Ph.D. Mind-Body Medicine, Integrative and Functional Nutrition Specialization

Admissions Requirements

Applicants for the Ph.D. Mind-Body Medicine degree must submit the following documents: 

• An official transcript from an accredited university demonstrating successful completion of a Master’s degree, with a 3.0 GPA or better; 
• Professional resume or CV; 
• Personal statement; and 
• The Department chair may require a writing sample if applicants submit a personal statement that contains any grammatical mistakes, spelling errors, or poorly organized text. 

 
New Ph.D. MBM students must provide official transcripts showing completion of an undergraduate or graduate-level science course in the past 10 years, with a minimum of a B in anatomy and/or physiology. Students lacking this introductory science prerequisite course will add IFN 5704 Anatomy and Physiology as an elective within their first year. Alternatively, students may complete the basic anatomy and physiology course from Saybrook’s academic partner, Straighter Line. 
 
Up to nine graduate transfer credits may be accepted to fulfill three electives or course requirement for the degree program. These credits must be suitable for transfer as determined by the department chair and registrar. For further details regarding transfer credit policies, consult the Institutional Transfer Credit Guidelines section of the University Catalog for Course Descriptions.  
 
Graduates from one of the CIMHS degree programs are eligible to transfer in all equivalent course requirements.  The exact number depends on which master’s degree the student has completed, and which Ph.D. specialization the student selects. These students must fulfill the doctoral degree requirements for a minimum total of 75 credits. 
 
Contract the department chair to inquire about the details of transfer credits. 

University Learning Experience

Virtual Learning Experience (VLE) - Required, Community Learning Experience (CLE) - Optional

All new students begin their studies with a Welcome Week. Welcome Week activities, including a degree program orientation, are held online during the week ahead of the start of the fall and spring semesters. Participation is strongly encouraged.

New students participate in the MBM 0505 Mind-Body-Spirit Integration (MBSI) Seminar. The MBSI consists of two full days of experiential learning (virtual or residential), and four 4-hour virtual sessions on consecutive Saturdays. Refer to the course description for requirements. 

Students enrolled in the Mind-Body-Medicine degree program must attend any residential, university, or virtual learning experience as required for the courses in which they choose to enroll. Refer to the course descriptions for requirements. 

Program Specific Requirements

All new students participate in Saybrook University’s “Getting Started” and the Mind-Body-Medicine Department’s virtual orientation sessions at the beginning of the fall, spring, and summer semesters. During the orientation, students are introduced to administrative staff, faculty, university-wide policies, technology, student services, library databases, best practices, advising, and more.  
 
The requirements for the Ph.D. MBM degree include 75 credits within specific categories of coursework: core (12 credits), research (24 credits), mind-body science (6 credits), practice (9 credits), electives (9 or 12 credits), and specialization (15 credits). Students who prefer not to add a specialization will complete 15 credits of additional electives from any category or degree program. Pre-requisites such as anatomy and physiology must be met to register for certain courses. 
 
Note: All CIMHS students enroll in the MBM 5507 Graduate Level Academic Writing course within the first two semesters of starting the program unless students receive an approved waiver from the department chair. 
 
In some instances, students may request to waive the MBM 5507 writing course and substitute an open elective at the discretion of the department chair. The department chair will make the determination based on any one of three criteria: (a) students may document solo-authored professional publications in a peer-reviewed journal, (b) per our institutional transfer credit policy, students may document completion of an equivalent 3-credit graduate level writing course within the past 10 years and earned a grade of B or better, or (c) students may submit an optional writing sample, and achieve a score of 90% or better on the writing sample grading rubric. 

Mode of Delivery

Most of the coursework is conducted online and at a distance, so students can live and work anywhere in the world as they engage with faculty and peers. The classes incorporate a variety of instructional and assessment methods including asynchronous discussion forums, live videoconferences, interactive web-based activities, and written assignments. In addition, the MBM department utilizes virtual and residential learning experiences for real-time training, to support online classes. These virtual and residential learning conferences are usually held at the start of the spring and fall semesters. 
 
MBM students are required to enroll in three semesters each year: fall, spring, and summer. Fall and spring semesters are 15 weeks; summer courses are 8 or 12 weeks long.  

Core - 12 credits

• MBM 0505 - Mind-Body-Spirit Integration Seminar *
• MBM 5710 - Mind-Body Therapies and Practices 3 credit(s)
• MBM 5690 - Complementary and Integrative Medicine 3 credit(s)
• MBM 5500 - Ethics in Healthcare 3 credit(s)
• IFN choice - 3 credits
• MBM 8000 - PhD Mid-Program Review

•  

• Courses with an asterisk * include a virtual or community learning experience (VLE or CLE). Refer to the course description for details. 

Research - 24 credits

• RES 2100 - Research Foundations and Literacy 3 credit(s)
• RES 2300 - Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis 3 credit(s)
• RES 2500 - Quantitative Data Collection and Statistics 3 credit(s)
• RES 3500 - Research Design and Scholarly Writing 3 credit(s)
• RES 3xxx - Advanced Research Methods 3 credit(s) (Select one course, see course descriptions RES 3000-3400)
• RES 6900 - Dissertation Preparation 3 credit(s)
• RES 7000 - Dissertation Proposal 3 credit(s)
• RES 7100 - Dissertation 3 credit(s)
• ALL 9000 - Dissertation Finalization I

Mind-Body Science - 6 credits

Required:

• MBM 5681 - Psychophysiology of the Human Stress Response 3 credit(s)

•  

• Choose One:

• APH 5201 - Principles and Theories of Stress Management 3 credit(s)
• APH 5181 - Hormonal and Perceptual Influences on Behavior 3 credit(s)
• APH 5251 - Neuropsychophysiology 3 credit(s)
• APH 5351 - Clinical Psychopharmacology 3 credit(s)
• CSIH 3040 - Models of Consciousness 3 credit(s)
• CSIH 3610 - Transpersonal Neuroscience 3 credit(s)
• PSY 3171 - Perspectives and Foundations of Traumatic Stress 3 credit(s)
• IFN 5705 - Psychobiology of Eating 3 credit(s)
• IFN 5661 - Nutritional Foundations of Mental Health 3 credit(s)
• MBM 5524 - Contemporary Neuroscience-Psychology and the Brain 3 credit(s)
• MBM 5645 - The Human Energy Field and Energy Medicine 3 credit(s)
• MBM 5674 - Ayurvedic Medicine 3 credit(s)

Practice - 9 credits

Choose three:

• APH 5622 - Basic Training and Education in Biofeedback 3 credit(s) *
• APH 5101 - Psychophysiological Recording, Assessment, and Interventions 3 credit(s)
• APH 5595 - Advanced Biofeedback Practicum 3 credit(s)
• APH 5571 - Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback 3 credit(s) *
• APH 5620 - Basic Training and Education in Hypnosis 3 credit(s) *
• APH 5625 - Intermediate Training and Education in Hypnosis 3 credit(s) *
• APH 5594 - Advanced Hypnosis 3 credit(s)
• COA 5628 - Evidence-Based Coaching 3 credit(s) *
• MBM 5510 - Imagery for Health 3 credit(s) *
• MBM 5616 - Movement Modalities for Wellness 3 credit(s)
• MBM 5517 - Contemplative Approaches to Grief and Loss 3 credit(s)
• MBM 5518 - Evidence-Based Skills in Contemplative End of Life Care 3 credit(s)
• MBM 5521 - Reflective Leadership in Healthcare 3 credit(s)
• MBM 5523 - Theories & Applications of Mindful Leadership 3 credit(s) *
• MBM 5655 - Mindfulness, Meditation, and Health 3 credit(s) *
• CSIH 3160 - Personal Mythology and Dreamwork 3 credit(s)
• MBM 5635 - Spirituality and Health 3 credit(s)
• MBM 5516 - Contemplative Approaches to the Chronically Ill, Dying, and Their Families 3 credit(s) *
• MBM 5668 - Body-Oriented Approaches to Psychotherapy 3 credit(s) *
• MBM 5720 - Narrative Approaches in Healthcare 3 credit(s)
• CS 6606 - Introduction to Expressive Arts 3 credit(s)

•  

• Courses with an asterisk * indicate a 1 or 2-day virtual or community learning experience (VLE or CLE). Refer to the course description for details. 

Integrative and Functional Nutrition Specialization Requirements - 15 credits

Required:

• IFN 5670 - Foundations of Integrative and Functional Nutrition 3 credit(s)

•  

• Choose 4 courses from the list below:

• IFN 5900 - Integrative Approaches to Chronic Disease 3 credit(s)
• IFN 5688 - Advanced Nutritional Biochemistry—Macronutrients 3 credit(s)
• IFN 5689 - Advanced Nutritional Biochemistry—Micronutrients 3 credit(s)
• IFN 5694 - Nutrition-Focused Physical Exam 3 credit(s)
• IFN 5705 - Psychobiology of Eating 3 credit(s)
• IFN 5673 - Integrative Approaches to the Digestive System 3 credit(s)
• IFN 5676 - Dietary Supplements and Herbal Medicine 3 credit(s)
• IFN 5681 - Systems Biology I 3 credit(s)
• IFN 5682 - Systems Biology II 3 credit(s)
• IFN 5520 - Nutritional Science 3 credit(s)
• IFN 5611 - Therapeutic Diets and Menu Planning 3 credit(s)
• IFN 5660 - Methods in Nutrition Research 3 credit(s)
• IFN 5661 - Nutritional Foundations of Mental Health 3 credit(s)
• IFN 5663 - Sports and Exercise Nutrition 3 credit(s)