Want to learn more about health and nutrition? Maybe you're interested in pursuing related degree programs but can't afford to go back to school just yet.
Or maybe you simply want to improve your nutritional knowledge in a way that works for you.
Whatever the reason, if you're interested in taking free online nutrition courses, you've come to the right place.
In this article, we'll discuss some top courses available online and look at the schools that offer them.
Top 10 Free Online Nutrition Courses and Classes
Several top U.S. schools offer free online nutrition courses to students as well as the general public. Read on to find out more.
1. Stanford University
Stanford University is a private school in California that offers both online and in-person degrees. In addition, it provides many Massive Open Online Courses that anyone can take.
Stanford offers several free online nutrition courses that are available through edX and Coursera. These self-paced courses vary in length from a few hours to several weeks long.
Courses include:
- Introduction to Food and Health
- Child Nutrition and Cooking
- Food Sustainability, Mindful Eating, and Healthy Cooking
2. Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private school located in Ohio. It offers a free online course called Designing Your Personal Weight Loss Plan.
This course teaches learners how to design a healthy plan for losing weight that is sustainable over the long term. Topics include exercise, diet and nutrition, and goal-setting.
This free course, available through Coursera, takes about 11 hours of self-paced study to complete.
3. University of Colorado
The University of Colorado is a school system made up of four campuses. Online degrees and courses are offered through each school.
The system offers many free health courses, including one that focuses on nutrition called Healthy Practices: Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Community and Family Participation.
This course, available through Coursera, is self-paced and takes about eight hours of study to complete. It explores the effects of nutrition and physical activity on children and adolescents in school settings.
4. Emory University
Emory University is a private school in Atlanta, GA. It offers a variety of online courses available to the public.
One nutrition course is available called Weight Management: Beyond Balancing Calories. This course explores dietary as well as other factors related to weight gain.
It teaches how to improve your diet and lifestyle in ways that really work to promote weight loss.
Students take this course through Coursera. It is self-paced and can be completed in 17 hours or so.
5. University of Michigan
The University of Michigan offers a variety of health courses through Coursera.
One of these courses focuses specifically on nutrition: Healthy and Sustainable Foods. This course is part of a four-course series but may also be taken on its own.
The self-paced course requires about 13 hours of study time. It explores the impacts of various foods both on human health and the environment.
6. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University is a private school in Baltimore, MD. The school offers dozens of free health-related courses online.
One of these courses that specifically focuses on nutrition is called Public Health Perspectives on Sustainable Diets. The course explores the need for promoting healthy, sustainable food choices at a global scale.
You can find this course on Coursera. It is self-paced and can be completed in about seven hours.
7. University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota is a public school which offers a variety of online courses to the general public.
One unique nutritional course is available: Herbal Medicine. This course, which is part of a larger series, can be found on Coursera.
The course is credit-eligible and takes about 17 self-paced hours to complete. It teaches the use and effectiveness of various herbs to promote health and treat illnesses.
8. University of California, Irvine
UC Irvine is one of 10 campuses in the University of California System. It offers a few health and wellness courses through Coursera.
One of these courses is called Life 101: Mental and Physical Self-Care. This course teaches a variety of methods to promote personal wellness including nutrition, stress-management, and more.
The course is self-paced and completed in about 15 hours of study.
9. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers a nutrition-related course called Sustainable Food Systems.
This course is available on Coursera. It explores the food system and its impacts on global health and sustainability.
The course takes about 14 hours to complete and is self-paced.
10. University of Virginia
The University of Virginia offers both online degrees for students and online courses for the general public.
Nutrition-related courses are available through Coursera and titled Cancer Prevention Web-Based Activity.
Various levels of this course are available, ranging from four to 11 hours in duration, with the longer one eligible for continuing education credit.
These courses are self-paced and teach students effective cancer prevention methods, including diet and nutritional habits.
FAQs About Free Online Nutrition Courses
Still have questions about free online nutrition courses? Read on for answers.
What Are Free Online Nutrition Courses?
Free online nutrition courses are educational courses available online to the public. They are not the same as earning an associate degree or bachelor's degree in nutrition.
There is no cost to take these courses, and they explore a variety of nutritional topics such as healthy eating, food sustainability, and disease treatment and prevention through nutrition.
What Are the Benefits of Taking Free Online Nutrition Courses?
Free online nutrition courses increase your knowledge of healthy eating practices.
They typically allow you to study whenever it's convenient for you. Since they are free, you don't have to worry about breaking the bank to take these courses.
Are There Deadlines or Time Restrictions for Online Nutrition Courses?
The majority of the free online nutrition courses outlined in this article are self-paced, meaning you can study whenever you want and take as long as you need to complete each course.
Always find out before taking a course if it is self-paced or instructor-led and whether there are any deadlines you will need to be aware of.
Find the Right School for Free Online Nutrition Courses Today
All of the courses in this article will help you learn more about nutrition and approach the subject from a variety of angles.
With so many options, you're certain to find one that will cater to your specific interests.
