Overview of Program
Students enrolled in the M.S. Mind-Body Medicine (MBM) program integrate mind-body medicine's philosophy, science, and techniques in their personal and professional work. The curriculum provides a foundation of scholarship across the CIMHS departments, encompassing integrative healthcare, mind-body science, practice, research foundations, and ethics. Students may add a certificate or specialization to expand their knowledge and focus of study in a specific discipline, such as integrative wellness coaching, contemplative end-of-life care, biofeedback, neurofeedback, and hypnosis.
The M.S. MBM program attracts students from a broad range of educational and career backgrounds in health, wellness, education, and non-healthcare fields. Nurses, therapists, coaches, yoga instructors, dietitians, nutritionists, educators, business consultants, and recent graduates from other degree programs represent the student body. This degree does not qualify graduates for medical licensure.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Explain the influence of biopsychosocial factors on general health and wellbeing and the implications for individuals, organizations, and/or communities.
- Describe and apply the foundational values, ethical principles, and best practices of the field to oneself and others.
- Apply cultural humility, diversity awareness, and inclusion to support health equity and social justice in healthcare systems.
- Articulate the application of self-reflection and self-care skills.
- Assess and synthesize evidence, theories, and established practices in integrative healthcare.
- Critically evaluate research methods and apply published research.
- Compose original, grammatically correct, coherent, concise, and well-articulated written work in APA style.
Specializations
- Applied Psychophysiology
- Contemplative End of Life Care
- Integrative and Functional Nutrition
- Integrative Wellness Coaching
- Mindful Leadership
Career Opportunities
Students who are already credentialed as healthcare practitioners enhance their practice with integrative medicine knowledge.
Graduates are prepared to serve as educators, coaches, consultants, directors or managers, and researchers in a variety of professional settings:
- Private practice and independent consulting
- Integrative medicine and wellness centers
- Medical centers, hospitals, community health, primary care
- Medical spas
- Yoga retreat centers
- Sports medicine
- Corporate wellness programs
- Colleges and universities
Depending on their professional interests, M.S. MBM students may need to pursue additional education in doctoral studies if they intend to teach graduate-level courses, conduct research, or seek employment in a healthcare setting.
Admissions Requirements
M.S. Mind-Body Medicine degree applicant must submit the following documents:
- An official transcript from an accredited university demonstrating successful completion of a Bachelor’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 M.S. 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 an accredited community college.
- Three graduate transfer credits may be accepted to fulfill one elective 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.
Contact 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.
All students are required to attend the Virtual Learning Experience (VLE) during week one in the fall and spring semesters of each academic year. Although students may complete most courses through distance learning, all our degree programs have VLE requirements. VLEs are academic requirements, and their completion is important for your successful academic progress: they allow you to meet with faculty and co-learners in a synchronous, stimulating, and supportive virtual environment. Our VLEs are an important part of your learning experience as they nurture intellectual and relational creativity, enrich the educational environment, and foster faculty and peer interactions. During the VLE, there are courses being launched, workshops, independent learning activities, peer learning opportunities, community events, and other hands-on experiences intended to nurture professional development, skill building, relationships, and transformative change. You can find the specific hour and track requirements on the Academic Commons University Learning Experience Program Requirements Page linked here. https://tcsedsystem.libguides.com/VLE_Requirement
Students are required to attend the VLE throughout their program and are encouraged to attend the Community Learning Experience (in person) in lieu of the VLE in the fall of odd calendar years.
Certain courses may have additional experiential, participation, or attendance requirements beyond those outlined for the program. Students should consult individual course descriptions for details.
Program Specific Requirements
All new students participate in Saybrook University’s “Getting Started” and the MBM 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 M.S. Mind-Body Medicine degree include 40 to 43 credits within specific categories of coursework: core (13 credits), research (6 credits), mind-body science (6 credits), practice (9 credits), and electives (6 or 9 credits). 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 (elective) 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.
Credits/Hours
Students should expect to spend approximately 40 hours per every 1 credit hour, or 120 hours of schoolwork for each 3-credit course, engaged in schoolwork (e.g., reading, watching videos, completing assignments, and more). Therefore, students should anticipate spending approximately 8 hours per week on schoolwork for each 15-week course. The actual time needed will vary by course, by week, and by student.
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.
Length of Program
The average time to complete without a specialization is 2 to 3 years.
Mind-Body Science - 6 credits
Practice - 9 credits
Choose three:
Electives - 9 credits
Elective requirements may be satisfied by any Saybrook program (except for counseling courses) or by an approved academic partner agreement. Refer to any prerequisite or learning experience requirements (virtual, residential, or community) before registering. A listing of acceptable CIMHS courses is available in the university catalog and online Master Index.
Total Degree Requirements - 43 credits
Total Requirements with Specialization Option: 55 credits
Applied Psychophysiology (APH) Specialization - 12 credits
Applied Psychophysiology is the sub-specialty of psychophysiology that uses knowledge of the biological bases of various behaviors in conjunction with numerous psychological techniques to support people as they manage symptoms associated with health-related issues or enhance their academic, artistic, and sports performance.
Students in the applied psychophysiology specialization will take courses in basic psychophysiology, neurophysiology, and choose from a variety of interventions such as biofeedback, hypnosis, neurofeedback, stress management, and optimal performance. Depending on the combination of courses within the degree requirements and specialization, students may have enough credits to declare multiple certificates that align with their career goals.
Total Requirements with Specialization Option: 55 credits
Contemplative End of Life Care (CEOL) Specialization - 12 credits
The Contemplative End of Life Care curriculum provides healthcare professionals with the skills and understanding to better tend to the psychospiritual needs of the chronically ill and the dying. Palliative and end-of-life care are interdependent interdisciplinary support delivered to enhance the quality of life and symptom management of those experiencing chronic and life-limiting illness, including terminal disease processes.
The 12-credit specialization is interdisciplinary and designed to appeal to MS MBM students interested in providing palliative and end-of-life care and services from a contemplative approach. The curriculum applies to individuals working in clinical care, coaching, administration, consulting, teaching, and research settings. Students who complete the required coursework in this CEOL specialization receive a certificate of completion.
Note: This certificate of completion does not lead to licensure. Students will gain courses and experience applicable toward certification by the Association of Death Education and Counseling (Certificate in Thanatology, Death, Dying, and Bereavement, Fellow in Thanatology, Death, Dying, and Bereavement). Some additional requirements are not included in the Saybrook courses.
Total Requirements with Specialization Option: 55 credits
Integrative Wellness Coaching (IWC) Specialization - 12 credits
The Integrative Wellness Coaching (IWC) Certificate program is available to all students interested in Integrative Wellness Coaching who do not currently hold an ICF or NBHWC credential. Students who have completed part of the program before 2025 must retake the 2025 IWC Certificate program in its entirety to align with updated ICF and NBHWC accreditation standards. The IWC Certificate program is unavailable to Teaching Fellows, adjunct faculty, or core faculty, and auditing the program courses is not permitted.
By completing the required coursework in this specialization, students also complete the Certificate in Integrative Wellness Coaching. This certificate program is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) as a Level 1 program with 125 contact hours and is a National Board of Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) Approved Training Program with 88 instructional hours. Graduates of the certificate are eligible to apply for additional credentialing through these organizations.
Total Requirements with Specialization Option: 55 credits
Integrative and Functional Nutrition (IFN) Specialization - 12 credits
Overview
The specialization in Integrative and Functional Nutrition provides an alternative for the individual who wishes to obtain a comprehensive introduction to integrative and functional approaches to nutrition while studying Mind Body Medicine. The specialization is a 12-credit program, including one required course, IFN 5670 Foundations of Integrative and Functional Nutrition, and four additional academic courses of the student’s choice. Please check the course catalog to determine if prerequisites are required.
Additionally, MBM students who complete this specialization may be eligible to sit for the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) exam. The Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS) requires a graduate degree in the field of nutrition or other healthcare-related profession from a regionally accredited university. Students must complete specific coursework and accrue 1,000 hours of supervised experience; consult with the specialization coordinator to select the appropriate courses.
The BCNS reviews each candidate individually, including current course descriptions, transcripts, and experience to determine eligibility. To learn more about becoming a CNS and to determine if your academic preparation meets the requirements, see www.theana.org and work with the specialization coordinator.
- IFN 5670 Foundations of Integrative and Functional Nutrition 3 credits
- Select three 3-credit IFN courses, except IFN 5703 or IFN 5704, for a total of 92 credits. Pre-requisites must be met to register for certain courses.
Total Requirements with Specialization Option: 55 credits
Mindful Leadership Specialization - 12 credits
The 12-credit specialization is intended for practitioners, wellness professionals, and educators who want to master the emerging scholarship in mindful approaches to leadership, organizational development, and healthcare. The core curriculum of three courses is designed to provide mastery of the mindfulness literature, associated leadership theories, and experiential components to develop practice skills. Students will also select a fourth course from alternatives in mindful consulting, applications of creativity, and methods of conflict resolution.
Total Requirements with Specialization Option: 55 credits
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