Bachelor of Science in Integrative Health and Wellness (B.S.-I.H.W.)
The B.S.-I.H.W. program prepares students to enhance health, wellness, and well-being among individuals, families, populations, and communities. As health educators, all graduates of this program are able to teach integrative health concepts and guide individuals and communities by providing holistic, wellness-focused education. The B.S.-I.H.W. program prepares a knowledgeable workforce that speaks the language of conventional health care, while also supporting a shift from a focus on disease to a focus on promoting health, wellness and resilience.
The University of Portland School of Nursing & Health Innovations' Integrative Health Coaching Program is an Approved Health and Wellness Coach Training & Education Program by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). Graduates of this program are eligible to apply for the HWC Certifying Examination to become National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). Students may complete the Integrative Health Coaching Program as B.S.-I.H.W. program electives.
B.S.-I.H.W. Program Outcomes
The B.S.-I.H.W. program prepares graduates in the following areas of health promotion:
- Integrative Health Promotion: Students will demonstrate personal and professional understanding of integrative health as a perspective through which to support individuals, organizations and communities to optimize their highest expression of health and well-being.
- Spiritual Health Promotion: Students will demonstrate personal and professional understanding of spirituality to promote integrative spiritual health within person-centered relationships.
- Mental Health Promotion: Students will demonstrate personal and professional understanding of mental wellness to promote integrative mental health and well-being within themselves and others.
- Physical Health Promotion: Students will demonstrate personal and professional understanding of physical wellness to promote the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for supporting integrative physical health through a balance of nourishment, movement, and rest.
- Social Health Promotion: Students will demonstrate personal and professional understanding and application of the impact of social relationships (society and social groups) for promoting individual and population social health and well-being.
- Population Health Promotion: Students will demonstrate personal and professional understanding of multisector policies, population health promotion concepts, and evolving health care systems to promote integrative population health.
- Health Education/Promotion: Students will demonstrate personal and professional understanding of foundational knowledge in integrative health education/promotion program planning, implementation and evaluation.
Admission
First-year and transfer applicants for admission must meet the general entrance requirements of the University as set forth in the "Admissions" section of this Bulletin.
Progression
For students admitted to the B.S.-I.H.W. program, progression in the program is dependent upon:
- Good academic standing.
- A grade of D or better in required I.H.W. courses.
Additional Progression Information
- Any University of Portland student who wishes to transfer an I.H.W. major requirement course from another institution must first obtain the permission of the School of Nursing & Health Innovations prior to registration in the course. Such permission is required to ensure that the course is suitable for transfer to the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.
- Students interested in studying abroad should consult with their academic advisor, their program counselor, and the UP Study Abroad office to understand study abroad options and their impact on the B.S.-I.H.W. program of study. The UP Study Abroad program recommends a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher before going abroad but will consider applications from anyone with a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or above.
- All B.S.-I.H.W. students are responsible for adhering to the policies in the most current version of the School of Nursing & Health Innovations I.H.W. Student Handbook.
B.S.-I.H.W. Degree Requirements
To qualify for the I.H.W. degree, the following requirements must be met:
- A cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0 or above.
- A grade of D or better in all required I.H.W. courses.
- Successful completion of all I.H.W. program requirements.
- Completion of a minimum of 120 semester credit hours, including University Core Requirements.
University Core Curriculum Requirements — 40 credit hours
All University of Portland students progress through a set of shared course options as part of the University’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. This curriculum offers a foundation of multiple lenses to address enduring questions of human concern, integrating the liberal arts, the University mission, and the knowledge, skills, and values needed in a diverse society and in the workplace.
See Core Curriculum Requirements
Two of the three core requirements for the Scientific and Quantitative Literacy and Problem Solving Habit are satisfied by the mathematics and science requirements within the major.
IHW 116 and IHW 312 are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for the B.S.-I.H.W.
B.S.-I.H.W. Major Requirements — 86 credit hours
Required Courses - 60-61 credit hours
Because I.H.W. is a dynamic field, the curriculum is subject to change at the School of Nursing & Health Innovations' discretion.
| BIO 205 | Foundations of Biology | 3 |
| with | |
| BIO 005 | BIO 205 Workshop | 0 |
| Or | |
| BIO 207 | Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology | 3 |
| with | |
| BIO 277 | Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology Lab | 1 |
| IHW 101 | Integrative Health and Wellness | 3 |
| IHW 116 | Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan I | 3 |
| IHW 204 | Anatomy of Wellness | 3 |
| IHW 214 | Physiology of Wellness & Strategies for Healthy Living | 3 |
| IHW 216 | Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan II | 3 |
| IHW 224 | Integrative Public Health | 3 |
| IHW 301 | Mind/Body/Energy Perspectives | 3 |
| IHW 305 | Approaches to Wellness | 3 |
| IHW 310 | Foundations of Health Education and Health Promotion | 3 |
| IHW 312 | Research Methods for Public Health Practice | 3 |
| IHW 316 | Nature's Pharmacy: Foods, Herbs and Supplements that Support Health | 3 |
| IHW 317 | Restorative Nutrition | 3 |
| IHW 325 | Community Health Promotion I | 3 |
| IHW 326 | Community Health Promotion II | 3 |
| IHW 411 | Technology in Health | 3 |
| IHW 417 | Project Design and Management in Integrative Health and Wellness | 3 |
| IHW 418 | Leadership in Integrative Health and Wellness | 3 |
| IHW 427 | Integrative Health & Wellness Practicum | 3 |
| MTH 161 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
Electives - 25-26 credit hours
Students who wish to pursue national health and wellness coaching certification may choose to complete the following Integrative Health Coaching Program requirements as six credits of electives.
| IHW 307 | Integrative Health Coaching I – Concepts of Individual Wellness | 3 |
| IHW 407 | Integrative Health Coaching II: Supporting Individual Wellness | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 120