Holistic Health - Associate of Applied Science Degree
This two year program is designed to prepare students to begin practice in an area of holistic/integrative health, including practitioners in aromatherapy, yoga teaching, massage, reflexology, Reiki, wellness coaching, etc. Graduates will be aligned to set up their own practices in a stand-alone facility, or work alongside other practitioners in the holistic and medical fields, including holistic centers, wellness facilities, integrative clinics, and hospitals. Graduates are qualified for employment in various levels of entrepreneurship or independent and corporate wellness as well as health care offices or organizations. It prepares students to take state and national certification exams with a focus on areas of aromatherapy, coaching, reflexology, yoga, or energy/body work and/or join highly-rated state and nationally accredited professional membership affiliations. However, new national trends suggest that students complete a significant portion hands-on coursework in order to garner greater potential for increased employment opportunities and successful transfer status in this emerging hands-on, person-oriented professional healthcare field and thus, this degree is not recommended for completion exclusively online.
Graduates of this degree may also transfer to advanced educational institutions for other integrated health-related degrees. Currently, this degree program is transferable to Metropolitan State University of Denver to be applied towards the Bachelor of Science in Integrative Healthcare and Southern New Hampshire University for a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. Possible transfers to other university programs and specialty schools are also in process; so please check with the Program Director for more details and updates.
All courses in this degree must be completed with a "C" or better to graduate.
Requirements
Assessment testing is required of all students. Students who place into CCR 093 (or above), MAT 050 (or above) may begin this program of study. Students scoring below this level should consult with the Program Director before registering for courses in this program of study. Upon doing so, students are strongly encouraged to begin with HHP 120 (Introduction to Integrative Health) during their first semester for enhanced success in the Holistic Health program and this emerging field.
Holistic Health Required Courses
| HHP 120 | Introduction to Integrative Health | 2 |
| HHP 252 | Holistic Health Keystone | 3 |
| HHP 261 | Ethics in Holistic Therapies | 2 |
| HHP 263 | Creating a Holistic Business Practice | 2 |
| HHP 289 | Capstone | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 11 |
General Education Requirements
English
| ENG 121 | English Composition I | 3 |
| | or | |
| ENG 122 | English Composition II | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Note: Students desiring professional advancement in this field through transfer should consider taking ENG 122 in addition to ENG 121 to satisfy the general education requirements in English at MSU-D and other transfer institutions.
Communication
Select one course (3 credits) from below:
| COM 115 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| COM 125 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COM 220 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Mathematics
Select one course (3-4 credits) from below:
| MAT 135 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3-4 |
Liberal Arts
Select one course (3 credits) from the Approved Electives List in the Liberal Arts section. These areas of study include: Arts & Expression, Literature & Humanities, Ways of Thinking, and World Languages. Recommended courses include gtPathways AH courses: GT-AH1, GT-AH2, GT-AH3 or GT-AH4.
History
Select one course (3 credits) from the gtPathways list (GT-HI1).
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Anthropology
Select one course (3 credits) from below:
| ANT 101 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 215 | Indians of North America | 3 |
| ANT 225 | Anthropology of Religion | 3 |
| ANT 250 | Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Psychology
Select one course (3 credits) from the following:
| PSY 101 | General Psychology I | 3 |
| PSY 102 | General Psychology II | 3 |
| PSY 227 | Psychology of Death and Dying | 3 |
| PSY 235 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Natural and Physical Sciences
| BIO 201 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab | 4 |
| BIO 202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab | 4 |
| | | |
| BIO 111 | General College Biology I with Lab | 5 |
| | or | |
| CHE 101 | Introduction to Chemistry I with Lab | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13 |
Students must take BIO 201 and BIO 202. In addition, students may select either BIO 111 or CHE 101 to fulfill the 13 credits of Natural and Physical Science coursework required for the AAS degree.
Additional Health Related Courses
| HWE 100 | Human Nutrition | 3 |
| HPR 208 | Medical Record Terminology | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 5 |
Electives
Select 10 credits of electives from HHP and MST. Additional courses other than under the HHP and MST categories may only be substituted with the expressed permission of the Program Director and should be selected based upon student's personal and/or professional interest. Students are strongly advised to consult with the HHP Program Director prior to selecting their elective courses.
Total Credit Hours: 60
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