Management of Child Nutrition Programs Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Management of Child Nutrition Programs is a professional curriculum that prepares students to assume management responsibilities in school nutrition settings as child nutrition program directors and as school food service directors and managers.

This certificate program is targeted towards individuals currently working in school nutrition and foodservice programs, as employees of state or local school districts and education agencies, or those seeking such employment. The program is open to both resident degree candidates and practitioners who need to update and formalize their knowledge pertaining to management of child nutrition programs. Resident students are advised that course requirements include applied assignments that must be carried out in the school nutrition setting. Students may complete the certificate program with or without being admitted to a specific degree program. Students may complete the certificate program to fulfill elective hours as part of the M.S. in Nutrition and Food Systems. Students must declare their intent to complete the certificate program in a letter to the Department of Nutrition and Food Systems before completing 6 credit hours of the courses required for the certificate.

To earn the certificate, students are required to complete 12 credit hours from NFS 581 , NFS 582 , NFS 625 , and NFS 673  all with grades of B or better. Students must complete any prerequisite courses prior to enrolling in the required courses. Students may repeat a class only one time if earning a grade less than a B. Students must complete certificate requirements within four years.

Requirements for Admission

Applicants must complete the follwing:

1. The applicant must complete the online application forma dn pay the application fee.
2. The applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree from an institution approved by a recognized accrediting agency
3. The applicant must be eligible to re-enter the last college or university attended in good standing.
4. The applicant must present evidence, by official transcript, of a grade point average equivalent to at least 3.0 (calculate on a 4.0 scale) for the last two years (60 hours) of undergraduate study.
5. The applicants must submit a written statement of purpose, discussing professional goals and how completion of the certificate is expected to assist in attaining those goals.
6. The chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Systems must be satisfied that the applicant shows promise of satisfying the certificate program requirements and approve admission.