Bachelor of Science in Integrative Health Studies
Index
Contact Information
About the B.S. Program
What is Integrative Health?
How do I apply for admission to the Degree Program?
What are the course requirements?
NEW Certificate Program in Applied Integrative Health
Faculty Members
Additional information on course descriptions, faculty members, etc
Contact Information
- General inquiries – Shannon Tafoya, department secretary: (505) 747-2220 or stafoya@nnmc.edu
- Program Director: Dr. Jeff Hawkins (505) 747-2256 or jhawkins@nnmc.edu
About the B.S. Program
The Bachelor of Science program in Integrative Health Studies was created in response to the growing consumer demand for healers and educators trained in holistic approaches to wellness, assessment and counseling. This program provides instruction in Western, Eastern, Indigenous and Hispanic approaches to health care practice as well as community health education. This method prepares graduates to contribute to the delivery of appropriate, accessible and responsible health services within a flexible range of environments including local communities, pueblos, private practices, departments of health, clinics, hospitals and more.
The B.S. degree also provides excellent preparation for those planning to continue onto graduate studies. Students are well prepared to apply for Chiropractic, Chinese, Homeopathic, Naturopathic and Osteopathic schools of Medicine, graduate schools of public health, health psychology, counseling and the allied health professions.
Licensed health professionals such as nurses, massage therapists, yoga teachers, counselors, etc, and others who would simply like to advance their capacity to develop and implement
patient-centered health services and wellness programs are warmly invited to take courses as non-degree candidates.
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What is Integrative Health?
Integrative Health is the blending of conventional and holistic, complementary, and alternative health care approaches. This healing approach to health care takes account of the whole person (body, mind, heart and spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle. Integrative Health Care practice is not just practiced by private practitioners. Integrative Health is now being incorporated into the education and training programs at top US medical schools such as Harvard, Duke, Columbia, Georgetown, and many holistic treatments are being offered as a service in many conventional clinics and hospitals.
Rationally speaking, the majority of the world's population uses some form of integrative health care as the "basis" of health care and not as alternative. What has been used by entire cultures of the East for thousands of years has also become widespread among Western cultures. For example, nearly half of the populations of Australia (57%), France (49%) and Germany report regular use of integrative treatments, or Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM).
The trend in CAM use is growing exponentially in the United States as well. In 1997, David Eisenberg, Director of Integrative Medicine at Harvard Medical School, estimated that North Americans made 627 million visits and paid $27 Billion dollars to practitioners of alternative medicine. This in contrast to only 386 million visits to family physicians. Now, in 2007, a decade later, an estimated billion visits will be made to alternative health practitioners.
The reasons why people are turning to Integrative Heath Care are pretty simple. Most forms of alternative health care are safe and effective. While conventional (allopathic) medicine is superior in the case of trauma and emergency (don't call your homeopath if you get hit by a car), many forms of integrative healing systems are more successful in assuring prevention, addressing the root causes of chronic and acute illnesses and treat "holistically" by addressing the mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of an individual. Additionally, most CAM therapies generally carry less risk, side effects, and drug induced problems compared to conventional allopathic (medical) therapies.
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How do I apply to the Degree Program?
The admissions process involves two parts. Candidates must first apply to NNMC for general admission. Students may apply to the IHS department as a degree candidate if they meet the following criteria:
- Graduation from High School or GED;
- Good Standing with Northern New Mexico College;
- A letter of intent addressed to the program director;
- Two letters of recommendation from an employer, teacher or personal reference;
- An optional personal interview (recommended for students new to NNMC);
- A GPA of 2.5 for all general education courses transferred into the degree program;
- Completion of 9 or more credits in (level 1) IHS courses with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Acceptable Courses Include:
- Introduction to Integrative Healing (required)
- Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Ayurveda: The Science of Living
- Herbal Medicine
- Herbal Pharmacy
- Introduction to Homeopathy
- Fundamentals of Essential Oils
- Holistic Nutrition
- Meditation is Medicine
- Therapeutic Touch
What are the Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements?
The Bachelor of Science Degree in Integrative Health comprises of 130 credits as follows:
General Education (47 credits)
Communications (9 credits)
ENG 111 English Composition (3)
ENG 116 Technical Writing (3)
Choose ONE of the following:
SPCH 130 Public Speaking (3)
SPAN 230 Spanish for Health Professions (3)
Math (3 credits)
MATH 150 |
College Algebra (3) |
Lab Sciences (16 credits)
CHEM 110 Intro to Chemistry (3)
CHEM 110/L Intro to Chemistry Lab (1)
CHEM 210 Integrated Organic & Biochemistry (3)
CHEM 210L Integrated Organic & Biochemistry Lab (1)
BIOL 237 Human Anatomy & Physiology I (3)
BIOL 237L Human Anatomy & Physiology I Lab (1)
BIOL 238 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (3)
BIOL 238L Human Anatomy & Physiology II Lab (1)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (12 credits)
PSY 105 General Psychology (3)
SOC 141 Effects of Alcohol & Drug Abuse (3)
ANTH/IHS 2X Cross-Cultural Health Systems (3)
Choose ONE of the following:
PSY 110 Issues of Death and Dying (3)
PSY 212 Child Psychology and Development (3)
PSY 225 Therapeutic Drama Techniques (3)
PSY 230 Psychology of Adjustment (3)
PSY 232 Abnormal Psychology (3)
PSY 290 Developmental Psychology (3)
Humanities (6 credits)
IHS 2XX Bioethics (3)
Elective (3)
HPER (1 credit) Choose ONE of the following:
HPER 116 Aikido I (1)
HPER 117 Kundalini Yoga (1)
HPER 119 Hatha Yoga (1)
HPER 127 Tai Chi Chuan I (1)
* Other electives may be accepted to fulfill general education requirements with approval from the director.
Lower Division (28 credits)
IHS 118 Introduction to Integrative Healing (3)
IHS 115 Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine (3)
IHS 116 Fundamentals of Essential Oils (3)
IHS 1XX Introduction to Homeopathy (3)
IHS 1XX Ayurveda: The Science of Living (3)
IHS 1XX Meditation is Medicine (3)
IHS 255 Intro to Herbal Medicine (2)
IHS 257 Herbal Pharmacy I (2)
IHS 264 Therapeutic Touch (3)
IHS 2XX Holistic Nutrition (3)
Upper Division (34 credits)
NURS 343 Pathophysiology I (3)
NURS 343 Pathophysiology II (3)
HSCI 3XX Fundamentals of Biostatistics & Epidemiology 3)
IHS 3XX Historical Development of Healthcare Paradigms (2)
IHS 3XX Patient-Practitioner Communication (3)
IHS 3XX Marketing & Management of Holistic Healthcare (3)
IHS 3XX Environmental & Ecological Determinants of Health (3)
IHS 3XX Principles of Community Health Education (3)
IHS 3XX Behavioral & Psychological Foundations of Health (3)
IHS 3XX Health Care Traditions of the Southwest (2)
IHS 4XX Evaluation Research: Applications to CAM (3)
IHS 4XX Advanced Integrative Healing (3)
Choose ONE minor tract:
Herbology (16 credits)
BIOL 360 General Botany (3)
BIOL 360l General Botany Lab (1)
4XX Traditional Remedios of Northern N.M (2)
4XX Traditional Remedios of Northern N.M. II (2)
4XX Botanical Materia Medica (3)
4XX Herbal Pharmacy II (1)
4XX Fall Herbal Fieldwork (1)
4XX Spring Herbal Fieldwork (1)
4XX Summer Herbal Fieldwork (1)
4XX Herbal Practicum (1)
Acupressure (16 credits)
4XX Acupressure: Extraordinary Vessels (2)
4XX Introduction to the Five Elements & the Twelve channels (2)
4XX Advanced Five Elements: Constitutional Types, Part One (2)
4XX Advanced Five Elements: Constitutional Types, Part Two (2)
4XX Assessment: Pulse & Tongue (1)
4XX Energetic Blocks to Healing (2)
4XX Myofascial Armoring (2)
4XX Select Disorders (2)
4XX Acupressure Practicum (1)
Aromatology (16 credits)
4XX Chemistry of Essential Oils (2)
4XX Integumentary Application of Essential Oils (1)
4XX Enhancing Creativity with Essential Oils (2)
4XX Essential Oils for Optimal Fitness (2)
4XX Essential Oils for Relieving Addictions (1)
4XX Gender Specific Essential Oils (2)
4XX Spirituality and Essential Oils (2)
4XX Essential Oils for Health Care Professionals (2)
4XX Practical Application of Essential Oils (2)
Choose ONE Elective (2 credits)
PIS/IHS4XX Pueblo Health Concepts & Practices (2)
IHS 4XX Medical Holism & Applications to Health Care (2)
IHS 4XX Bio-mechanical approaches to Health Care (2)
IHS 4XX Personal Journeying (2)
IHS 4XX Comparative Nutrition (2)
IHS 4XX Comprehensive Yogic Philosophy (2)
* Other electives may be accepted with program director's approval.
Capstone Thesis (3 credits)
IHS 4XX |
Capstone Thesis |
Total 130
Faculty Members
- Rita Gugliatta, R.N. (Mercy Hospital); LMT (New Mexico)
- Samantha Jennings, Dr. TCM, RAC (Canadian College of Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine)
- Curtis Jones, B.A., Humanistic Medicine (University of Massachusetts); Ph.D., Medical Philosophy (Union Institute)
- Hoda Kiama, B.A, Journalism (San Francisco State); N.D. (National College of Naturopathic Medicine)
- Denise Michel, B.S., Biology (Northern Illinois College); Diploma, Essential Oils & Medicine (University of Azuay, Ecuador); D.C. (National College of Chiropractic)
- Amadea Morningstar, B.A., Biology (Stanford); B.S., Nutrition (U.C. Berkeley); M.A., Counseling (Southwestern College); CPE (American Polarity Therapy Association
- Stephen Powell, B.A., Comparative Religion (Temple University); M.A., Cultural Anthropology (McGill University); M.A., Counseling Psychology (Prescott College), LMHC (New Mexico)
- Beverly Ramsey, B.S., M.S, & PhD, Ecology (University of Tennessee)