Master of Health Science in Functional and Integrative Nutrition

Curriculum Overview

The Master of Health Science in Functional and Integrative Nutrition curriculum was intentionally designed to be both scientifically rigorous and forward-thinking in functional and personalized medicine. While delivered via distance education, the program will also provide opportunities for in-depth field experiences that are critical aspects of modern healthcare.

Each course in the program is designed with an interdisciplinary, competency-based curriculum, and innovative lens that prepares graduates to connect and solve for challenges in fields of: personalized healthcare, research, medical technology, the business of healthcare, human behavior, diversity and inclusivity.

This program is a pathway for students to become a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) through the American Nutrition Association (ANA), and is best supported by the Nutrition Specialist or Sports Nutrition specialization tracks. As part of the integrative approach to care, the program is a pathway for students to become a Certified Health Coach through the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) if they choose the Health Coaching specialization, and satisfies the coursework requirements for additional sought-after nutrition certifications.

Holistically our program provides practical application and experiential courses, where students develop the vital skills in client-centered, evidence-based, and personalized care in the functional and integrative nutrition field. Our program also prepares graduates to evaluate research, medical technologies, behavioral design and business principles to be leaders and innovators in the fields of wellness.

Students must complete 21 core credits, as well as 15 elective credits, in one of four areas of specialization:

Specialization 1: Nutrition Specialist

This specialization focuses on emerging areas of study within the nutrition discipline and allows students to take any five of the program's nutrition- or business-focused electives in addition to their core required courses. This specialization prepares students as a pathway for the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) exam from the American Nutrition Association (ANA).

Specialization 2: Sports Nutrition

This specialization focuses on the sports nutrition area of study within the nutrition discipline. Within this specialization, students must take NUTR-6212 Sports and Human Performance Nutrition, NUTR-6304 Advanced and Applied Sports Nutrition, NUTR-6315 Functional Nutrition Technology and Diagnostics, and any two of the program's nutrition- or business-focused electives in addition to their core required courses. This specialization prepares students as a pathway for the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) exam from the American Nutrition Association (ANA).

Specialization 3: Health Coaching

This specialization focuses on the health and wellness coaching area of study within the nutrition discipline. Within this specialization, students must take INCR-6112 Foundations of Integrative Health and Wellbeing Coaching 1, INCR-6113 Foundations of Integrative Health and Wellbeing Coaching 2, INCR-6115 Community Practicum in Health and Wellness Coaching, and any two of the program's nutrition- or business-focused electives in addition to their core required courses. This specialization best prepares students as a pathway for the Health Coaching exam from the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC).

Specialization 4: General Studies

This specialization provides a general area of study within the nutrition discipline and allows students to take any five of the program's nutrition-, health coaching-, or business-focused electives in addition to their core required courses for those seeking a broader approach or for those who are undecided.

Graduation Requirements

The Master of Health Science in Functional and Integrative Nutrition Degree is granted to those candidates who have:

successfully completed 21 core credits, as well as 15 elective credits, in one of four areas of specialization;
successfully completed all required coursework with a minimum 2.0 GPA or higher and passed all courses with a grade of C or higher

Core Courses

The program requires 36 credit hours total: 21 credit hours in 7 required core courses and 15 credit hours in 5 elective courses. Each 15-week term consists of two 7-week sessions with a brief break between the sessions. Up to 9 credit hours of equivalent coursework may be from transfer credit. Courses subject to change.

NUTR-6100	FOUNDATIONS OF FUNCTIONAL AND INTEGRATIVE NUTRITION	3
NUTR-6112	NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY AND METABOLISM: MACRO AND MICRONUTRIENTS	3
NUTR-6202	EVIDENCE BASED NUTRITION	3
NUTR-6210	NATURAL THERAPIES: SUPPLEMENTS, HERBS, AND PHARMACEUTICALS	3
INCR-6111	FUNDAMENTALS OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE AND MOTIVATING FOR HEALTH CHANGE	3
INCR-6114	HEALTH AND WELLNESS STANDARDS	3
NUTR-6400	CAPSTONE	3
Total Credit Hours:		21

Nutrition Specialist Specialization Course Requirements

Students can choose any five of the following courses:

NUTR-6212	SPORTS AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE NUTRITION	3
NUTR-6304	ADVANCED AND APPLIED SPORTS NUTRITION	3
NUTR-6310	NUTRIGENOMICS AND EPIGENETICS	3
NUTR-6315	FUNCTIONAL NUTRITION TECHNOLOGY AND DIAGNOSTICS	3
NUTR-6320	NUTRITIONAL BIOPSYCHOLOGY: THE GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION	3
NUTR-6325	NUTRITION IN INFLAMMATION, PAIN, AND CHRONIC DISEASE	3
NUTR-6330	DEVELOPMENTAL AND LIFECYCLE NUTRITION	3
NUTR-6335	NUTRITION AND THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM	3
INCR-6004	BUSINESS PRACTICE MANAGEMENT FOR INTEGRATIVE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS	3
Total Credit Hours:		15

Sports Nutrition Specialization Course Requirements

Students must complete the following required courses:

NUTR-6212 Sports and Human Performance Nutrition

NUTR-6304 Advanced and Applied Sports Nutrition

NUTR-6315 Functional Nutrition Technology and Diagnostics

Students can choose any two of the following courses:

NUTR-6310 Nutrigenomics and Epigenetics

NUTR-6320 Nutritional Biopsychology: The Gut-Brain Connection

NUTR-6325 Nutrition in Inflammation, Pain, and Chronic Disease

NUTR-6330 Developmental and Lifecycle Nutrition

NUTR-6335 Nutrition and the Endocrine System

INCR-6004 Business Practice Management for Integrative Health Professionals

NUTR-6212	SPORTS AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE NUTRITION	3
NUTR-6304	ADVANCED AND APPLIED SPORTS NUTRITION	3
NUTR-6310	NUTRIGENOMICS AND EPIGENETICS	3
NUTR-6315	FUNCTIONAL NUTRITION TECHNOLOGY AND DIAGNOSTICS	3
NUTR-6320	NUTRITIONAL BIOPSYCHOLOGY: THE GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION	3
NUTR-6325	NUTRITION IN INFLAMMATION, PAIN, AND CHRONIC DISEASE	3
NUTR-6330	DEVELOPMENTAL AND LIFECYCLE NUTRITION	3
NUTR-6335	NUTRITION AND THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM	3
INCR-6004	BUSINESS PRACTICE MANAGEMENT FOR INTEGRATIVE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS	3
Total Credit Hours:		15

Health Coaching Specialization Course Requirements