Overview
Credits Per Trimester
6
TOTAL CREDITS
36
Duration
6 trimesters
Trimester of Entry
Fall, Spring
FORMAT
Online
MUIH offers the only M.S. Clinical Herbal Medicine program from a nationally accredited university in the U.S. This program is designed for individuals who want to be clinical herbalists and practitioners from related fields who wish to diversify and expand their care modalities to include herbal medicine. The program is built on a foundation of respect for long-standing cultural uses of medicinal plants. It explores the scientific underpinning and current evidence base for the clinical application of herbs. Students synthesize their studies in an advanced residency where they learn to deliver whole-person, relationship-centered healthcare. Graduates are prepared to practice in solo and integrative clinics, serve as educators within the field, and work within the broader herbal industry. This 36-credit program can be completed in the online format in 2 years (6 trimesters).
Audience
The program is designed for clinicians and practitioners who wish to diversify and expand their care modalities to include herbal medicine. It also serves individuals who want to become a clinical herbalist as a stand-alone profession.
Clinicians and other health professionals suited for this master’s program include:
- Credentialed herbalists (e.g., AHG registered) without a graduate clinical herbal degree
- Nutritionists
- Pharmacists
- Nurses
- Nurse practitioners
- Physicians assistants
- Medical doctors
- Osteopathic doctors
- Chiropractors
- Ayurvedic practitioners
- Acupuncturists
- Midwives
- Physical therapists
- Yoga therapists
- Massage therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Fitness trainers
- Social workers
- Counselors
- Health coaches
- Health educators
- Veterinarians
Program Description
This 2-year, 36-credit program empowers students with critical thinking skills, health information literacy, and expertise in herbal medicine to become leaders in integrating herbal medicine into modern healthcare.
This scientific and research-based program builds upon awareness and appreciation of herbal medicine traditions. The program begins with extensive education in materia medica, herbal sciences, medicine making, and clinical theory. Students are also trained in group therapies in herbalism, writing case study reports, and embodying the core concept of becoming a healing presence. Students synthesize their learning in an advanced residency in herbal practice, where they design and implement clinical strategies.
Experienced faculty with a contemporary evidence-informed understanding of how to use herbal medicines guide the courses. Class groups are interactive and rely on the group’s collective experience to inform the learning experience. Coursework provides practical, real-world experience in herbal medicine. It allows students to deepen their competencies as clinical herbalists by discussing cases with peers and faculty. Students who are already clinical practitioners can work within their specialty.
While not a prerequisite, the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Herbal Studies can serve as an entry point and advanced standing in the M.S. Clinical Herbal Medicine degree. The four courses of this certificate program are transferable and make up the first four required courses of this master’s degree.
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
Transfer Credit Options
Students are encouraged to consider the following options to transfer credits to reduce their costs and time to degree completion at MUIH.
Students who have previously completed the following types of courses at other colleges and universities may be eligible to transfer those credits to MUIH and be exempt from taking some courses in the M.S. Clinical Herbal Medicine program:
- Physiology – undergraduate or graduate courses
- Research literacy – graduate courses
In addition, students are exempt from taking MUIH’s ISCI547a Physiology I course if they have completed BIO201 Anatomy & Physiology 1 AND BIO202 Anatomy & Physiology II from StraighterLine.
Required Courses
The program consists of 36 credits of the following required courses:
- HRB600 Fundamentals of Herbal Medicine (3 cr)
- HRB605 Materia Medica I (3 cr)
- HRB622 Herbal Pharmacy: Evaluating and Manufacturing Quality Herbal (3 cr)
- HRB624 Applied Herbalism in Clinical Practice (3 cr)
- HRB641 Safety of Botanical Medicine (3 cr)
- HRB731 Clinical Experience I (3 cr)
- HRB732 Clinical Experience II (3 cr)
- HRB738 Clinical Theory in Practice (3 cr)
- HRB759 Applied Therapeutics (3 cr)
- ISCI547A Physiology I: Healthy Function (3 cr)
- RSCH601 Research Literacy in Integrative Health (3 cr)
- MUIH550 Academic Research and Scholarship (0 cr)
Course Descriptions
Course descriptions are available in the Academic Catalog.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program students will be able to:
- Summarize and synthesize traditional knowledge, pharmacological, and clinical data to make an informed decision about the application of herbal formulas.
- Evaluate and analyze traditional knowledge to bridge the information gap of evidence-based data to make rational decisions in developing safe and effective herbal products and formulas.
- Determine safety concerns of herb-herb and herb-drug interactions for herbal product users.
- Design a comprehensive wellness plan incorporating herbal, dietary, and lifestyle recommendations integrating self-awareness and lessons of nature.
- Assess clients and develop the tools to evaluate and adjust individualized plans and goals in response to the changing needs of the client.
- Determine the legal parameters of herbal practice within their field and the strategies to navigate them.
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.
The schedule of courses is shown below:
Trimester 1
- HRB600 Fundamentals of Herbal Medicine (3 cr)
- HRB622 Herbal Pharmacy: Evaluating and Manufacturing Quality Herbal (3 cr)
- MUIH550 Academic Research and Scholarship (0 cr)
Trimester 2
- HRB605 Materia Medica I (3 cr)
- HRB641 Safety of Botanical Medicine (3 cr)
Trimester 3
- HRB738 Clinical Theory in Practice (3 cr)
- ISCI547A Physiology I: Healthy Function (3 cr)
Trimester 4
- HRB759 Applied Therapeutics (3 cr)
Trimester 5
- HRB731 Clinical Experience I (3 cr)
- RSCH601 Research Literacy in Integrative Health (3 cr)
Trimester 6
- HRB624 Applied Herbalism in Clinical Practice (3 cr)
- HRB732 Clinical Experience II (3 cr)
Tuition & Fees
Tuition
| Trimester | Course Code | Cost per Credit | # of Credits | University Fee | Tuition Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall ’24 | HRB | $928 | 6 | $275 | $5,568 |
| Spring ’25 | HRB | $928 | 6 | $275 | $5,568 |
| Summer ’25 | HRB* | $928/$953 | 6 | $275 | $5,643 |
| Total | 18 | $825 | $16,779 |
*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 |
| Herb Kit Fee | Students enrolled in the following herbal medicine courses: HRB 614 $210 HRB 622 $185 HRB 642 $280 HRB 653 $120 Due to international customs requirements, we do not ship herb kits outside of the United States Facilities/Food fee: HRB 636 $175 |
| Clinic Fee | Students enrolled in the following online herbal medicine clinic courses: HRB731 – $500 HRB732 – $500 |
Tuition
| Trimester | Course Code | Cost per Credit | # of Credits | University Fee | Tuition Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall ’23 | HRB | $928 | 6 | $275 | $5,568 |
| Spring ’24 | HRB | $928 | 6 | $275 | $5,568 |
| Summer ’24 | HRB* | $928/$953 | 6 | $275 | $5,643 |
| Total | 18 | $825 | $16,779 |
*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 |
| Herb Kit Fee | Students enrolled in the following herbal medicine courses: HRB 614 $210 HRB 622 $185 HRB 642 $280 HRB 653 $120 HRB 705 $270 Due to international customs requirements, we do not ship herb kits outside of the United States Facilities/Food fee: HRB 636 $175 |
Licensure, Certification, & Credentialing
MUIH’s M.S. Clinical Herbal Medicine fulfills 100% of the educational requirements and 100 hours of the 400 required hours of the clinical experience hours of the American Herbalists Guild’s (AHG) Registered Herbalist (RH) credential. MUIH’s program also provides opportunities to pursue additional optional clinical experience hours by working with an external mentor on clinical cases. For additional information on the requirements to achieve the Registered Herbalist credential from AHG, visit https://www.americanherbalistsguild.com/becoming-ahg-rh-member.
Career Opportunities
Seventy five percent (75%) of recent graduates (2021) of MUIH’s M.S. Clinical Herbal Medicine program were employed or self-employed within one year of graduation. Graduates of MUIH’s herbal medicine programs frequently assume leadership roles in the herbal medicine industry and community as lead formulators, teachers, speakers, writers, executive directors, and business owners. Many 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.
More than 40 million individuals in the U.S. used non-vitamin, non-mineral supplements in 2012, up from 38 million users in 2007. The increasing use and impact of herbal medicine on the relative degrees of wellness and disease on public health, society, communities, organizations, and economies has led to a need for well-educated professionals in herbal medicine. The health-improving and cost-saving impact these professionals can have will be increasingly important in the changing world of public health, healthcare, and workplaces. The U.S. Department of Labor projects a much faster than average growth rate (12%) for health educators such as herbal medicine professionals for the period 2021-2031.
Upcoming Webinars
Take a look at what our Master of Science in Clinical Herbal Medicine program offers and how MUIH is the choice for you!
Program Administration
James Snow D.C.N.
Department Chair
Bevin Clare, M.S.
Program Director, Clinical Herbal Medicine
Rachel Voss, M.P.A.
Department Manager
Casey Opperman
Academic Advisor
Click here to view the faculty.