Undergraduate Degree Programs

The A.S. degree incorporates all of the courses from the Diploma in Comprehensive Nutrition program, the Diploma in Women’s Nutrition program, and the Diploma in Natural Sciences program, as well as other selected courses. Upon completion of the A.S. degree, you will have truly achieved an extensive and thorough education in the science of nutrition; including scientifically sound alternate practices in nutrition.  

To obtain the Associate of Science Degree in Applied Nutrition a student must complete 20 courses (60 credit hours of study). The sequence of study is set forth in four segments. Each segment contains 5 courses or 15 credit hours equivalent to a college semester. The courses within each segment may be taken in any order. HCHS allows 48 months to complete this program, although it can certainly be completed in less time.

Students may transfer science and general elective credits earned through other accredited colleges or universities, subject to administrative approval. A maximum of 24 credits may be transferred into the Associate of Science degree program. HCHS students who have completed one or more of the courses listed in a segment may substitute a new course(s) from the next segment, subject to administrative approval.
 

Graduates of the A.S. program will be eligible to apply to sit for the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board’s (HNCB) Board Examination.  The HNCB is a division of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP).  NANP Professional Members who meet the board examination qualification criteria and successfully pass the Board Exam will earn the designation, “Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition.”  For more information, including a list of Board Exam eligibility criteria please visit www.holisticnutritionboard.org or contact the HNCB at 916-851-9310 or by email at exam@hncb.org.**

The Associate of Science Degree program consists of the following 20 courses:

Academic Prerequisites: High School diploma or equivalent, High School Algebra (for College Algebra I course)  

*Tuition fees do not include the cost of books and materials for each course which are purchased separately. See the Textbook Cost section for more information.  

**HNCB's "Board Certified in Holisitc Nutrition" designation is not recognized in the state of Tennessee. Students completing the Associate of Science (A.S.) in Applied Nutrition program will not be eligible for licensure to practice dietetics/nutrition in Tennessee.

Bachelor of Health Science (B.H.S.) in Nutrition
The Bachelor of Science degree program in Nutrition is designed to educate a new generation of nutrition practitioner; one capable of providing their clients with an integrative approach to nutrition. As a graduate of HCHS’s B.H.S. program, you will be well prepared for a 21 st century career in clinical practice, or a career in the nutrition and natural products industry. This degree program provides a strong foundation in nutrition and the basic sciences, as well as coursework in current, relevant topics such as Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Nutraceuticals, and Vitamins & Minerals; as well as elective coursework in such diverse areas as Herbal Sciences and Sports

The B.H.S. degree incorporates all of the courses from the Associate of Science Degree program as well as a significant number of other courses. Upon completion of the B.H.S. degree, you will have truly achieved an extensive and thorough education in the science of nutrition; including scientifically sound alternate practices in nutrition.

To obtain the Bachelor of Health Science Degree in Nutrition a student must complete 43 courses (127 credit hours of study). The sequence of study is set forth in eleven segments. Each segment contains 4 courses, equivalent to a college semester. The courses within each segment may be taken in any order. The B.H.S. degree may be completed in as little as 3.25 years, although HCHS allows up to 6 years to complete this program.

Students may transfer credits earned through other colleges or universities duly accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA); or international equivalent; subject to administrative approval. A maximum of 95 credits may be transferred into the Bachelor of Health Science degree program. HCHS students who have completed one or more of the courses listed in a segment may substitute a new course(s) from the next segment, subject to administrative approval.

The Bachelor of Health Science Degree in Nutrition program consists of the following 43 courses:

Oral & Written Communications (9 credits) ENG101 English Composition COM101 Public Speaking ENG130 English: Reading Enhancement	Credits   3 3 3
Humanities (3 credits) ENG201 Survey of English Literature	Credits 3
Mathematics (10 credits) MAT210 College Algebra I MAT211 College Algebra II MAT200 Statistics	Credits 3 4 3
Natural Sciences (18 credits) BIOL330 Anatomy & Physiology I BIOL331Anatomy & Physiology II BIOL210Human Biology CHE310General Chemistry CHE410Organic and Biochemistry BIO325 Introduction to Microbiology	Credits 3 3 3 3 4 3
Social Sciences (3 credits) SSC200 American Character	Credits 3
Behavioral Sciences (3 credits) PSY141 Psychology	Credits 3
General Education Electives (9 credits BUS140 Contemporary Marketing BUS142 Managing a Small Business CDV144 Child Development MAT101 Business Mathematics	Credits 3 3 3 3
Core Requirements (25 credits) NUT101 Understanding Nutrition I HEA101 Medical Terminology HEA201Environmental Challenges HEA301 Health & Wellness HEA302 Intro. to Comp. & Alt. Med. HEA401 Pathophysiology I HEA402 Pathophysiology II HEA410 Functional & Clin. Assess. I HEA411 Functional & Clin. Assess. II	Credits 3 1 3 3 3 3  3 3 3
Nutrition Major Courses (47 credits) NUT102 Vegetarian Nutrition NUT201 Understanding Nutrition II NUT401 Nutritional Counseling Skills NUT224 Eating Dis. & Weight Manag. NUT410 Nutrition Therapy I NUT411 Nutrition Therapy II NUT301 Vitamins & Minerals NUT302 Intro. to Nutraceuticals NUT403 Geriatric Nutrition Nutrition Major electives (see below) NUT500 Capstone project	Credits 3 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 3 15 3
Total Credits	127 Tuition - $21,120*
Nutrition Electives NUT221 Preg., Pediat. & Adol. Nutr. NUT222 Community Nutrition EXE320 Exercise Physiology NUT220 Sports Nutrition NUT223 Women's Spec. Health Con. HER101 Intro. to Herbal Sciences HER102 Herbs & Body Systems HER103 Intro. to Trad. Chin. Herb. NUT225 Curr. Weight Manag. Theory NUT226 Physio. Influ. on Weight Man. NUT227 Weight Man. in a Clin. Set.	Credits 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Academic prerequisites: High School diploma or equivalent, High School Algebra (for College Algebra I course)

*Tuition fees do not include the costs of books and materials for each course which are purchased separately. See the Textbook Cost section of this catalog for more information.