HUMAN NUTRITION & FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN STATES
University of Western States
HNFM PROGRAMS MASTER OF SCIENCE AND GRADUATE CERTIFICATE University of Western States (UWS) is proud of its presence and growth in the areas of holistic wellness, mind-body and lifestyle medicine. The cornerstone of this expanded focus is our human nutrition and functional medicine (HNFM) program. The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), which pioneered the functional medicine model of health care, provides curricular materials and tools to support this innovative, accredited Master of Science degree program.
WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE? Functional medicine is a science-based, patient-centered approach to achieving and maintaining excellent health. This is accomplished primarily through natural methods, with diet and nutrition at the forefront. It is a model of health care that addresses the causes of disease and dysfunction rather than suppressing symptoms and involves treating the patient as a whole being. Founded on a holistic view of health, functional medicine delves deep into the biochemical and genetic individuality of each patient.
PROGRAM Master of Science FORMAT online LENGTH 17 courses (finish in two years) ENTRY April and October TUITION $26,468
MASTER’S
DEGREE PROGRAM
financial aid available to those who qualify
MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE Our human nutrition and functional medicine program offers a 17-course Master of Science degree, as well as an eight-course graduate certificate, both of which are 100 percent online. Our online learning environment provides a dynamic, high-quality experience where students engage with educators and fellow students from around the world. The platform allows for collaboration among students from a variety of education levels, with diverse professional backgrounds. The master’s degree offers immediately usable clinical information for both current health professionals and newcomers to the field. It does not require students to have previous clinical experience and is a great option for individuals looking for a career change. Clinicians desiring the most comprehensive coverage of nutrition and functional medicine topics will also find their answers here.
PROGRAM Graduate Certificate FORMAT online LENGTH 9 courses (finish in one year) ENTRY April and October TUITION $14,000
GRADUATE
CERTIFICATE
PROGRAM must have prior clinical experience
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM If you’re already a health professional with a Master of Science or doctoral degree, our graduate certificate and master’s programs both provide ways to specialize in your field. Each program is clinically-oriented and satisfies all of the coursework requirements needed to qualify for several national certification exams in the field of nutrition. Clinicians with a very specific focus may also find the graduate certificate program well-suited to their need for a faster path to completing their education.
WHY UWS? HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION AND PRACTICAL APPLICATION
ONE-OF-A-KIND University of Western States is the only institution where you can obtain an accredited Master of Science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine. Plus, our program is clinically-oriented and satisfies all coursework requirements needed to sit for several national certification exams in the field of nutrition.
CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE We are committed to maintaining an up-to-date curriculum that incorporates the strongest research evidence as it becomes available. Our faculty members use their expertise to evaluate new clinical research for inclusion into their courses, highlighting key shifts in our understanding of health, disease and nutritional therapeutics. Students receive instruction in assessing the quality and meaning of scientific studies so that they learn in greater depth and can continue adding to their knowledge after graduation.
FLEXIBLE AND 100% ONLINE Our online learning experience offers many advantages, including the weekly modular schedule that allows students to participate when it’s most convenient. The UWS library provides remote access to a wide range of fulltext articles and other learning tools, so students and faculty can stay current on new developments in nutrition and functional medicine research.
PREREQUISITES MADE EASY UWS offers several HNFM prerequisite courses through our pre-professional sciences program. Our admissions advisors are also great resources during the prerequisite discovery process. They can recommend a number of places to get your prerequisites done, help identify which organization will suit your needs best and ensure all credits earned transfer seamlessly to UWS.
PROGRAM DIVERSITY The HNFM program continues to grow, with over 430 students enrolled in spring term 2017. While most HNFM students are from the United States, nations represented in our student body include Canada, Mexico, Republic of China (Taiwan), People’s Republic of China, Singapore, Australia, Barbados, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Japan, Brazil, Germany, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Romania and Zambia. All regions of the United States are represented as well, with California, Oregon, Washington, Texas, New York and Florida hosting the highest percentage of our students. AGE
HNFM PROGRAM HAS REACHED
GENDER 22%
36%
36%
20%
8%
20-29
30-39
40-49
50+
78%
TOP UNDERGRAD DEGREES
18 COUNTRIES
NUTRITION DIETETICS
PSYCHOLOGY
BIOLOGY
NURSING
Not only do our students come from all over the world, their professional and educational backgrounds are just as diverse. Half of our students are health care practitioners, including nurses and dietitians, as well as medical, chiropractic, osteopathic and naturopathic physicians. For the other half, our HNFM program is the first or next step toward a career in health care.
INTEGRATED FACULTY The HNFM faculty and support staff hold advanced degrees in a variety of fields and have experience in a host of wellness-focused disciplines. This brings educational diversity to the program and offers our students a variety of perspectives on complex health issues, as well as insight into a wide range of approaches and practice methods. Our faculty expertise includes: nutrition functional medicine food science biochemistry medicine chiropractic
mind-body health immunology exercise and sports science epidemiology environmental medicine social work
naturopathy public health neurology gastroenterology pharmacology herbal and botanical medicine
COMMUNITY MEET A FEW MEMBERS OF OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY
MONDE LECK, MPH, ND, HNFM ALUMNA Monde and her accomplishments are astonishing! She has a BA in Philosophy and International Studies, a master’s in Public Health, plus she’s a Doctor of Naturopathy and runs her own practice. Currently living in Zambia, she enrolled in our HNFM program while working on her passion project, the Giving Tree School of Advancement, a school that will give Zambian youth access to a quality education and future opportunities. On top of all this, she’s a mom. If you think your schedule is too busy to fit in a master’s degree, let Monde inspire you - anything is possible.
RACHEL FISCHER, MD, MPH, HNFM PROFESSOR Dr. Fischer serves on the HNFM faculty as the Integrative Therapeutics Distinguished Professor of Functional Medicine. As a trained and practicing medical doctor, she grew frustrated that nutrition and functional medicine were not part of the medical practice model. She decided to pursue a more preventive approach in an integrated care setting. She now helps individuals recognize their risk factors for developing disease before it manifests and works with patients through their recovery from injuries and illnesses.
RYAN WHITCOMB, RD, HNFM STUDENT Ryan started out working in radio but eventually his interests changed and he went back to school to become a registered dietitian (RD). Ryan worked in a cardiac hospital and was able to see first-hand how conventional nutrition therapy left gaps in the care that most patients received. He decided he wanted to learn nutrition from a holistic perspective and chose UWS because the master’s degree in HNFM is unlike any other in the world.
ONLINE LEARNING For some, learning in an online environment is a new experience. At UWS, we strive to make that experience community-driven and free of unnecessary stress. Interactive discussion forums allow students with a diverse array of educational and professional backgrounds to learn from each other, as well as from assigned readings and lectures. In addition, our weekly modular schedule means that students can log on at the times most convenient for them, rather than being required to bend their work and family schedules to meet at a predetermined hour.
“
This is my second graduate-level distance program and I really appreciate how connected I feel in my classes and to my cohort. I have made some great friends in this program and feel that there is always a line of communication open with my professors and my classmates. The online discussions are very informative and the lecture formats make me feel like I am in class along with everyone else. Jenniferlyn Kryvicky, HNFM alumna
My experience with the online environment was so much better than I anticipated. I feared a lack of connection with my professors and my classmates but I was very wrong. The online system is extremely user-friendly and help is always a click away. I’ve grown with my classmates and I love learning alongside people from a variety of backgrounds. Tracey Giambertone, RD, HNFM alumna
“
SCHEDULE FLEXIBILITY SET YOUR OWN PACE The Master of Science program consists of 52 quarter credits of graduate coursework (34.67 semester credits) and can be completed in seven quarters (under two years) if taken at the recommended pace of 7-8 credits (usually two courses) per quarter, though students may move more quickly or more slowly through the program. We recognize that the life situations of our students vary considerably. Therefore, we are flexible with regard to speed and prefer that students take the time they need in order to learn the material well.
CURRICULUM A CLINICAL FOCUS Our HNFM program includes advanced instruction in clinical nutrition and also presents extensive educational content on functional medicine principles and practices. These include important interdisciplinary and evidence-informed perspectives, patient assessments and clinical interventions designed to enhance the function of the whole person. Functional medicine content includes curricular materials and tools developed in collaboration with the Institute for Functional Medicine, the organization that established the cornerstone functional medicine concepts widely used today. The curriculum is primarily systems-based, with emphasis on treating individual or multiple conditions and their risk factors using dietary and nutritional interventions. Every course contains elements of clinical assessment and diagnosis. There is also a strong focus on wellness promotion and general health in order to meet the clinician’s primary goal of preventing disease and metabolic dysfunction before they occur.
The Master of Science program curriculum consists of 15 required courses and two electives.
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN HUMAN NUTRITION AND FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE For health professionals with master’s or doctoral degrees (DC, MD, DO, ND, LAc, etc.) who choose not to take the full HNFM master’s degree curriculum, University of Western States offers an online graduate certificate in human nutrition and functional medicine that helps you to deepen your understanding of these subjects. The graduate certificate curriculum consists of eight required courses and one elective from the Master of Science curriculum. The requirements to earn the graduate certificate can be met in as little as one calendar year. Financial aid is available for those who qualify. For more information on the UWS HNFM graduate certificate program completion, debt and job placement visit www.uws.edu/hnfm-gedt.
THE REQUIRED COURSES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Principles of Functional Medicine Evidence-based Nutrition Gastrointestinal Imbalances Detoxification and Biotransformation Pathways and Imbalances Hormone and Neurotransmitter Regulation and Imbalances Autoimmune Disease: Causes and Strategies Immune Imbalances and Inflammation Meal Planning in Health and Illness
The Principles of Functional Medicine course must be taken first, after which the classes may or may not be taken in the order listed. Upon completion of the certificate program, participants may choose to finish the remaining coursework to earn the Master of Science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine degree. All of the completed courses in the certificate program will count toward the master’s degree.
LICENSING & CREDENTIALS Completion of either the graduate certificate or Master of Science degree satisfies all or part of the educational requirements to sit for several important national certification exams in the field of nutrition, including Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN), and the Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition (DACBN). Licensed professional health care providers may sit for the American Clinical Board of Nutrition (ACBN) examination after successfully completing 300 hours of specialized postgraduate training in nutrition. Nutrition licensure varies state by state and is evolving toward greater inclusivity. Check out the valuable resource, nutritionadvocacy.org, to learn more about the particular laws in your state and keep updated on the newest initiatives affecting the nutrition world.
CAREERS EDUCATION IN NUTRITION AND FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CAN LEAD TO CAREERS LIKE: • nutritionist in private practice • professional nutritionist in clinical or medical practice • health and nutrition advisor • health and wellness coach • author • lecturer
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN STATES - PORTLAND, OREGON Founded in 1904, University of Western States (UWS) is the second oldest chiropractic education program in the world. It has since evolved into a leading institution for an evidence-informed, sciencebased education, with a focus on health and wellness. UWS is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) – www.nwccu.org. University of Western States has enduring commitment to educating health sciences practitioners with a passion for patient care. The university motto “For the good of the patient” guides every aspect of the institution and positions UWS to fulfill its mission to advance the science and art of integrated health care through excellence in education and patient care.
Extending this pursuit beyond campus, UWS has cultivated several key community partnerships and is a founding member of the Oregon Collaborative for Integrative Medicine (OCIM). This collaborative provides students, faculty and staff the opportunity be a part of interdisciplinary education, research and advocacy for patients in support of integrated care. UWS is located in Portland, Oregon, a beautiful city situated in the progressive Pacific Northwest. This area embraces innovative approaches to health and well-being, which is reflected in the wholeperson health care education taught at University of Western States.
Pursuant to university Policy 1013B and Policy 2001, UWS admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the university. UWS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other university programs. Find out more about this policy and how you can handle inquiries at www.uws.edu/consumer-information.
W.A. BUDDEN LIBRARY UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Our human nutrition and functional medicine students have remote access to the vast assortment of digital resources from the university library. The resources are curated on a consistent basis and include online databases, full-text electronic journals, eBooks and research guides available 24/7. This ensures students and faculty can stay current on new developments in nutrition and functional medicine research.
CONTACT US CONNECT WITH OUR ADMISSIONS TEAM
800-641-5641 admissions@uws.edu | www.uws.edu University of Western States 2900 NE 132nd Avenue Portland, OR 97230
GET STARTED TAKE THE FIRST STEP TOWARD A REWARDING CAREER ENTRY REQUIREMENTS • Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) or first professional degree • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 *Applicants with a GPA below 2.75 may be considered
OUR APPLICATION PROCESS REQUIRES: • Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities
on a case-by-case basis.
• Prerequisite completion: biology, physiology or anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, nutrition and medical terminology
• Entrance Essays
• Applicants for the graduate certificate program must have a master’s or doctoral degree in a health care discipline (DC, ND, MD, DO, NP, PA, etc).
• Current resume/CV
• Two professional recommendations
• Personal interview
WHEN TO START?
QUARTER SYSTEM
UWS admits students to the HNFM program twice a year. Fall term begins in October. Spring term begins in April. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
The UWS calendar is split into four 11-week quarter terms (winter, spring, summer and fall), with a two week break between terms. The pace of HNFM program is determined by the student’s preference. The recommended track has the student taking 2-3 classes per term and is completed in seven quarters.
READY TO APPLY? You can apply online at uws.edu/apply
If you have any questions before you begin your application process, connect with one of our friendly and knowledgeable admissions advisors. Call 800-641-5641 or email admissions@uws.edu.
University of Western States www.uws.edu