Doctoral Applied Nutrition and Health Education

The Applied Nutrition and Health Education major of the Ed.D. program prepares graduates through an individual, societal, cultural, and organizational health lens, offering a more advanced understanding of the topic. The major is designed for those who seek advanced leadership positions in universities, governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, public health agencies, hospitals, and businesses functioning as health education experts, evaluation specialists, faculty, or consultants. The program prepares graduates to develop a deeper understanding of the skills needed to guide health education through policies, practices, and solutions to complex issues in a diverse society.

66 Total credits
$795 Cost Per Credit Hour
TBA Next Start Date

The Union Advantage

In addition to receiving the world-class doctoral education Union offers, you could finish faster and save on tuition when you transfer 24 previously earned master’s-level credits into our Ed.D. program. Here’s how it works:

Complete your EdD in 24 months

If you are a full-time student and can transfer in twelve credits.

Transfer up to 24 credits

See criteria below for determining which credits are transferable.

Pay just $27,216 in tuition

Dependent upon transferring in 24 credits.

  • Transfer up to 24 credit hours of previous graduate coursework
  • Finish in three years or less
  • 16-week terms
  • Fall, Spring and Summer start dates
  • Online residencies at the start of each term
9 credits required, CHOOSE ONLY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

EDU 701 Ethical Leadership OR DIET 530 Foundations in Dietetic Practice | RSCH 785 Qualitative Research OR RSCH 788 Quantitative Statistics

Career Opportunities

Many graduates of the program will go on to earn tenure track faculty positions in nutrition, health education, or health and wellness at colleges and universities, become program evaluation specialists for public health or non-profit organizations, hold leadership positions at governmental organizations such as USDA, DHHS,  function as health program consultants for businesses, and many more opportunities. 

Ed.D. or Ph.D. What's the Difference?

An Ed.D. is designed for the practitioner – someone who wants to lead, solve problems, and influence outcomes in their organizations or communities. Some possible careers of Ed.D. graduates may include school district superintendent, academic dean at a university, or curriculum specialist. A Ph.D. in Education is designed for the scholar who wants to prepare for teaching, researching, and adding to existing knowledge in their field. Essential differences between Union’s Ph.D. in Education and an Ed.D. include:

  • The Ed.D. focus is based on developing a solution for a particular challenge or issue, the Ph.D. focus is research-based.

  • Ed.D. research focuses on a single discipline, but it may sometimes require the student to conduct research in other subjects. Research in the Ph.D. program is interdisciplinary – involving study across multiple subject areas.

  • A certificate in Social Justice is embedded in the Ed.D. program.

  • Students entering the Ed.D. program will have a choice of three available majors: Applied Nutrition and Health Education, Educational Leadership (Pre-K – 12) or Higher Education Leadership. The Ph.D. program does not have majors.

Added Distinction to your Ed.D. degree

Union’s Ed.D. program has added value with an embedded certificate included. All Ed.D. students will graduate with a Social Justice certificate. The embedded certificate consists of 12 credit hours of coursework that students will take as part of the Ed.D. curriculum.

Ask your Union advisor for details – and look for additional certificates to be added in the future.

Licensure Disclosure Statment

This degree does not provide the education requirements for any state licensure. Please read this additional information, including a breakdown by state.

What You'll need to Apply

  • Online application – it’s free to apply, and GRE/GMAT scores are not required.

  • Personal statement/essay (two pages).

  • Official transcripts (completion date for your master’s degree).

  • One Letter of Recommendation (someone who can speak to your professional and academic work).

  • Resume/CV.

We are here to help! Our Welcome Center or a Success Coach will help you through the process after you submit your online application. Have questions? Email us at admissions@myunion.edu or call 800.861.6400.

Transfer Credit Criteria

  • Transfer credits are limited to graduate-level courses that were completed at other regionally accredited institutions with a grade of B or better.
  • Credits that applied toward a prior degree may be transferred.
  • The Ed.D. curriculum includes 12 credits (4 courses) of electives. Generally, any graduate course can replace those electives.
  • For transfer credits beyond the electives, the content of the course being transferred in must reasonably match the content of the course being replaced. For example, a course in educational leadership can replace another course in educational leadership. However, a course on bilingual education can't replace a course on school asset management.
  • In subject areas that change rapidly (such as education law, technology, or current issues), the course must have been completed in the prior five years. All other courses, except electives, must have been completed in the prior ten years. There is no time limit on courses that are transferred in to take the place of electives. Because of their importance to the dissertation process, credits for prior research methods courses cannot be transferred.

Funding Your Future

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