2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Holistic Health (BS.HOH)
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Program Description
Vermont State University’s Bachelor of Science in Holistic Health program is one of the few of its kind in the country. It employs societal, cultural, biochemical, and global frameworks to investigate the history, principles and scientific evidence for the safety and effectiveness of diverse modalities to foster well-being and prevent and treat illnesses. At the core of the Holistic Health program is an emphasis on personal wellbeing and proven, effective holistic self-care strategies that can be integrated into a personal or professional “toolbox”. It provides the scientific knowledge and practical skills needed to make informed healthcare decisions and lifestyle choices and to prepare for careers as state-of-the-art healthcare professionals.
Students explore the cultural, social and scientific basis of a wide variety of wellness strategies and have the opportunity to deepen their understanding through internships, independent study, and original research. Graduates are prepared for initial positions in the wellness and fitness industry, hospital employee-assistance programs, social assistance programs, the diet and supplements industry, and as assistants to alternative medical practitioners. Many graduates go on to graduate and medical schools to become physicians, nurses, chiropractors, naturopathic physicians, Chinese medical doctors, ayurvedic physicians, and homeopathic doctors. The curriculum for this program was reviewed in 2012 and again in 2020 by Dr. James S. Gordon, Director of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine Program at Georgetown University, former chair of the White House Commission on Complementary & Alternative Medicine, and a member of the Advisory Council for the NIH National Center for Complimentary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), and in 2004 by Dr. Joseph Jacobs, former director of NCCAM.
Program Outcomes
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Students will develop a holistic understanding of the biological principles of living systems from an evolutionary perspective, and the fundamental nature of healing, in which mind and body are both considered in the emerging processes of genetic expression, repair, and optimal performance.
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Students will apply integrative critical thinking and investigative skills for assessing allopathic medical and holistic health practices and therapies, including appropriate applications of each in a personal as well as clinical setting.
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Students will demonstrate understanding of, and competence in, a variety of holistic mind-body therapies and personal self-care practices, including the ability to clearly communicate the principles and science supporting them.
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Students will evaluate and summarize the latest advancements and applications of holistic mind-body philosophy, art and science, and integrative models for health, wellness, and the optimal expression of human potential.
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Students will prepare for careers in holistic health care, including naturopathy, chiropractic, Traditional Chinese medicine, yoga, massage therapy, functional medicine, and health policy planning.
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