Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies (MAHS)

The Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies (MAHS) is an innovative graduate program that invites individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to study the philosophy, science and art of the holistic model of health and healing.

The program views the philosophy and practice of holistic health in the context of the multiple lenses of culture, spirituality and an environmental/global perspective. It is rooted in respect for the cross-cultural wisdom of numerous healing traditions and seeks to embrace many cultural perspectives and meanings that shape and influence health. Within the program, there is a deep commitment to the development of a new model of integrative healthcare that brings together the best of scientific medicine with the wisdom of the elders.

Individuals enter this multidisciplinary program with a baccalaureate degree from a broad range of fields and professions in order to pursue a professional career path or to use their studies for personal growth and enrichment. Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared to create unique work opportunities based on a holistic model and serve as ethical leaders in this rapidly expanding field.

Graduates develop their distinct voice and perspective as leaders and the capacity to move forward with creative applications of their graduate degree in a variety of settings. Increasing career opportunities exist in healthcare, social work, human services, exercise sciences, chemical dependency counseling, private practice, education and business.

The MAHS curriculum is based on 20 years of educational experience with the former professional certificate in holistic health studies at St. Catherine. The curriculum is organized around holistic core courses and elective options including energy healing, herbology and meditation. Core course work helps you make the radical shift from thinking in parts to thinking in wholes — from viewing disease as a process to be "cured" to an understanding of illness as a complex interaction of human beings with their environment.

Throughout the curriculum, you learn holistic approaches to individual health, as well as develop the valuable skills of self-empowerment/self-care, ethical leadership and organizing for social change. Within the context of a community-based experience of social activism, the curriculum goes beyond looking at an individual response to health issues by examining social conditions that contribute to disease.

In the classroom, you experience holistic teaching/learning methods as the faculty use meditation, Tai Chi, relaxation, imagery and creative art exercises as a regular part of the learning process. Other outstanding dimensions of the curriculum include community-based learning, extensive networking and an integrating practicum course in the final semester.

GRADUATE OUTCOMES

After completing coursework in the MAHS program, you will be able to:

• integrate holistic health studies within your professional field
• appreciate how personal transformation ultimately changes your professional work
• develop as a reflective professional capable of supporting and upholding values, standards and ethics
• integrate the most effective aspects of the holistic health and biomedical paradigms
• develop research competence by valuing research, reviewing research literature and being prepared to participate in research studies as a team member
• develop a set of skill-based healing strategies to be used with clients
• apply critical-thinking skills to holistic health content
• value the importance of culture, community and spirituality as it contributes to the wholeness and health of the individual
• be a change agent and leader whose work promotes a healthier world and social justice
• articulate the historical role of women as healers and realize their place in the healing community
• develop your unique voice and perspective as a healing professional
• connect with your sources of inspiration and move forward with creative application of holistic health studies
• value the interconnection between human health, the environment and planet Earth

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies (MAHS) is conferred upon candidates who have met the following requirements:

• completion of required courses
• attainment of minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• completion of 39 semester hours of graduate credit

DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM

The Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies and Master of Social Work programs have developed a collaborative dual degree program in holistic health studies and social work. Expected outcomes and competencies for the MAHS/MSW Dual Degree program are consistent with the outcomes and competencies required for all students who complete the MAHS and the MSW programs. Dual degree students must meet the current requirements and be separately admitted into each of the two programs.

Once accepted, students will receive advising from each program to determine appropriate course sequencing. Upon completion of the MAHS/MSW Dual Degree, students will have two degrees.

INCOMPLETE GRADES

No more than six credits of "Incomplete" grades may be carried at one time. You must finish all incomplete course work before moving forward in the program.

YEARS TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM

The program is designed for full- and part-time students. You may complete the program in two-and-a-half years or work at your own pace to complete the program in up to seven years.

SPECIAL CLASSES AND TRANSFER CREDITS

A total of nine relevant credits of transfer and special classes can be applied toward the MAHS degree with the approval of the program director. Credits can be transferred to the MAHS program from a regionally accredited academic institution.

CURRICULUM
The following coursework must be completed by the fall semester of your second year in the MAHS program:
Psychology (one course)
Anatomy and Physiology (one course)

REQUIRED CORE COURSES (30 CREDITS)
HHS 6700 Foundations of Holistic Health and Wellness
HHS 6720 Complementary/Alternative Approaches to Healthcare
HHS 6730 Culture as a Resource in Health and Healing
HHS 6740 Spiritual Wellness
HHS 6760 Ecology and Health
HHS 6820 Movement, Relaxation and Health
HHS 7500 Core Concepts in Mind/Body Interactions
HHS 7520 Women and Holistic Health
HHS 7620 Organizing for Social Change
HHS 7710 Alternative Approaches to Nutrition
HHS 8900 Quantitative & Qualitative Research: Mindful Inquiry
HHS 8920 Practicum and Integrative Seminar
HHS 8940 Research Methods and Statistics
HHS 8980 Research Seminar

In addition to the core credits, you will choose 9 credits from the following courses to create a plan of focused study:
HHS 7800 Mindfulness-Based Meditation
HHS 7830/7835 Energy Healing I and Energy Healing II
HHS 7900 Herbology
HHS 6981 Topics: Holistic Entrepreneurship
HHS 6983 Topics: Perspectices of Health and Healing in India
Independent Study (3–6 cr.)
Transfer courses (up to 9 cr.) 

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN HOLISTIC HEALTH STUDIES
St. Catherine has developed a graduate certificate in holistic health for students who want to explore the content of holistic health, but do not necessarily want to complete the entire graduate degree. This certificate will allow those students to achieve their educational goals. The admission process for the certificate program is identical to the admission process for the degree program.

All of the credits must be taken at St. Catherine.

Core Courses (six credits):
HHS 6700 Foundations of Holistic Health and Wellness
HHS 6720 Complementary/Alternative Approaches to Health Care
HHS 6730 Culture as a Resource in Health and Healing

Electives (select from the following to add up to an additional six or more credits):
HHS 6740 Spiritual Wellness (2 cr)
HHS 6760 Ecology and Health (2 cr)
HHS 6820 Movement, Relaxation and Health (2 cr)
HHS 7500 Core Concepts in Mind/Body Interactions (2 cr)
HHS 7520 Women and Holistic Health (2 cr)
HHS 7620 Organizing for Social Change (2 cr)
HHS 7710 Alternative Approaches to Nutrition (2 cr)
HHS 7800 Mindfulness-Based Meditation (3 cr)
HHS 7830 Energy Healing I (3 cr)
HHS 7835 Energy Healing II (3 cr)
HHS 7900 Herbology (3 cr)
HHS 6981 Topics: Holistic Entrepreneurship (1 cr)
HHS 6983 Topics: Perspectices of Health and Healing in India (3 cr)

Courses not available in the certificate program:
HHS 695X Independent Study
HHS 8920 Practicum and Integrative Seminar
HHS 8940 Research Methods and Statistics
HHS 8980 Research Seminar

Federal Gainful Employment Disclosure Requirement
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PROGRESSION POLICY

You remain in good academic standing in the MAHS Program by:

• earning a grade of B or higher in each graduate course
• maintaining an overall 3.0 grade point average
• successfully completing all required course requirements

CONDITIONS FOR PROBATION

You are placed on academic probation if:

• a grade of B– or less or a U has been earned in a course or
• the overall GPA is less than 3.0

You are notified in writing by the program director that you have been placed on academic probation. You may be required to take a reduced credit load during the probationary semester. This determination will be made by the program director in consultation with your advisor.

If you receive an unacceptable grade, you may repeat the course once. The original grade will remain on the transcript, but only the replacement grade will be calculated in the GPA. The program director maintains the right to deny registration to any student who is not progressing satisfactorily.

REMOVAL FROM PROBATION

You are removed from academic probation by:

• earning a grade of B or better in two or more courses in the following semester
• achieving a grade point of 3.0
• completing all required course assignments. You will be notified by letter from the program director that you have been removed from academic probation.

You may be offered a second semester of extended probation if substantial progress is made towards improving grades but conditions have not been fully met. The program director approves extended probation in consultation with the faculty and faculty adviser.

CONDITIONS FOR PROGRAM DISMISSAL

If conditions for removal from probation or extended probation have not been met, you will be dismissed from the program. The program director will notify you in writing. In addition to academic reasons, you may be dismissed from the program for:

• violation of the Institution's policy on academic integrity. See LeGuide
• violation of the Institution's policy on student conduct. See LeGuide

READMISSION TO THE PROGRAM

Readmission to the program is based on appeal to and approval from the program director in consultation with the faculty. You may be readmitted to the program on a provisional acceptance basis after one semester if you have a clear plan and have satisfactorily corrected all the terms of the dismissal. The decision to re-admit you to a full admission status will be made in collaboration between your advisor and the program director.