helps you answer that question with practical nutrition insights that respect cultural traditions and support health across the lifespan.

As a student in this microcredential, you’ll study the relationship between food and health while learning how dietary needs change over time. Through hands-on activities, you’ll learn to assess diet and activity patterns, interpret food label information and explore how the meals we eat can express culture. Whether you’re navigating food choices with patients, students, elders or your family, these online nutrition classes prepare you to offer nutrition guidance with confidence.

Coursework (10 credits)

This is an introductory-level microcredential that is designed for those with no previous experience in a subject. These offerings will help you build a strong foundation in this discipline. Introductory microcredentials might occasionally require some prerequisite college courses.

Prerequisite courses

Before you enroll in the microcredential courses listed above, you must complete certain prerequisites. 

To enroll in NUTR 240:

To enroll in NUTR 241 and NUTR 325:

Note: Some prerequisite courses may have additional prerequisites. See the schedule of classes and search for the specific course for more details.

Nutritionist reviewing health charts on a tablet with a patient discussing healthy eating choices at a consultation table.

Skills you’ll gain

The in-demand skills you'll develop as a student in this microcredential will give you what you need to stand out and level up in your career.

  • Nutritional analysis
  • Nutrition guideline application
  • Cultural competence
  • Chronic disease risk evaluation
  • Health communication
  • Lifecycle nutrition planning
  • Food label interpretation

Additional details

Oregon State microcredentials consist of at least three courses and 8 credits that follow OSU’s quarterly term calendar. All microcredentials are delivered online and some microcredentials may be offered on campus. All course credits used to complete a microcredential must be completed at Oregon State and transfer credit and placement tests may not be used toward microcredential course credits. Read other important microcredential details » 

Microcredentials allow you to gain specialized skills in focused subject areas in less time than it takes to complete a full degree or certificate program. Typically, you can complete a microcredential in nine to 12 months. All microcredential courses follow the same term schedule as on-campus courses and are not self-paced. Learn more about course delivery methods »

Once you complete all classes in this microcredential, you'll receive a digital badge from Oregon State University. You can add the digital badge to your résumé and on LinkedIn, GitHub or other social media profiles. It provides employers with proof of the skills and discipline-specific knowledge you gained from the microcredential. Oregon State's digital badges are issued by Credly, the world's largest digital credential network.

Completing a microcredential is dependent on course availability, term offerings, course sequencing and any required prerequisites. Connect with the OSU Ecampus enrollment services team to better understand when courses in this microcredential are delivered to help you create a timeline for application and enrollment. You can also explore the schedule of classes to preview course availability.

  • Apply to earn a microcredential as a current student: If you’re a current OSU student interested in pursuing a microcredential online, please submit this form. Note: You must complete at least one of the microcredential courses after having been accepted into the microcredential.

You can find detailed tuition information for microcredential offerings on the tuition rates webpage. Please note: If you are pursuing a standalone microcredential as a nondegree student, you will not qualify for federal financial aid.

If you are pursuing a microcredential as a current student in an OSU degree or certificate program, you will be charged your program's tuition rate (if differential tuition is applicable). 

Earning a microcredential is a great way to develop a skill set that current and future employers are looking for. If your employer offers a tuition benefit program, you may be able to enroll online with Oregon State and receive a tuition scholarship that makes your student experience more affordable. You can also learn about the organizations OSU collaborates with to offer direct tuition benefit programs for online learners.

Once you complete a Microcredential in Nutrition Essentials online, you can apply the 10 credits you earn directly toward Oregon State’s online bachelor’s degree in public health.

If you plan to apply these credits toward a full degree, we encourage you to first contact the microcredential program to learn about the degree requirements. Please note that acceptance into a microcredential does not guarantee acceptance into a degree program.

Applying credits like this, an approach known as stacking, can help you build qualifications over time and advance your career. It's also a great way to test a field of study through a short series of courses before committing to a longer degree program. For students like Ali Lanenga, stacking can make a journey to a degree feel less overwhelming and more manageable.