Integrative Health and Wellbeing Coaching M.A.

Health coaching is an emerging method of partnering with clients/patients to help them achieve their overall goals. Integrative health coaches practice from a holistic perspective that views the client as intrinsically healthy, whole, wise, and the ultimate expert in their own well-being journey. Health coaches do not diagnose or treat illness but assist those with health conditions to make meaningful changes in their lives to enhance their overall well-being. While an individual may make some changes alone, many changes happen more easily within the structure and support of a partnership, which can be uniquely provided by a health coach. This assistance includes necessary connection to resources and the assembly of an optimal, interprofessional healthcare team. The ability to perform this role requires that health coaches have a comfortable working knowledge of both conventional and integrative healthcare.

The Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing is a pioneer in the health coaching field, working to advance education, research, and care model innovation. The Master of Arts in Integrative Health and Wellbeing Coaching was the first master's level health coaching degree to be offered through an accredited university in the United States. Graduates of the program work in a multitude of practice settings, including hospitals, clinics, health educational facilities, community centers, senior living centers, fitness venues, corporations, schools, and private practice.

All required coursework is offered in a blended format that combines online curriculum with in-person intensives. Students are required to be on campus one extended weekend per semester during year one. The program requires a set of core coaching classes with additional coursework in health behavioral change theory, mind-body science, trauma-informed mental health, leadership, evidence-based decision-making, principles of management in health services organizations or coaching for chronic conditions, and group health coaching. One credit of elective coursework rounds out the degree, which gives students the opportunity to take other CSPH courses. Students may also use the credit to satisfy requirements for a minor in another department. Students finish the program with a 3-credit internship.

The Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing Integrative Health Coaching programs are approved by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) (https://nbhwc.org). The Bakken Center has been a national leader in defining the scope of practice, developing educational competencies and standards of practice, and helping to lead the creation of a national certification process and exam in Health and Wellness coaching.

Although the instruction is based on research in the field, this Plan B degree is not intended to provide intensive research training and is understood to be a terminal degree.