College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences

Today, the general public is seeking a renewed healthcare system that is:

• dedicated to the care of the whole person, body, mind, and spirit;
• focused on lifestyle change and the acquisition of self-care skills;
• committed to pursuing higher level wellness, versus solely treating illness; and
• attuned to enhancing the individual’s quality of life.

The College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences (CIMHS) offers MA, MS, and PhD graduate degrees and certificate programs in Mind-Body Medicine, Integrative and Functional Nutrition, Integrative Wellness Coaching, and Applied Psychophysiology.  CIMHS is dedicated to the mission of transforming healthcare by emphasizing self-care practices and lifestyle changes conducive to higher levels of health and well-being.  The academic programs combine cutting-edge curriculum with a university-wide emphasis on student-centered learning. Throughout the curriculum, students will learn from dedicated CIMHS faculty.  Members of the faculty are world-renowned scholar-practitioners who edit industry publications, lead professional associations, direct community health centers, conduct research, and develop protocols for treatments that support and complement those based on conventional, Western medicine.

The master’s degrees and doctoral specializations in CIMHS offer a comprehensive and transformational education in the approaches to integrative medicine that are becoming increasingly central to conventional healthcare.  CIMHS programs are designed for professionals in a variety of career fields who wish to enhance and expand their expertise in health and wellness. 

The Mind-Body Medicine PhD specializations include mindful leadership in healthcare, healthcare practice, healthcare research, integrative mental health, integrative wellness coaching, and integrative and functional nutrition. The Applied Psychophysiology PhD specializations include clinical psychophysiology and optimal functioning. The various specializations are designed to prepare students for opportunities to practice, consult, teach, and research within the integrative healthcare field.

Across degrees and specializations, students in the College will be introduced to trends affecting the healthcare system and evidence-based approaches known to optimize health and wellness outcomes.

Hybrid Learning Model

The majority of the coursework is conducted online and at a distance, so students can live and work anywhere in the world as they engage with CIMHS faculty and peers. Classes incorporate a variety of instructional and assessment methods including asynchronous discussion forums, live videoconferences, interactive web-based activities, and written assignments.  In addition, there are two residential conferences per academic year.  These residential conferences are held in January (the start of spring semester) and August (the start of fall semester).

Courses for graduate degrees in the CIMHS are offered during three semesters each year: fall, spring, and summer. Fall and spring semesters each have two 8-week terms (A and B); the summer semester has only one 8-week term.

Residential Orientation and Residential Conference for the MS and PhD Students in Mind-Body Medicine, the PhD students in Applied Psychophysiology, and the MA Students in Integrative Wellness Coaching

New students enrolled in the Mind-Body Medicine, the Applied Psychophysiology, and the Integrative Wellness Coaching degree programs begin their programs in either the fall or spring semesters, and are required to attend a one-day long Residential Orientation (RO) immediately followed by a five-day long Residential Conference (RC).  During the RO, new students will be introduced to the College’s faculty, staff, and current students.  The faculty will describe how to manage distance learning technology, review academic expectations, and discuss requirements for the initial term.  The 5-day RC component, required at the start of the Mind-Body-Medicine, Applied Psychophysiology, and Integrative Wellness Coaching programs, includes an experiential “mind-body-spirit integration seminar.”  This on-site seminar introduces the students to mind-body skills, spiritual practices, and self-care approaches conducive to higher level health and wellbeing.  Students are encouraged to develop a lifetime discipline of reflective self-care, as preparation for sharing similar practices with others.  Students continuing in the Mind-Body Medicine, Applied Psychophysiology, and Integrative Wellness Coaching degrees are required to attend additional RCs.  The number of RCs required for each student varies by degree program and selected coursework.  

The dates of the RO and RC appear in the College’s academic calendar.

Virtual Community in Nutrition

Students in the Master of Science in Integrative and Functional Nutrition participate in a semester-long Virtual Community in Nutrition that helps orient them to Saybrook University and the Integrative and Functional Nutrition program.  While participating in this distance-taught course, students will interact with faculty and classmates to establish a sense of community and develop best practices for academic success while learning about topics in Integrative and Functional Nutrition.  This course is required in place of the RO and RC for all Master of Science in Integrative and Functional Nutrition Students.  Students may opt to participate in the RC, in addition to this course, if they choose.   

Programs

Master of Arts

• •  Integrative Wellness Coaching, M.A.

Doctor of Philosophy

• •  Applied Psychophysiology, Ph.D
• •  Mind-Body Medicine, Specialization in Applied Psychophysiology, Ph.D.

Certificate

• •  Biofeedback and Neurofeedback Certificate
• •  Clinical and Applied Hypnosis Certificate
• •  Integrative Wellness Coaching Certificate