“The MSNE program equipped me with practical skills immediately applicable to real-world nutrition careers. It effectively combines the flexibility of the online format with the interpersonal feel of a traditional classroom. I developed a high level of connectivity with my professors and classmates, many of whom I now consider close friends. The journey was appropriately challenging, and there were moments when I felt overwhelmed. However, with the unwavering dedication and support of the faculty, professors, alums, and fellow students, I excelled beyond my wildest expectations, both in the classroom and in real life, as I began using many course assignments and projects to build my nutrition business. Upon graduating, I felt prepared, confident, and inspired with actionable skills, knowledge, prospects, and connections to achieve a thriving career and significantly impact diet-related disease status at individual, community, organizational, and policy levels.”

Kara White, a second-year graduate student in AU’s online Master’s of Science in Nutrition Education program described one of her concerns before she enrolled. “I had this fear that I'd never build a community in an online program or strengthen my networking abilities because I'm not on campus, but that's just not true. Today, we have our own little network. There's no way we ever would have connected outside of AU. Now that fear is gone—that making connections would be difficult online.” 

Speaking about the professors and the Department of Health Studies, Kara explained that collectively they foster community through several support systems including a dedicated Facebook group, weekly emails, and communicating frequently about workshops, internships, and other news. “They do a really good job of making sure that we all are a part of the community, even though there are folks who participate from across the U.S. and internationally in the program.”

Describing a student project she completed as a part of the MSNE program, Kara talked about the unexpected bonus of meeting American University alumni in the real world. “I met with one of my local legislators for a project last semester. We're chatting and I said ‘I am doing this project for my grad school program.’ The legislator asked me what school and I said ‘American University in DC.’ He responded saying, ‘I did my undergrad and my graduate work there. Go AU! You let me know how things go when you graduate.’ And I will let him know after graduation because we're alumni and we have that connection.”

“For me, part of the experience was to get the education and to add to my resume with a reputable program. And I wanted to be able to do it online. So that's why American University really appealed to me. It was the [nutrition master’s] program with the highest pedigree that I could find, and it was also really flexible. Plus, I didn't have to take any prerequisites.

I love the flexibility of the program. I like that I could take a break between May and June for my family. So that was beautiful—the fact that I could just pause.”