The Post-Master's Certificate (PMC) in Nutrition and Integrative Health provides evidence-based nutrition training specifically for health professionals and those with advanced science training, and integrates a biochemical and molecular understanding 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 with core competencies and broader expertise and patient and client reach in the rapidly growing field of holistic, integrative nutrition. This 15-credit program can be completed fully online in one year (3 trimesters).
This program is designed for licensed health professionals and those with advanced science training and provides the opportunity to gain core competencies in the field of holistic nutrition, and to complement and enhance their primary field of expertise. A variety of licensed health professionals will find this program useful and relevant to their work including physicians, physician assistants, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, acupuncturists, herbalists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dentists, pharmacists, osteopaths, and chiropractors. The certificate provides licensed health care providers with skills and knowledge in the field of nutrition to address patient and client health concerns and to educate patients and clients on the role of whole foods and nutrition supplementation in the maintenance of health and wellness.
This program provides a contextualized understanding of nutritional science and biochemistry, through exploration of traditional dietary practices and a critical evaluation of current paradigms of nutrition, food, and health. Students integrate a biochemical and molecular understanding of nutrition into a broader context of whole food healing and whole person health and wellness care. Of the 15 credits required for this program, students take 11 core credits and 4 elective credits. Elective courses provide the opportunity to focus on particular applied areas of interest, including sports nutrition, mindful eating, whole food preparation, diabetes education, or Eastern nutrition philosophy. The program provides students the opportunity to study in a cohort of like-minded healthcare professionals in a scholarly community entirely centered on wellness. Together, students focus on practical patient/client applications such as creating treatment plans using whole foods and nutritional supplementation, helping patients distinguish between food fads, trends, and sound nutrition information, and learning to apply and teach whole foods cooking.
Graduates of the Post-Master's Certificate in Nutrition and Integrative Health may meet the eligibility requirements of several national nutrition boards, including the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential from the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS). Graduates eligibility is contingent upon prerequisite courses completed prior to entry into MUIH's Post-Master's Certificate program.
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.
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. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS, 1) projects healthcare occupations to grow 18% from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 2.4 million new jobs. Healthcare occupations are projected to add more jobs than any other occupational groups in the U.S. The BLS projects employment opportunities for nutritionists and dieticians to grow by 15% from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average growth rate for all occupations. According the BLS, the national median pay of nutritionists/dietitians in 2017 was $59,410 per year, and in 2016 in the state of Maryland was $66,520. These reported median wages were higher than the median annual wage of $37,690 for all occupations in the U.S. economy.