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Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies (MAHS)
Program Description
For complete course descriptions, click here.
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. The program 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's. The curriculum is organized around holistic core courses with a choice of one of three areas of concentration: herbology, energy healing or a flexible design-your-own option. 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 course work in the MAHS program, you will be able to:
- integrate holistic health studies with your professional field.
- appreciate how personal transformation ultimately transforms 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.
Regular Admission Students
Completion of 39 semester hours of graduate credit.
Advanced Standing Students
If you have completed a certificate in Holistic Health Studies, Health and Wellness Counseling or Holistic Therapies from St. Catherine's you are eligible to apply to the MAHS program with advanced standing. With advanced standing status, you can complete the MAHS degree with 28–30 credits, depending on whether the certificate program included the course Culture as a Resource in Health and Healing.
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 one- 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. Students choosing the generalist concentration may earn credits through independent study or CARL (credit for academically relevant learning).
Major Requirements
CURRICULUM 2008-2009 (See 2009 addendum below)
You will work with an academic advisor to design a program of required core courses and a choice of one of three areas of a concentration.
Prerequisite course work for regular and advanced standing admission
The following course work must be completed by the fall semester of your second year in the MAHS program:
Psychology (one course)
Anatomy and Physiology (one course)
Chemistry (one course - required for herbology concentration only - not required for students entering the program Fall 2009 or later)
REQUIRED CORE COURSES — REGULAR STANDING (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
REQUIRED CORE COURSES — ADVANCED STANDING (19 TO 21 REQUIRED CORE CREDITS*)
HHS 6600 Bridge: Certificate to Master’s
HHS 6730 Culture as a Resource in Health and Healing
HHS 7500 Core Concepts in Mind/Body Interactions
HHS 7520 Women and Holistic Health
HHS 7620 Organizing for Social Change
HHS 8900 Quantitative and Qualitative Research: Mindful Inquiry
HHS 8920 Practicum and Integrative Seminar
HHS 8940 Research Methods and Statistics
HHS 8980 Research Seminar
*Total number of core credits required is based on whether you completed the course Culture as a Resource in Health and Healing in your certificate program.
CONCENTRATIONS (9 CREDITS)**
You must choose one of the following concentrations whether you are enrolled as a regular admission or advanced standing student.
Nine credits are required from one of the following three areas:
HERBOLOGY
HHS 7920 Herbology 1
HHS 7940 Herbology 2
HHS 7960 Herbology 3
ENERGY HEALING
HHS 7820 Energy Healing 1: Mindfulness-Based Meditation
HHS 7840 Energy Healing 2
HHS 7860 Energy Healing 3
GENERALIST (DESIGN YOUR OWN OPTION)
You work with your advisor and the program director to plan this concentration as it fits your individual interests and career goals. Graduate credits can be transferred from other regionally accredited academic institutions or earned through independent study or CARL. You may take HHS 7820 and/or HHS 7920 as well as other course work as approved by your advisor and the graduate program director.
**Each year the offering of the herbology and energy healing concentrations is based upon adequate enrollment.
2009 ADDENDUM: FOR STUDENTS MATRICULATING FALL 2009 OR LATERMAHS CURRICULUM
The MAHS program is eliminating the three concentrations to allow you to select nine courses that are of interest to you to develop a plan of focused study. The core courses remain the same with the exception of credit changes for HHS 8900 (3 cr.) and HHS 8980 (2 cr.):
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
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 and Qualitative Research: Mindful Inquiry
HHS 8940 Research Methods and Statistics
HHS 8980 Research Seminar
HHS 8920 Practicum and Integrative Seminar
TOTAL Core Credits = 30
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
Independent Study (3 - 6 cr.)
Transfer courses (up to 9 cr.)
NOTE: HHS 7800, 7830, 7835, and 7900 are newly numbered courses and the course descriptions are minimally changed (see individual course descriptions).
NEW GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN HOLISTIC HEALTH STUDIES
St. Catherine's has developed a graduate certificate in holistic health students 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's.
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 6 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 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 8900 Quantitative and Qualitative Research: Mindful Inquiry 3 cr.
Courses not available in the certificate program:
HHS 695X Independent Study
HHS 7620 Organizing for Social Change
HHS 8920 Practicum and Integrative Seminar
HHS 8940 Research Methods and Statistics
HHS 8980 Research Seminar
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.
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 that you have been removed from academic probation by letter from the program director.
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 by letter. 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 for readmission to a full admission status will be made in collaboration between your advisor and the program director.
Program Faculty:
This is a partial list of the MAHS faculty. Contact the program for the current list of faculty.
Rebecca Alderson, Lecturer. B.A., Evergreen State College; N.D., Bastyr University.
Atum Azzahir, Lecturer. Elder, Executive Director, Powderhorn Phillips Cultural Wellness Center.
Janice Barbee, Lecturer. Elder, Director of Knowledge Production, Powderhorn Phillips Cultural Wellness Center. B.A., Carleton College.
Paul Buttenhoff, Assistant Professor. B.S., University of Wyoming; M.Z.S., Auburn University.
Karen Clark, Lecturer. B.S., College of St. Teresa; M.P.A., Harvard University.
Janet Dahlem, Associate Professor and MAHS Program Director. B.A., University of Minnesota; M.A., Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Carol Geisler, Assistant Professor. B.A., The College of St. Catherine; M.A., Northern Michigan University; Ph.D., Michigan State University.
Mari Ann Graham, Associate Professor and MSW Program Director for the School of Social Work CSC/UST. B.A., M.S.W., University of Nebraska – Omaha; Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University.
Susan Hageness, Assistant Professor. B.S., St. Olaf College; M.A., Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota; D.N.P., Rush University.
Paul Haugen, Assistant Professor. B.A., Hamline University; M.A., The College of St. Catherine. Helen Healy, Lecturer. B.A., Vassar; N.D., National College of Naturopathic Medicine.
Karen Hilgers, CSJ, Lecturer. B.A., The College of St. Catherine; M.A., Ph.D., University of Minnesota.
Janet Marinelli, Assistant Professor. B.S., University of Central Arkansas; M.S., University of Minnesota.
Diaa Osman, Lecturer. B.A., University of Minnesota – Morris; M.P.H. (candidate), University of Minnesota; N.D., Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.
Ruth Anne Plourde, Lecturer. B.S., University of Minnesota; M.A., Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Kaia Svien, Lecturer. B.A., Pomona College; M.S., University of Wisconsin – Madison.