School Nutrition, Certificate
Does your dream career involve making a difference in children's lives through improved nutrition? Learn how to boost children's health, well-being and academic success through a program centered on nutrition-focused school initiatives.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
Accreditation and professional licensure
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
School Nutrition undergraduate certificate description
The certificate program in school nutrition provides you with a strong foundation in topics such as:
- development of healthy cuisines
- eating for lifelong health
- food service purchasing
- nutrition management and leadership
If you are interested in qualifying to sit for the school nutrition specialist credential offered by the School Nutrition Association, this certificate program is designed for you.
This certificate program provides detailed information on the requirements to run a school food service operation and offers you insight into the rules and regulations of the National School Lunch Program. More information can be found on the SNA website at https://schoolnutrition.org/careers-training/certificate-credentialing/certificate-program.
You must complete 900 working hours in a school nutrition or food service environment before you're eligible to sit for the national School Nutrition Specialist exam. More information on this credential can be found on the SNA website at https://schoolnutrition.org/careers-training/certificate-credentialing/credentialing/.
Why earn a school nutrition undergraduate certificate at ASU?
You can learn from faculty whose expertise spans nutrition, food service management, community health and child wellness. As part of ASU's broader nutrition and health offerings through the College of Health Solutions, this certificate connects you to instructors who understand how good nutrition shapes healthier, more successful children.
Courses
This undergraduate certificate includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
2026-2027 Catalog Year
| Requirement | Minimum grade | Credit hours |
|---|---|---|
|
The certificate in school nutrition consists of 30 credit hours, of which at least 24 must be upper division. A minimum grade of "C" (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) is required for each course.
|
||
|
ACC 382 Accounting and Financial Analysis
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
EXW 302 Fundamentals of Wellness
or
EXW 325 Fitness for Life
or
HEP 100 Introduction to Health and Wellness
(SOBE)
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
HSC 355 Eating for Lifelong Health
(SOBE)
or
NTR 450 Nutrition in the Life Cycle
(SOBE)
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
NTR 142 Applied Food Principles
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
NTR 341 Medical Nutrition Therapy I
or
NTR 345 Development of Healthy Cuisines
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
NTR 343 Food Service Purchasing
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
NTR 344 Nutrition Management and Leadership
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
NTR 400 Preprofessional Preparation in Dietetics
or
NTR 402 Preprofessional Prep in Nutrition Careers
1 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 1 |
|
NTR 445 Management of Food Service Systems
4 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 4 |
|
NTR 448 Community Nutrition
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
NTR 498 Topic: Child Nutrition Seminar
This course is only offered in spring terms.
1 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 1 |
|
Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
|
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Students will utilize the knowledge of nutrition, food science and communication skills to convey food and nutrition information.
- Students will apply food safety and sanitation protocols and practices to food service environments.
- Students will demonstrate application of principles of food management and systems in the provision of food and nutrition services to individuals and organizations.
Students will utilize the knowledge of nutrition, food science and communication skills to convey food and nutrition information.Enrollment requirements
GPA Requirement: 2.00
A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded prior to the award of an undergraduate degree. A student already holding an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.
Here are the admission and application details
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this school nutrition undergraduate certificate prepares you for
Graduates with an undergraduate certificate can enhance their career options. The certificate in school nutrition helps graduates gain entry-level school food service positions such as:
- child nutrition coordinator
- child nutrition manager
- food service manager
- food service worker
- school food menu planner
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
School of Human Performance and Lifespan Health
|
HLTHN 401AA
chs@asu.edu
602-496-3300
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
