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Integrative Health and Wellness (Master of Science)
Learn the skills you need to succeed as a health and wellness professional with Creighton University’s Master of Science in Integrative Health and Wellness.
You’ll learn from faculty members and practitioners from the School of Medicine and across various disciplines in this interdisciplinary program—which will prepare you to work as part a diverse team of healthcare professionals. You’ll also learn to take a whole-person approach to your work, considering all aspects that may affect an individual’s personal health.
"Our graduates consistently say that the IHW program has not only enhanced their professional knowledge and skills, but it has also greatly influenced them personally. Our students learn the importance of caring for themselves at the same time they learn to care for others."
—Tom Lenz, PharmD | Professor and Program Director, Graduate School
Our nation’s healthcare system is rapidly evolving. Healthcare providers are incentivized to produce better patient outcomes and to reduce recurring patient visits. Employers are prioritizing health and wellness in the workplace, aiming to cut costs and increase productivity. Many organizations are now employing health and wellness coaches to help educate and motivate individuals to implement and sustain life-changing healthy behaviors. Earning your master of integrative health and wellness will prepare you for various roles in this growing field.
A program tailored to your career goals and lifestyle
We know that graduate school is a huge investment of your time and money, so we make sure that your investment is a smart one—one that you can fit in your schedule and aligns with your individual goals and needs.
Creighton’s master’s in Integrative Health & Wellness program is comprised of 36 credit hours that can be completed fully online and at your own pace. The program provides two pathways for students—concentrations in Health and Wellness Coaching and our new track in Healthy Aging. Healthy Aging concentration offers practitioners in the health and wellness industry an opportunity to specialize in health coaching for aging adults. Students who select a healthy aging concentration will earn a Master of Science in Integrative Health and Wellness with dual concentrations in Health and Wellness Coaching and Healthy Aging—all within the 36-credit hour program.
Whether you aspire to improve the health and well-being of the general population or aging adults, Creighton’s program will provide the skills you need to play a critical role in becoming part of the nation’s healthcare solution.
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About integrative care
Integrative care is a broad term that describes a type of healthcare people receive when conventional medicine and complementary medicine strategies are combined to address an individual's health more broadly and comprehensively. Conventional medicine includes medications, therapies, surgery, and other treatment modalities to promote healing and restore health. Complementary medicine includes healthy nutrition, physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management, meditation, acupuncture, yoga, massage therapy, and many other methods to enhance health and healing when combined with conventional medicine.
Approved by National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC)
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The MS in Integrative Health and Wellness is an approved training program by the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching. The objective of the NBHWC certification exam is to provide a minimum standard and measure of foundational competencies for the practice of health and wellness coaching. The national certification provides proficient coaches the credentials to stand apart from coaches who have not received adequate coach training or assessment of their coaching skills and knowledge.
Graduates of NBHWC are eligible for the Health and Wellness Coaching certifying examination.
For further details on how your completion of an Approved NBHWC Program may waive credits, see the Awarded Credit Opportunities section below.
Program Details
Program Goals and Curriculum
The Master of Science in Integrative Health and Wellness program is ideal for healthcare professionals or others in the health and wellness industry who are interested in helping individuals take charge of their own health.
To earn this master’s degree, you must complete 36 credits:
- Required Courses (27 Credits)
- Writing for Graduate Students
- Personal Development for the Health and Wellness Coach
- Advanced Lifestyle Medicine
- Health Behavior Modification
- Nutrition for Chronic Disease
- Exercise for Chronic Disease
- Stress and Sleep Management
- Research Methods and Program Design
- Advanced Health and Wellness Coaching
- Capstone in Health and Wellness Coaching
- Electives (9 Credits)
*Students who choose to obtain a concentration in Healthy Aging will complete 128 volunteer hours at a long-term care, assisted living, independent senior living or in residence with home-care services. The 128 hours of experiential practice must be obtained between the time the student receives approval to pursue the Healthy Aging concentration and his/her completion of the degree in Integrative Health and Wellness.
NBHWC Program Requirements
The concentration in H&W coaching approved by NBHWC is comprised of 9 required courses. The courses include:
- Personal Development for the Health and Wellness Coach (3 Credits)
- Advanced Lifestyle Medicine (2 Credits)
- Health Behavior Modification (3 Credits)
- Nutrition for Chronic Disease (3 Credits)
- Exercise for Chronic Disease (3 Credits)
- Stress and Sleep Management (3 Credits)
- Advanced Health and Wellness Coaching (3 Credits)
- Health and Wellness Coaching: Theory to Practice* (3 Credits)
- Capstone in Health and Wellness Coaching (3 Credits)
*hybrid course
Please visit NBHWC’s website to review all exam requirements.
Faculty
The Integrative Health and Wellness program is housed in the School of Medicine. Faculty in this department come from backgrounds in business, health, education, law, and the arts and sciences. Together, their experiences and expertise provide graduate students with a robust interdisciplinary education that can prepare them for a wide variety of career paths.
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A whole-person approach
At Creighton, our Master of Science program in Integrative Health and Wellness specializes in the coordinated care of conventional medicine with lifestyle medicine (specific focus on nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management) and the wellness dimensions of spiritual, social, and environmental health. Combining these interconnected aspects of health into a coordinated strategy leads to whole-person health, better outcomes, and a higher quality of life. More specifically, the Creighton IHW program trains practicing healthcare providers, health coaches, and wellness professionals working in clinical, community, and employer settings to optimize patient/client health through a personalized whole-person approach to care.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the MS in Integrative Health and Wellness program, applicants must:
- Complete an application
- Possess a bachelor’s degree with 3.0 GPA or higher
- Provide official transcripts from all educational institutions attended. Read more about sending transcripts here
- Include a resume or curriculum vitae
- Submit a personal statement (see application for specific requirements)
- Submit two letters of recommendation from persons other than friends or family members
A personal interview may be requested in addition to the above requirements. The interview may be conducted in-person or virtually.
International students are welcomed into this program so long as they complete it from their country of residence, as F-1 visas will not be issued.
International applicants must:
Awarded Credit Opportunities
Learn how you may be awarded up to three (3) credit hours toward our Master of Science in Integrative Health and Wellness program through prior work experience or completion of a Creighton professional development course or approved NBHWC program.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition rates change in the fall of each year. Visit our financial aid site for more details.
Financial Aid
To help make your graduate studies at Creighton University more affordable, we encourage you to file the FAFSA to apply for financial assistance. We also encourage you to apply for available graduate student scholarships and fellowships.
Still have questions? Email or call a friendly financial specialist at 402.280.2731 for any additional questions you may have.
Dates and Deadlines
The table below details the enrollment deadlines and starting dates of courses for the current academic year. If you have any questions about dates, deadlines, or application materials, please contact an admissions advisor for personalized assistance.
ONLINE
Rolling admission: Once your application is submitted it will be reviewed and we'll work with you to get into the next available class. Classes begin in August, October, January, March, and May
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Tom Lenz, PharmD | Professor and Program Director, School of Medicine
“The program is online and works well for students with busy lifestyles. Most students have jobs and families and they appreciate having a professor who understands what work/life balance means."
Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's
If you see graduate school in your future, why not start sooner? Get a head start on your MS in Integrative Health and Wellness while finishing up your bachelor’s degree. Learn how you can save a year of time and tuition through Creighton’s Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s programs.
Still Exploring?
If you’re still deciding on your path, start by taking a professional development course. The Center for Professional and Corporate Excellence offers non-credit and for-credit course options, and selected courses are applicable to the Master of Science in Integrative Health and Wellness program.
These courses explore key concepts that are incorporated in the Master of Science in Integrative Health and Wellness:
- Educators Can’t Pour from an Empty Cup: Creating a Self-Care Plan
- Happy Teacher, Happy Classroom: Exploring Happiness for a Life Well Lived
- The Resilient Educator: Preventing Teacher Burnout
You can take the courses above as non-credit standalone career development courses, or if you successfully complete two and then enroll in the Master of Science in Integrative Health and Wellness program, you may be awarded three credit hours toward your degree.
Another option is to take a for-credit course prior to enrolling in the program. Advanced Lifestyle Medicine is a 2-credit online course offered in the fall that explores lifestyle medicine strategies and how they can be used to manage chronic diseases and more. You can take up to nine credits before enrolling in a graduate degree or certificate program, so this two-credit course is a great way to explore the subject. Learn more about the Advanced Lifestyle Medicine course.
