Overview
Credits Per Trimester
6
TOTAL CREDITS
12
Duration
2 trimesters
Trimester of Entry
Fall, Spring
FORMAT
Online
COVID-19 PANDEMIC UPDATE: This program will next enroll students for the Fall 2022 trimester. This program will be delivered in its standard online format for students entering the program in the Fall 2022 trimester; the program can be completed by taking only online classes, and there are no requirements to come to campus.
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Herbal Studies combines modern scientific knowledge with traditional wisdom and uses the cycles of nature to guide the integration of herbs into daily life. The program provides the herbal enthusiast with a foundational knowledge of herbal sciences, as well as an understanding of wellness-based models of health care. An emphasis on practical skills ensures that students are familiar with the identification of local plants and can make medicinal food and herbal preparations. The program empowers students with the knowledge and skills to support self-care through the safe and effective incorporation of herbs into daily life, using body care products, food preparations, and other herbal supplements. This 12-credit program can be completed in the online format in 8 months (2 trimesters), and it can also serve as a stepping stone to MUIH’s master’s degrees in herbal medicine.
Audience
Individuals with a background or interest in horticulture and gardening, culinary arts and nutrition, public health and education, and the environment and sustainability, as well as people who are parents and caregivers, will find the program relevant and valuable.
Program Description
Combining modern scientific knowledge with traditional wisdom, the coursework uses the cycles of nature to guide the integration of herbs into daily life. The program’s emphasis on practical skills ensures that students are familiar with the identification of local plants and possess the ability to make medicinal food and herbal preparations. The program empowers students with the knowledge and skills needed to support self-care through the safe and effective incorporation of herbs into daily life, using body care products, food preparations, and other herbal supplements. Class groups are personal and rely on the collective experience of a group to inform the learning experiences, guided by experienced faculty. For students that choose to take classes on campus, the program provides unique experiential learning opportunities through MUIH’s herbal dispensary and garden. On-campus projects will be available for students to engage in hands-on learning in medicinal plant harvesting, processing, formulary, medicine making, and quality control analysis.
The PBC Herbal Studies program can also serve as an entry point and advanced standing in MUIH’s M.S. Clinical Herbal Medicine degree and M.S. Herbal Product Design and Manufacture degree. The four courses of this PBC program are transferrable and make up the first four required courses of both of these master’s degrees.
Comparison of Herbal Medicine Approaches: To learn more about various herbal medicine approaches to health and wellness and how they align with MUIH’s programs click here.
Admission Requirements
| Trimester of Entry: | Fall, Spring |
| Application Priority Deadline: | Application deadline by Trimester |
| General Requirements: |
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| Program Specific Requirements: | Complete Essay Questions in application:
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Curriculum
Required Courses
The program consists of 12 credits of the following required courses:
- HRB600 Fundamentals of Herbal Medicine (3 cr)
- HRB605 Materia Medica I (3 cr)
- HRB622 Herbal Pharmacy (3 cr)
- HRB641 Safety of Botanical Medicine (3 cr)
Course Descriptions
Course descriptions are available in the Academic Catalog.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program students will be able to:
- Describe the safe and appropriate use of a limited number of herbs as dietary supplements within the framework of a wellness-based model of healthcare.
- Identify local herbs in the field for harvesting and manufacturing of herbal and food preparations.
- Determine safety concerns of herb-herb and herb-drug interactions for herbal product users.
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.
Program Schedule
For trimester start and end dates, see the Academic Calendar.
Trimester 1
- HRB600 Fundamentals of Herbal Medicine (3 cr)
- HRB622 Herbal Pharmacy (3 cr)
- MUIH550 Academic Scholarship and Research (0 cr)
Trimester 2
- HRB605 Materia Medica I (3 cr)
- HRB641 Safety of Botanical Medicine (3 cr)
Tuition & Fees
Fall 2022 Intake
| Course Code | Cost per Credit | # of Credits | Tuition Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|
| HRB | $928 | 12 | $11,136 |
| Total | 12 | $11,136 |
*Prices subject to change. Tuition costs are for illustrative purposes only.
Timeline
| Average Credits per Trimester | Typical Completion Time |
|---|---|
| 3 | 4 Trimesters |
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 and new students who have confirmed before the late confirmed student registration period begins |
| Cooking Lab Fee | $30/course NUTR 681 – 689; On Campus Courses Only |
| Cooking Kit Fee | $225 M.S. in Nutrition and Integrative Health students (1st trimester) and other students taking cooking labs (NUTR 681 – 689) |
| Herb Kit Fee | Students enrolled in the following herbal medicine courses: HRB 605 $160 HRB 614 $185 HRB 622 $150 HRB 642 $220 HRB 653 $85 HRB 705 $180 Due to international customs requirements, we do not ship herb kits outside of the United States Facilities/Food fee: HRB 636 $175 |
| Credit Card Adjustment Fee | 2.75% of amount paid by credit card |
| Graduation Fee | $75 |
Career Opportunities
Graduates of MUIH’s herbal medicine programs are employed in a variety of settings including private practice; integrative group practices; herbal shops and dispensaries; wellness centers; community, non-profit, and outreach organizations; herbal and botanical gardens; herbal product research, development, and manufacturing companies; agricultural companies and agencies; 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.
Consumer use of herbal medicine continues to grow. More than 40 million individuals in the U.S. used non-vitamin, non-mineral supplements in 2012, up from 38 million users in 2007. In 2017, total U.S. retail sales of herbal supplements surpassed $8 billion for the first time, reaching nearly $8.1 billion. In addition, U.S. consumer spending increased 8.5%, from 2016 – the strongest sales growth for herbal supplements in more than 15 years. Total U.S. retail sales have increased every year since 2004, and since that time consumer spending on herbal supplements has nearly doubled.
Increasingly, herbal supplement consumers are reaching out to professionals to help them understand what is safe and effective from the vast array of herbal supplements found in the market. Herbalists and other healthcare practitioners with herbal skills and knowledge will support the continued projected growth of healthcare occupations in the U.S. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects healthcare occupations to grow 14% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Upcoming Webinars
Take a look at what our Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Herbal Studies program offers and how MUIH is the choice for you!
Program Administration
James Snow D.C.N
Dean of Academic Affairs
Bevin Clare, M.S.
Program Director, Clinical Herbal Medicine
Michael Tims, Ph.D.
Program Director, Herbal Product Design and Manufacture
Rachel Voss, M.P.A.
Department Manager