Stay current on the latest science in personalized nutrition, US food regulations, and nutrition policy with just two semesters of online coursework.
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Quick Facts: 

Credential Type: Graduate Certificate 

Credential Cost: $9,060 (Rate for 2024)

Delivery Format: 100% Online

Eligibility: Learners with a bachelor’s degree

Program Length: 12 credit hours (Complete in as little as two semesters)

 Enrollment: Anytime

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Certificate Description

This online graduate certificate is for early- to mid-career professionals who want to learn about the intricacies of US food regulations, nutritional policies, and the growing field of personalized nutrition. You will explore the development of food products, analyze the factors shaping US food and nutrition policies, and examine the role of genetic variation in personalized nutrition. 

You will complete comprehensive courses examining emerging trends in personalized nutrition, innovations in human biology and food science, and regulatory challenges in the food industry. 

Skills You Will Learn

Upon completing this certificate, you will:

  • Develop an awareness and appreciation of the complex regulations that must be followed for development of a new food ingredient or new food product in the US market.
  • Explain the economic, political, social & cultural factors that influence U.S. food & nutrition policies.
  • Examine the impact of economic, political, social & cultural factors on national food systems and population health.
  • Discuss the key aspects of individual genetic variations, the epigenome, the microbiome, and the exposome that underlie the field of personalized nutrition and contribute to individualized responses to dietary intakes.
  • Examine the current research evidence of personalized nutrition.
  • Analyze the emerging personalized nutrition trends, innovations, and regulatory challenges.

Course Details

The Food Regulations, Nutrition Policy, and Personalized Nutrition Certificate is a 12-credit hour program, consisting of three credit-bearing graduate courses and six Coursera components.

To earn this certificate, you'll complete the following: 

  • Graduate course: NUTR 581 – US Food Regulations 
    • Throughout the semester, students will learn the principles of US food regulations and how these regulations influence the US food industry. The course will explore the main US food regulations, enforcement actions, trade associations, and the Codex Alimentarius. Students will apply their learning by completing individual assignments and participating in optional group exercises and will integrate and apply graduate level knowledge of food regulations by working throughout the semester on a capstone project.
      • Coursera Components: 
        • Understanding Food Regulations & Food Labeling (Coming soon!) 
        • Navigating Food Regulations: Enforcement & Case Studies (Coming soon!)
  • Graduate course: NUTR 582 – Personalized Nutrition 
    • A “one size fits all” approach to nutrition may not work for everyone. We each have unique variations in our genome, epigenome and microbiome, which interact with our external environment to affect how our bodies respond to dietary intake. Students will learn how our unique biological make-up can be a way to establish more personalized approaches to diet, new approaches to analyzing personalized nutrition data, and what direct-to-consumer personalized nutrition products and services are available.
  • Graduate course: NUTR 583 – Nutrition Policy 
    • Throughout the semester students will learn about the policy making process and the evidence-base at the interface of nutrition policy. Students will explore complex questions about how the government has responded to diet-related health problems and will examine the role of government in efforts to facilitate healthy eating. In addition, information on how to develop and evaluate policy approaches to improve diet quality and reduce the burden of diet-related disease among all people will be presented. 
      • Coursera Components: 
        • Insights into Nutrition Policy: From Theory to Practice (Coming soon!)
        • Nutrition Policy: Adoption, Implementation, and Public Health Impact (Coming soon!)

Read course descriptions in the Nutritional Sciences Academic Catalog.

How to Enroll

Applying for this certificate

Acceptance into the program is required to enroll in the courses.

To apply for a graduate certificate program, you'll need to start an online application through the University of Illinois Graduate College. 

When your application is accepted, there's no rush to complete all three courses immediately. You may enroll in each course as your schedule allows.

The following items are required for your application:

  • Bachelor’s degree: Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (A=4.0), or comparable GPA for an international applicant, for the last two years of undergraduate study is a minimum requirement for admission
  • Professional resume: This should include personal information (name, address, telephone number, and email address), academic background, work experience (start and end dates for each position and a brief description of responsibilities), educational training, professional associations, and leadership experiences. Please limit your resume to two pages.
  • English proficiency scores (international students only): If you are a non-native English speaker, you must upload your TOEFL or IELTS scores directly to your application. Review the Graduate College’s English proficiency requirements for more details on possible exemptions. 

Apply as a certificate student

Accelerate Your Career

Invest in yourself with an adaptable, cost-effective education to help you succeed. 

At ACES, we design our online programs to meet you where you are and take you to where you want to be.

World-Class Faculty

Meet your instructors
Sharon M. Donovan

Sharon M. Donovan, Ph.D., R.D.
Professor and Melissa M. Noel Endowed Chair in Nutrition and Health / Director of the Personalized Nutrition Initiative

Dr. Donovan received her B.S. and Ph.D. in Nutrition at the University of California at Davis in 1983 and 1988, respectively. After completing a post-doctoral fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, she joined the faculty at UIUC in February 1991 as an Assistant Professor of Nutrition. She was promoted to Associate Professor with indefinite tenure and to Full Professor in August 1997 and August 2001, respectively. She served as Director of the Division of Nutritional Sciences between 1999 and 2009. Dr. Donovan teaches both basic and advanced nutrition classes and has been included on the "List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students" more than 25 times for 9 different courses.

Dr. Donovan has ~ 225 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and receives grant support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), foundations and the food and pharmaceutical industry. Her research efforts have been recognized by both national and international organizations with several awards, and her graduate students have been the recipients of prestigious fellowships, scholarships and awards for their research accomplishments. She served as President of the American Society for Nutrition for 2011-2012 and served as the President of the International Society for Research on Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML) for 2018-2020.

Jessica Hartke

Jessica Hartke, Ph.D.
Senior Associate Director, Division of Nutritional Sciences

Dr. Hartke received her B.S. and M.S. in Animal Sciences from Southern Illinois University and her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Illinois. She has been an administrator with the Division of Nutritional Sciences graduate training program for over 15 years. She is considered an expert in developing and implementing interdisciplinary graduate education and research programs. In collaboration with a team of experts from the industry, Dr. Hartke has developed and led or co-led innovative new courses focused on US Food Regulations. Dr. Hartke has been recognized on the "List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students" and is a recipient of the University of Illinois Chancellor's Academic Professional Excellence Award and College of ACES Professional Staff Award for Excellence.

Saima Hasnin

Saima Hasnin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist

Dr. Hasnin received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and her Ph.D. in Human Sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She takes an interdisciplinary and collaborative role to help low-resourced childcare providers overcome barriers and provide high-quality nutrition, care, and education for preschool children from low-income families in rural areas. Dr. Hasnin's interdisciplinary research and Extension activities develop sustainable childhood obesity prevention solutions and support holistic child development.

Krystal Hodge

Krystal Hodge, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Dr. Krystal Hodge received her B.S. in Biology and Spanish at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI in 2000. She also has a MPH in Health Education from Emory in Atlanta, GA, where she spent several years working for federal and state institutions on studies targeting pregnant women, infants, and young children. She earned her Ph.D. in Human Nutrition from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2015. She joined FSHN as an Assistant Professor focusing on Community Nutrition in 2023. Her research currently focuses on community nutrition education programs involving both direct education and Policy, Systems, and Environment interventions to improve access to healthy food and physical activity.

Guy Johnson

Guy Johnson, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor, Food Science and Human Nutrition / Principal, Johnson Nutrition Solutions, LLC

Dr. Johnson received his B.S. degree in food science and a graduate degree in nutritional sciences from the University of Illinois. He spent more than 20 years in the food industry before founding JNS, providing his clients with nutrition-related scientific, regulatory, and communications initiatives designed to solve problems and leverage opportunities based on sound science. Dr. Johnson is a Fellow of the American Society of Nutrition and the Institute of Food Technologists and has been a member of the Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition since 2005. 

Ready to start the certificate?

Apply now

FAQ

Who should pursue this certificate?

The Food Regulations, Nutrition Policy, and Personalized Nutrition Certificate is most beneficial for: 

  • Registered Dietitian-Nutritionists (RDN)
  • Food Industry Professionals
  • Physicians and other Health Care Providers
  • Personalized Nutrition Consultants
  • Food Safety Professionals
  • Regulatory Professionals
  • Public Health Professionals

What is the ACES Online Learning Experience like?

ACES Online offers a clear path for graduate-level learners. Move from Coursera (open learning components) to For-Credit Graduate Courses (credit-bearing) to Certificate Completion.

Coursera (non-credit open learning components)

The College of ACES develops Coursera open learning components that are open to anyone and are available on Coursera. These courses serve as the foundational content for our graduate certificate programs.

While completion of the Coursera components is required to complete the for-credit graduate courses, please note that Coursera completion alone is not credit-bearing.

You can begin your learning journey at your own pace at any time by starting with one or more Coursera components. These low-cost entry points allow you to gain foundational knowledge necessary for the certificate courses. If you're not ready to commit to a full graduate certificate, these courses provide a flexible, accessible, and affordable entry point.

For-Credit Graduate Courses

You can complete Coursera components either before or concurrently with graduate course enrollment. The graduate courses build on the foundational content from the Coursera components and include high-engagement features such as:

  • Weekly Live Sessions: Participate in real-time interactions with instructors and peers. Recordings are available for those who cannot attend live.
  • Assessments: Regular assessments help reinforce learning and track your progress.
  • Group Projects: Collaborate with fellow students on practical projects.
  • Office Hours: Weekly office hours offer direct access to instructors for additional support and clarification.

The for-credit graduate courses are hosted on Canvas, providing an interactive and supportive learning environment.

Certificate Completion

You earn a graduate certificate by completing the graduate credit courses. This certificate signifies mastery of the subject matter and can be a significant step towards further academic or professional goals.

Each certificate page will list and link the relevant Coursera courses required for that certificate, ensuring you have direct access to the necessary Coursera components.

This structured approach allows you to start with non-credit Coursera components, build on that knowledge with for-credit courses on Canvas, and ultimately earn your graduate certificate. 

What is a Coursera Component?

  • Open learning, affordable, flexible, and accessible online course
  • Self-directed and self-paced
  • Non-credit
  • On-demand, start anytime
  • Provides foundational knowledge for a corresponding for-credit graduate course

What is a for-credit Graduate Course?

  • For-credit graduate courses count towards your pursuit of a graduate certificate
  • Enroll as a non-degree student to explore a variety of degree programs
  • Start at various times in Spring, Summer, or Fall

What is a Graduate Certificate?

  • 12-credit hours, comprised of 3 to 4 graduate courses
  • Designed around specific skills and competencies
  • Earn a transferable certificate that can be stacked toward a master’s degree

What is an Online Master's Degree?

  • 32 to 36 credit hours
  • Flexible and adaptable to fit your schedule
  • 100% Online
  • Features the same rigor and faculty you would have in the on-campus program
  • Applications are accepted throughout the year
  • Begin in the Spring, Summer, or Fall

Have more questions?

Email us at acesonline@illinois.edu or call 217-265-4194

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