Master of Health Science in Functional & Integrative Nutrition Curriculum

Students taking this course will expand upon their knowledge of basic nutrition science to gain a foundational understanding of the functional approach to nutrition. The course reviews the fundamental principles and perspectives of conventional, traditional, integrative, and functional medical models to identify best practices for nutrition care. In this course the fundamental concepts of functional medicine, including: genetics and disease risk, biochemical individuality, environmental factors, triggers and mediators of disease, and common clinical physical, mental, and emotional imbalances will be explored. The personalized, whole-person, integrated systems approach of functional medicine will be compared and contrasted to conventional approaches of health care. A foundational look at specialized clinical assessments, whole foods and supplementation, diagnostic functional tests and measures, and biomarkers of health and disease will be explored, along with common core therapeutic approaches used in many patients. This course is foundational for many courses that follow in this degree program and must be taken in the first quarter of the program.

This course examines one of the most common modalities of functional medicine: dietary and herbal supplements as well as provides an overview of the entire dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, phytonutrients/phytochemicals and functional foods aspect of nutritional advice used in current health practice. In addition this course provides a practical overview of pharmacologic therapy used in chronic illnesses or non-life-threatening acute illness management including: mechanism of action (pharmacodynamics), the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs (A.D.M.E. of pharmacokinetics), potential toxic effects of medications, factors affecting the effectiveness of drugs, and interactions with drugs. The course provides an overview of the regulations that govern manufacturing, sales, and marketing of dietary supplements. Students will use reliable and peer-reviewed resources, as well as integrative care case studies to critically evaluate the proposed benefits, efficacy, and safety of supplements and pharmaceuticals in order to inform client recommendations.

This course covers the foundational structure and function of macronutrients (carbohydrates, fat, and protein) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), and their importance in human health. The advanced biological roles of macro- and micronutrients and their metabolism will be examined using knowledge in physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology and its effects on biochemical individuality. Students will explore the relationships of nutrients to major health disorders, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Micronutrients will be examined with respect to dietary need, metabolism, and clinical disorders associated with deficiency and excess consumption. The macronutrients and micronutrients are covered with respect to their integrated metabolism in tissues and their overall metabolism in fed and fasting states. Those essential concepts in human biochemistry are then linked to specific applications in functional nutrition, diet recommendations, and patient education.

This course is designed to provide a scientific, evidence-based approach on how to read and interpret health and wellness literature with special emphasis on nutrition-related research studies. A detailed examination of study types, research design, methodology, data analysis, and statistics will be included. This course will also incorporate the three components of evidence-based health care (clinical expertise, patient preference, research evidence) into the decision-making and data-analysis process. Students will develop a working knowledge of the various approaches used to study nutrition from controlled intervention trials, large-scale observational studies, as well as functional medicine practiced-based approaches. Students will be able to explain and compare the methods used to gather reliable data, why they are used, their limitations, biases, and their applications. Overall students will be able to discuss the inherent challenges within nutrition research discipline and why our knowledge of nutrition will continue to evolve along with practitioner recommendations in the field.

This course will begin covering the foundational theories of behavior change in individuals, groups, and large populations. From there we will apply these methods using case studies to integrate knowledge with clinical and organization application. Students will study effective communication, observation, and active listening skills used to evoke positive health behavior change. Assessment of stages of behavior change and motivational interviewing are integrated with methods for guiding clients/patients through goal setting and maintaining accountability. Analytical strategies such as planning, implementation, and assessment of progress at both the individual and organizational level will be discussed.

Success in Integrative Healthcare requires business competence and leadership skills. This course will focus on sound business strategies and practices that drive the development, management, and implementation of Integrative Healthcare. Practical programs and processes support providers and the entire team in delivering patient and family-centered care while ensuring both patient outcomes and financial sustainability.

This course is the culmination of the Master of Health Science in Functional & Integrative Nutrition. Students will complete a Capstone project that displays competencies and portfolio projects completed from previous courses related to Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) and demonstrates the ability to synthesize learning into application to guide professional practice. As part of the final capstone course, students will identify a community partner to work with and complete a project related to an area of need in functional and integrative nutrition that demonstrates holistic program learning outcomes. Key knowledge areas of the Capstone project include future directions in integrative and functional nutrition, entrepreneurism, volunteerism, leadership, mentoring, and preparing for post-master’s life.