Holistic Health Degrees and Courses

Holistic health degrees and courses are designed for those who are seeking alternative methods of health and wellness education.

Holistic health education programs will prepare learners to help people improve their health and their lives while giving a rewarding career with a good future.

About Holistic Health and Alternative Medicine

The growing awareness of the connection between the body and the mind in health and healing combined with soaring healthcare costs and concerns about prescription medications and aggressive medical treatments leads many people to seek holistic or alternative medical care.

Holistic, natural, and alternative health practices take into account the effects of diet, environment, and lifestyle on the body, mind, and spirit. Practitioners use a variety of methods to treat people and teach them how to prevent disease and live healthier lives. Increasingly, mainstream doctors are incorporating natural health practices into patient care.

Holistic Health Degrees & Programs

A number of schools offer holistic health degrees and alternative medicine degrees by distance learning. Popular holistic health online programs include bachelor or master of science in holistic nutrition, bachelor or master of science in natural health, bachelor of science in holistic health and alternative medicine, masters in complementary and alternative medicine, doctorate of education in holistic health and wellness, doctorate of naturopathic medicine among other programs and courses.

Typical holistic health online courses, which vary by program, cover topics such as: nutrition, the immune system, cancer prevention, naturopathy, mind-body healing, energy healing, herbology, physiology, integrative medicine, Eastern medicine, bioethics, and homeopathy.

Certificate and diploma holistic health education programs train students on specific therapies such as massage, herbology, relaxation therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, and homeopathy.

Online Holistic Health Schools and Colleges

Holistic health and alternative medicine schools with distance learning programs include:

Everglades University offers the following online alternative medicine degree:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Alternative Medicine

Clayton College of Natural Health online holistic health degrees offered by Clayton College of Natural Health include:

• Bachelor of Science in Holistic Nutrition
• Bachelor of Science in Natural Health
• Master of Science in Holistic Nutrition
• Master of Science in Natural Health
• Doctor of Education in Holistic Health and Wellness

Kaplan University - offers the following online holistic health degrees and related courses:

• Advanced Start B.S. In Health And Wellness
• Advanced Start B.S. In Health Science
• Advanced Start B.S. In Nutrition Science
• B.S. In Health And Wellness/Nutrition Science
• B.S. In Health And Wellness / Pregraduate-Preprofessional
• B.S. In Health Science/Health And Wellness
• B.S. In Health Science/Nutrition Science
• B.S. In Health Science/Pregraduate-Preprofessional
• B.S. In Nutrition Science/Dietetics
• B.S. In Nutrition Science/Health And Wellness
• B.S. In Nutrition Science/Health Science

Career Options in Holistic Health

With a degree in holistic health you may pursue a career in a number of fields, some of which require additional training or certification. Career options include: massage therapist, herbalist, holistic health educator, lifestyle counselor, and researcher in natural and holistic health, acupuncturist, energy healer, reflexologist, acupressure technician, and naturopathic physician among other holistic health alternative medicine professions.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the mean annual wage for massage therapists was $39,850 in May 2008. (This does not include the high percentage of massage therapists who are self-employed.) The median annual salary for a person with a doctorate in holistic health sciences is about $66,000, according to a survey by Payscale.com.

While salaries vary greatly by education, experience, and specialty, the overall field of holistic healthcare is growing and should provide good job opportunities for the foreseeable future.

Return to the top of Holistic Health Degrees