Post-Masters Certificate in Nutrition & Integrative Health

Overview


Credits Per Trimester
5
Total Credits
15
Duration
3 trimesters
Trimester of Entry
Fall
Program Format
Online
pen
Credits Per Trimester
5
medal
TOTAL CREDITS
15
clock
Duration
3 trimesters
notes
Trimester of Entry
Fall
school
FORMAT
Online

The Post-Master’s Certificate (PMC) in Nutrition and Integrative Health provides evidence-based nutrition education for health professionals and those with advanced science training.It integrates a biochemical perspective of nutrition into a broader context of whole-food healing and whole-person health and wellness care. 

MUIH offers the only PMC in Nutrition and Integrative Health in the U.S., and it is one of the few nutrition programs to offer whole foods cooking labs that apply nutrition theory. This program sets graduates apart from their peers by building skills and knowledge to support patients and clients in the rapidly growing field of integrative nutrition. This 15-credit program can be completed fully online in 3 trimesters (one year).

Your journey starts here. Programs now enrolling for Fall 2024.

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Audience


This program is designed for healthcare and wellness professionals who are not licensed nutritionists/dietitians but can legally provide nutrition care. This includes providers living in a state where: their healthcare license includes nutrition; their healthcare license is exempt from nutrition law; their profession is exempt from nutrition licensure requirements; nutrition care is not criminalized for those without a license; or there is no licensure law for nutrition. 

A variety of healthcare and wellness professionals may find this program useful and relevant to their work including physicians, physician assistants, registered nurses, advance practice registered nurses, acupuncturists, herbalists, health and wellness coaches, athletic trainers and fitness coaches, massage therapists, mental health professionals, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dentists, pharmacists, osteopaths, and chiropractors. 

The certificate provides healthcare and wellness professionals with skills and knowledge in nutrition to address patient and client health concerns and educate patients and clients on the role of whole foods and nutrition supplementation in the maintenance of health and wellness. Before enrolling in the program, applicants should check state laws to understand the parameters for nutrition practice within their state.

A secondary audience for the program is healthcare and wellness professionals who wish to apply to the Doctor of Clinical Nutrition program, but lack the prerequisite graduate-level nutrition credits.

Note: While anyone who meets the formal admission requirements is eligible to enroll in the Post-Master’s Certificate, those who do not currently work with patients/clients, and those who wish to become certified or licensed nutritionists, are encouraged instead to enroll in MUIH’s Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health program.  The Post-Master’s Certificate alone does not provide foundational skills in patient/client-practitioner interactions or meet eligibility requirements for nutrition certification (see Licensure, Certification, & Credentialing section below for more details).

Program Description


This program explores contemporary nutrition science and traditional dietary practices and critically evaluates current paradigms of nutrition, food, and health. Students integrate a biochemical perspective of nutrition into a broader context of whole-food healing and whole-person health and wellness care. 

The program provides students the opportunity to study in a cohort of like-minded healthcare and wellness professionals in a scholarly community centered entirely on wellness. Together, students focus on practical patient/client applications such as creating nutrition care plans using whole foods and nutritional supplementation; helping patients/clients distinguish between food fads, trends, and sound nutrition information; and learning to apply and teach whole foods cooking.

Of the 15 credits required for this program, students take 12 core credits and 3 elective credits. Elective courses provide the opportunity to focus on applied areas of interest, including life cycle nutrition, dietary supplements, mindful eating, whole food preparation, or laboratory assessment.

Admission Requirements


Trimester of Entry: Fall
Application Priority Deadline: Application deadline by Trimester
General Requirements:
Program Specific Requirements: Applicants must:

  • Demonstrate completion of the following prerequisite requirements (eligibility to test out or be exempt from the prerequisite requirements is at the discretion of the academic director):
    • 3 semester credits of Organic/Biological Chemistry (graduate or bachelor’s level acceptable). This requirement can also be fulfilled by completing the Organic Chemistry I AND Organic Chemistry II courses offered by StraighterLine.
    • 3 semester credits of Physiology and/or Pathophysiology (graduate or bachelor’s level acceptable). This requirement can also be fulfilled by completing the Anatomy & Physiology I AND Anatomy & Physiology II courses offered by StraighterLine.

Complete Essay Questions in application:

  • How does the program relate to your future personal and professional goals?

Curriculum


This program consists of 12 credits of required courses and 3 credits of elective courses.

Required Courses

  • ISCI626 Nutritional Biochemistry (3 cr)
  • NUTR614 Human Nutrition I: Macronutrients (2 cr)
  • NUTR612 Human Nutrition II: Micronutrients (3 cr)
  • NUTR633 Integrative Client Care: Nutrition Assessment, Applied Biochemistry, and Treatment Planning (4 cr)

Elective Courses

The program consists of 3 credits of elective courses. Choose a total of 3 credits from the following elective course options. Elective offerings vary by trimester – check the Schedule of Courses for availability.

  • NUTR601 Redefining Nutrition (1 cr) 
  • NUTR630 Dietary Supplements and Nutrition Practice (3 cr) 
  • NUTR641 Life Cycle Nutrition (3 cr)
  • NUTR672 Mindful Eating and Nourishment (2 cr)
  • NUTR681 Cooking with Whole Foods Lab I (0.5 cr)
  • NUTR682 Cooking with Whole Foods Lab II (0.5 cr)
  • NUTR723 Advanced Biochemistry and Labs Assessment (3 cr) (Note: This elective requires extending the program to a 4th trimester)

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions are available in the Academic Catalog.

Learning Outcomes


Upon completion of this program students will be able to:

  • Integrate core nutrition competencies into current clinical practice and/or professional work.
  • Incorporate knowledge of human nutrition and treatment strategies into clinical practice and tailor research projects to develop the evidence base for integrative nutrition.
  • Demonstrate an integrated knowledge of nutrition that incorporates biochemical, physiological, environmental, and traditional perspectives.
  • Assess the relationship between nutrients and biochemical/physiological processes and the various synergistic, antagonistic effects of nutrients.

Program Format & Schedule


Program Format

This program is offered in the online format. Click here to view MUIH’s definition of online, hybrid, and on-campus course and program formats. This program is delivered in peer cohort format.

Program Schedule

For trimester start and end dates, see the Academic Calendar.

The schedule of courses for this program is shown below.

Trimester 1

  • ISCI626 Nutritional Biochemistry (3 cr)
  • NUTR614 Human Nutrition I: Macronutrients (2 cr)

Trimester 2

  • NUTR612 Human Nutrition II: Micronutrients (3 cr)
  • Elective courses (optional – 3 credits must be completed by end of program) )

Trimester 3

  • NUTR633 Integrative Client Care: Nutrition Assessment, Applied Biochemistry, and Treatment Planning (4 cr) Elective courses (optional – 3 credits must be completed by end of program)

Tuition & Fees


Tuition
Trimester Course Code Cost per Credit # of Credits University Fee Tuition Cost*
Fall ’23 NUTR $953 4 $275 $3,812
Spring ’24 NUTR $953 5 $275 $4,765
Summer ’24 NUTR $953 6 $275 $5,718
Total 15 $825 $14,295

*Prices subject to change. Tuition costs are for illustrative purposes only.

Additional Fees

Fees Cost
Application Fee $50
Non-Refundable Tuition Deposit $150
University Fee (per trimester) $275
All students, including students taking a voluntary break in enrollment. Click here to learn more about the fee.
Late Registration Fee
$75/course
After registration deadline and before start of the schedule adjustment period for current students
$150/course
During the schedule adjustment period for current students
Cooking Lab Fee NUTR 681 – $40/course
NUTR 682 – $40/course
NUTR 683 – $45/course
NUTR 684 – $45/course
NUTR 686 – $30/course
NUTR 687 – $40/course
NUTR 688 – $40/course
Cooking Kit Fee $225
M.S. in Nutrition and Integrative Health students (1st trimester) and other students taking cooking labs (NUTR 681 – 689)
*$240- if taking courses on campus
Tuition
Trimester Course Code Cost per Credit # of Credits University Fee Tuition Cost*
Fall ’23 NUTR $953 4 $275 $3,812
Spring ’24 NUTR $953 5 $275 $4,765
Summer ’24 NUTR $953 6 $275 $5,718
Total 15 $825 $14,295

*Prices subject to change. Tuition costs are for illustrative purposes only.

Additional Fees

Fees Cost
Application Fee $50
Non-Refundable Tuition Deposit $150
University Fee (per trimester) $275
All students, including students taking a voluntary break in enrollment. Click here to learn more about the fee.
Late Registration Fee
$75/course
After registration deadline and before start of the schedule adjustment period for current students
$150/course
During the schedule adjustment period for current students
Cooking Lab Fee NUTR 681 – $40/course
NUTR 682 – $40/course
NUTR 683 – $45/course
NUTR 684 – $45/course
NUTR 686 – $30/course
NUTR 687 – $40/course
NUTR 688 – $40/course
Cooking Kit Fee $225
M.S. in Nutrition and Integrative Health students (1st trimester) and other students taking cooking labs (NUTR 681 – 689)
*$240- if taking courses on campus

Licensure, Certification, & Credentialing


Licensure

Licensing requirements for nutritionists vary by state. To learn the most up-to-date laws and regulations, please refer to each state’s board of dietetic practice, or go to https://theana.org/advocate.

Certification

Graduates of the Post-Master’s Certificate in Nutrition and Integrative Health may meet the eligibility requirements of several national nutrition boards. Eligibility will be contingent upon degrees and coursework completed prior to entry into  MUIH’s Post-Master’s Certificate program. Completion of the Post-Master’s Certificate alone does not meet eligibility requirements for certification. Please contact the appropriate board in your state with questions, and review licensing laws by state for the most up-to-date information.

  • Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)

    The Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS) administers the advanced certification for personalized nutrition practitioners: Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS). Depending upon a student’s prior degrees and coursework, the Post-Master’s Certificate in Nutrition and Integrative Health may complete the educational requirements needed for graduates to sit for the CNS exam. The board reviews each applicant individually to determine eligibility. Interested individuals are encouraged to check for the most recent requirements with the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists.

    In addition to passing the exam, the BCNS also requires that applicants complete 1000 hours of supervised practice experience. MUIH offers the Nutrition Practice Experience to complete the supervised clinical practice hours.

  • Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN)

    The Clinical Nutrition Certification Board (CNCB) reviews each applicant individually. They review all transcripts to determine eligibility. Interested individuals are encouraged to check for the most recent requirements with the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board.

  • Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition®

    Requires at least one herbal elective course. Interested individuals are encouraged to check for the most recent requirements with the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board.

Career Opportunities


The role of food in preventing and treating a variety of illnesses is now well known and recognized, and more health care professionals will be needed to provide care for patients with various medical conditions and to advise people who want to improve their overall health. Health care professionals with advanced nutrition skills and knowledge will support the continued projected growth of healthcare occupations in the U.S.

Graduates of MUIH’s nutrition programs are employed in a variety of settings including private practice; integrative group practices; nutrition clinics; health care systems; hospitals; community, non-profit, and outreach organizations; state and local health departments; school systems; culinary organizations; athletic and recreational organizations; and colleges and universities. Many graduates chose to have a portfolio career in which they have multiple positions and employers within one or more profession, rather than one full-time job. A portfolio career provides such individuals with variety in their work life and the opportunity to develop a wide and varied professional network.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects healthcare occupations to grow 13% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. The growth rate for nutritionists and dieticians is projected to be 7% during this same time period.

View more about career opportunities.

Upcoming Webinars


Take a look at what our Post-Masters Certificate in Nutrition & Integrative Health program offers and how MUIH is the choice for you!

Program Administration


Department Chair

Eleonora Gafton, D.C.N.
Program Director, Cooking Labs

Elizabeth Owens, M.S.
Director, Experiential Programs

Jennifer Swetz, M.S.
Nutrition Clinic Coordinator

Alexandra Wick
Department Manager

Nissa Lazenby-Wilson, M.S.
Cooking Lab Assistant Manager

Casey Opperman, M.A.
Academic Advisor

Crystal Hoyt
Academic Advisor

Click here to view the faculty.

An MUIH education is not just for living, but for life.