Bachelor of Science in Integrative Health & Wellness Studies (I.H.W.)
The I.H.W. degree prepares students to enhance health, wellness and well-being among individuals, families, populations and communities. As health educators, graduates of this program will be able to teach integrative health concepts and guide individuals by providing holistic, wellness-focused education in a variety of clinical and community settings.
The integrative health & wellness studies major prepares a knowledgeable workforce that speaks the language of conventional health care, while also supporting a shift from a focus on disease to a focus on promoting health, wellness and resilience.
Successful completion of this program qualifies graduates to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam or for the International Consortium for Health & Wellness Coaching (ICHWC) exam.
B.S.-I.H.W. Program Outcomes
The IHW degree prepares graduates to demonstrate personal and professional understanding of:
- Integrative Health as a perspective through which to support individuals, organizations and communities to optimize their highest expression of health and well-being.
- Spiritual Health to promote integrative spirituality within person-centered relationships.
- Mental wellness to promote integrative Mental Health and well-being within self and others.
- Physical wellness, to promote the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for supporting integrative Physical Health through a balance of nourishment, movement, and rest.
- The application of the impact of social relationships (society and social groups) for promoting individual and population Social Health and well-being.
- Population Health promotion concepts, multisector policies, and evolving health care systems to promote integrative population health.
- Foundational knowledge in integrative Health Education promotion program planning, implementation and evaluation that prepares them to sit for specialty exams (e.g. health educator, health coach).
Admission
First-year and transfer applicants for admission must meet the general entrance requirements of the University as set forth in the "Office of Admissions" section of this Bulletin.
For students admitted to the I.H.W. program, progression in the program is dependent upon:
- Good academic standing.
- A grade of D or better in all I.H.W. courses.
To qualify for the I.H.W. degree, the following requirements must be met:
- A cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0 or above.
- A grade of D or better is required for all I.H.W. courses.
- Successful completion of all I.H.W. courses and program requirements.
- Completion of a minimum of 120 semester credit hours, including University Core Requirements.
See the B.S.-I.H.W. Degree Core Requirements
B.S.-I.H.W. Major Requirements - 81 credit hours
Because I.H.W. is a dynamic field, the curriculum is subject to change at the School of Nursing's discretion.
| IHW 101 | Introduction to Integrative Health in Populations | 3 |
| IHW 116 | Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan I | 3 |
| IHW 214 | Physiology of Wellness & Strategies for Healthy Living | 3 |
| IHW 216 | Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan II | 3 |
| IHW 204 | Anatomy of Wellness | 3 |
| IHW 224 | Integrative Health Promotion with Populations | 3 |
| IHW 301 | Mind/Body/Energy Perspectives | 3 |
| IHW 305 | Approaches to Care: Systems of Medicine | 3 |
| IHW 310 | Foundations of Health Education and Health Promotion | 3 |
| IHW 312 | Research Design and Analysis: Understanding and Utilizing Evidence | 3 |
| IHW 411 | Resilience and the Human Condition | 3 |
| IHW 417 | Integrative Health and Wellness Seminar I: Project Design and Management | 3 |
| IHW 418 | Integrative Health and Wellness Seminar II: Leadership | 3 |
| IHW 427 | Integrative Health & Wellness Practicum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 42 |
Electives - 33 credit hours
Concentrations: Students choose one concentration - 6 credit hours
Community Organizing
| IHW 325 | Community Organizing I: Introduction | 3 |
| IHW 326 | Community Organizing II: Advanced Applications | 3 |
Total credit hours in the Community Organizing concentration include 45 practicum hours in IHW 325.
Health Coaching
| IHW 307 | Integrative Health Coaching I – Concepts of Individual Wellness | 3 |
| IHW 407 | Integrative Health Coaching II: Supporting Individual Wellness | 3 |
Wellness Promoting
| IHW 316 | Nature's Pharmacy: Foods, Herbs and Supplements that Support Health | 3 |
| | Upper division health focused elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 120 |
Minor Requirements
The integrative health & wellness studies minor prepares students to develop competency in all four dimensions: psychological, social, spiritual and physical. Through knowledge and skill in the realms of integrative health, population health, and health education, students will be prepared to bridge the changing paradigm of health and wellness in our diverse society.
Because I.H.W. is a dynamic field, the curriculum is subject to change at the School of Nursing's discretion.
Minor Prerequisites - 6 credit hours
BIO 207/277 may be substituted for BIO 205/005.
BIO 305/365 may be substituted for IHW 204 at the discretion of the I.H.W. program director and/or the School of Nursing assistant to the dean for students.
Minor Requirements - 15 credit hours
| IHW 301 | Mind/Body/Energy Perspectives | 3 |
| IHW 305 | Approaches to Care: Systems of Medicine | 3 |
| IHW 310 | Foundations of Health Education and Health Promotion | 3 |
Choose two of the following courses - 6 credit hours
| IHW 307 | Integrative Health Coaching I – Concepts of Individual Wellness | 3 |
| IHW 316 | Nature's Pharmacy: Foods, Herbs and Supplements that Support Health | 3 |
| IHW 325 | Community Organizing I: Introduction | 3 |
| IHW 326 | Community Organizing II: Advanced Applications | 3 |
| IHW 407 | Integrative Health Coaching II: Supporting Individual Wellness | 3 |
| | Upper division health focused elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Total credit hours will include practicum hours if the following courses are taken:
IHW 325 – 45 practicum hours, and/or
IHW 326 -45 practicum hours.