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Huntington University of Health Science’s (HUHS‘s) Doctor of Science in Integrative Healthcare program is unlike virtually any other doctorate program available in the U.S. or abroad. This dynamic, professional doctorate program is designed to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to take an integrative approach to patient care through the application of principles associated with functional medicine, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), and other integrative healthcare topics. It also prepares graduates to manage a CAM practice and to conduct CAM-oriented research. The D.Sc. program is offered exclusively online, and has no residential requirements.
Total Credits: 61 or 62
Transfer Credits Allowed: 9
Cost of Tuition per Credit: $540.00
Total Tuition of Program: $32,940.00 or $33,480.00
The D.Sc. program culminates in a capstone project. The capstone project is a substantial research project that is ultimately presented in the form of a dissertation that conforms to institutional standards.
A maximum of 9 credit hours may be transferred from previously completed graduate courses from other accredited institutions. The doctoral program is not eligible for credit by examination.
Program Outcomes:
Upon completion of the Doctor of Science in Integrative Healthcare degree program, the graduate will be able to:
- Analyze patient/client biochemistry and develop individualized healthcare programs based upon functional medicine techniques,
- Integrate complementary and alternative medicine modalities into their existing healthcare practice,
- Manage a complementary and alternative medicine practice,
- Conduct research within a complementary and alternative medicine practice,
- Synthesize relevant information from an understanding of clinical nutrition or other personalized healthcare concentration, and
- Make educated and informed decisions relevant to patient/client healthcare within the context of the CAM and functional medicine paradigm.
Applicants for the Doctor of Science in Integrative Healthcare must meet one of the following credentials:
- Master’s degree, or first professional degree program in a health related field from an accredited college/university with at least a 3.0 GPA
or - A minimum of a master’s degree from an accredited college/university with at least a 3.0 GPA and significant professional experience in a health related field.
Applicants for the Doctor of Science in Integrative Healthcare must have these prerequisite courses.
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- Required Undergraduate Prerequisites:
- Biology
- Statistics
- Nutrition
- General Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Required Graduate Prerequisites:
- Nutrition
- Biochemistry
- Required Undergraduate Prerequisites:
Note: If a student is accepted into the Doctor of Science in Integrative Healthcare and is missing any of the above prerequisite courses, they will need to take those courses prior to starting the doctorate program. The courses may be taken at HUHS or another accredited school.
Please click the tab of the concentration you are interested in.
Graduate students who wish to gain a more in-depth understanding of nutritional medicine in clinical practice should take the Clinical Nutrition application.
The Clinical Nutrition Concentration consists of the following courses:
Core Courses (12 credits)
- EDU501 Doctoral Orientation
- HEA610 Complementary & Alternative Medicine (3)
- HEA620 Research in Complementary & Alternative Medicine (3)
- NUT650 Functional Medicine & Nutrition (3)
- BUS601 Management of a CAM Practice (3)
Examination
- HEA550 Qualifying Examination1 (1)
Clinical Nutrition Concentration Courses
- BIO720 Cellular & Molecular Biology (3)
- NUT530 Nutrition Assessment (4)
- NUT710 Nutritional Medicine I (3)
- NUT711 Nutritional Medicine II (3)
- NUT712 Nutritional Medicine III (3)
- NUT720 Nutrigenomics (3)
- NUT730 Nutraceuticals & Functional Foods (3)
Elective Courses — choose 12 credits
- BIO510 Advanced Biochemistry (4)
- HEA701 Human Pathology (3)
- NUT525 Integrative Nutrition (4)
- NUT540 Clinical Nutrition (3)
- NUT555 Research in Integrative Nutrition (4)
- NUT565 Current Trends in Integrative Nutrition (3)
- NUT572 Lifespan Nutrition (3)
- NUT574 Community Nutrition (3)
- NUT576 Food and Culture (3)
- NUT578 Herbal Therapies and Alternative Healing (3)
- NUT703 Antioxidants (3)
Examinations & Capstone Project (15 credits)
- HEA650 Comprehensive Examination2
- HEA750 Dissertation Seminar (3)
- HEA850 Capstone Project (12)
Total Credits:
- Clinical Nutrition Concentration: 62
1Qualifying Examination must be completed after completion of Core Courses.
2Comprehensive Examination must be completed after completion of Concentration and Elective Courses.
Those who wish to focus on an area of integrative healthcare not currently offered as part of a formalized program of study through HUHS should consider the personalized concentration.
Through prior agreement with course instructors, students might use various sources of information as a basis for learning, include any combination of attending symposiums or seminars, reading textbooks or scientific literature, participation in a research project, or participation in a professional activity related to the health sciences.
Examples of Personalized Concentrations:
- Holistic Nursing
- Phytotherapy
- Dietary Supplement Science
- Trichology
- Integrative Healthcare Education
The Personalized Concentration consists of the following courses:
Core Courses (12 credits)
- EDU501 Doctoral Orientation
- HEA610 Complementary & Alternative Medicine (3)
- HEA620 Research in Complementary & Alternative Medicine (3)
- NUT650 Functional Medicine & Nutrition (3)
- BUS601 Management of a CAM Practice (3)
Examination
- HEA550 Qualifying Examination1 (1)
Personalized Concentration Courses
- HEA710 Special Topics in Health Sciences I (3)
- HEA711 Special Topics in Health Sciences II (3)
- HEA712 Special Topics in Health Sciences III (3)
- HEA713 Special Topics in Health Sciences IV (3)
- HEA714 Special Topics in Health Sciences V (3)
- HEA715 Special Topics in Health Sciences VI (3)
- HEA716 Special Topics in Health Sciences VII (3)
Elective Courses — choose 12 credits
- BIO510 Advanced Biochemistry (4)
- HEA701 Human Pathology (3)
- NUT525 Integrative Nutrition (4)
- NUT540 Clinical Nutrition (3)
- NUT555 Research in Integrative Nutrition (4)
- NUT565 Current Trends in Integrative Nutrition (3)
- NUT572 Lifespan Nutrition (3)
- NUT574 Community Nutrition (3)
- NUT576 Food and Culture (3)
- NUT578 Herbal Therapies and Alternative Healing (3)
- NUT703 Antioxidants (3)
Examinations & Capstone Project (15 credits)
- HEA650 Comprehensive Examination2
- HEA750 Dissertation Seminar (3)
- HEA850 Capstone Project (12)
Total Credits:
- Personalized Concentration: 61
1Qualifying Examination must be completed after completion of Core Courses.
2Comprehensive Examination must be completed after completion of Concentration and Elective Courses.
Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN) Examination
Graduates of the D.Sc. program meet the core education requirements for the Certified Clinical Nutritionist exam through the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board (CNCB). Visit www.cncb.org for eligibility requirements.
American Clinical Board of Nutrition (ACBN)
The American Clinical Board of Nutrition (ACBN) is a certifying agency in nutrition accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), which certifies programs based on the highest quality standards in professional certification to ensure the programs adhere to modern standards of practice in the certification industry.
The ACBN is one of only a very few certifying agencies in nutrition to offer Diplomate status to all professionals in the health care field beyond the doctorate level in the United States and Internationally. Certificants of the ACBN hold the distinction of Diplomate, American Clinical Board of Nutrition (DACBN) Candidates for the DACBN examination are required to provide proof of completion of a 300-hour clinical nutrition course from an accredited institution.
Please do note that none of our programs are intended to lead towards a Registered Dietitian (RD) credential.
Please see our Registered Dietitian Disclosure.
Since there are states and/or countries that have regulations as to the educational requirements and use of various occupational titles, we suggest that you check with your state to see if there are any applicable regulations. Students are responsible for determining if their country or state has any requirements with regards to providing nutrition counseling or services.
In any case, the use of “Registered Dietitian” or “Dietitian” are restricted to those individuals who met the credentialing requirements of the American Dietetic Association.
The American Nutrition Association® (Formerly the Center for Nutrition Advocacy®) is an excellent resource for those interested in pursuing a career in Nutrition.
The Council of Holistic Health Educators is an excellent resource for those interested in pursuing a career in Nutrition.