Bastyr University - Naturopathic Medicine Program

Bastyr University – Naturopathic Medicine Degree Program

According to a recent national survey, two-thirds of adult Americans have used some form of complementary and alternative medicine. As primary care physicians who are clinically trained and work in all aspects of family health, naturopathic doctors are playing an increasingly significant role in health care. The nation's most respected school of natural health, Bastyr University offers a fully accredited naturopathic medicine doctoral (ND) program that focuses on holistic principles, science-based natural therapies and current research on health and human systems.

"I received the best natural medicine education in the world at Bastyr. I know from clinical experience that I am a well-trained practitioner."

^{— Laurie Steelsmith, ND, MS ('93), LAc}

Program Advantages

Bastyr's leading naturopathic medicine program offers a thorough four-to-five-year medical school curriculum.

Key advantages of Bastyr University's ND program:

• Outstanding faculty in basic sciences.
• Training at Bastyr's state-of-the-art teaching clinic in Seattle, Bastyr Center for Natural Health (BCNH) — the largest natural health clinic in the Pacific Northwest.
• Preceptorships and offsite clinic placements.
• Connection with the Bastyr University Research Institute and the Center for Student Research, which supports student research efforts and provides assistance with coordinating these opportunities.
• A medicinal herb garden – featuring more than 350 species of Western and Chinese herbs – and an on-campus herb lab allow students to hone their skills in botanical medicine making.
• A 316-acre state park next to campus.
• A library with the most extensive collection of materials on natural medicine and the natural health sciences in the Pacific Northwest.
• A diverse and international student body drawn from all over the United States and 28 other countries.

Bastyr plans for your future

Graduates of Bastyr's ND program are qualified primary health care practitioners who, as they diagnose and treat disease, are focused on treating the whole person and promoting optimal health. Because our graduates speak the common language of science, they work as peers with other health care providers in integrative settings. Their scope of practice includes all aspects of family care — from pediatrics to geriatrics — and relies on a broad spectrum of modalities, including:

• Botanical medicine
• Nutrition
• Homeopathy
• Hydrotherapy
• Naturopathic manipulation
• Psychological counseling

Graduates leave Bastyr University qualified to pass professional licensure exams and prepared to work as primary natural care physicians in private practice, as specialists, or in integrative clinics with other complementary or conventional medicine practitioners.

"Bastyr University has played a bigger role within medicine than any other non-allopathic institution, bringing scientific legitimacy to natural medicine."

^{— James Whorton, PhD, professor, department of medical history and ethics, University of Washington School of Medicine}

Bastyr students benefit from hands-on training

• Students receive their clinical education through supervised internships at the University's teaching clinic, Bastyr Center for Natural Health (BCNH), as well as at various offsite clinic placements.
• Paid residency positions at BCNH are another practical way to strengthen clinical skills.
• Students in the ND/acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) dual program are eligible to participate in clinical externships in China. Every year, a number of Bastyr students continue their academic studies in China — either at Chengdu University of TCM or Shanghai University of TCM.

"What Bastyr gives [students] is the gravitas, the meat of an academic institution that's putting its full weight behind research work and turning out graduates who can spread the word about self-empowerment and getting people to think differently about their role in health."

^{— Mehmet Oz, MD, of "The Dr. Oz Show"}

Bastyr offers distinctive academic options

• Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine (ND) - 4-5 years
• Dual Program: Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine/Master of Science in Acupuncture (ND/MSA) - 5 years
• Dual Program: Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine/Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ND/MSAOM) - 6 years

Additional programs

Bastyr University is an accredited private institution. Founded in 1978 as a college of naturopathic medicine, the institution has continuously broadened its academic offerings, adding other natural health sciences degree and certificate programs:

• Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
• Exercise Science and Wellness
• Health Psychology
• Herbal Sciences
• Holistic Landscape Design
• Integrated Human Biology
• Midwifery
• Nutrition

Campus location

Bastyr University's 51- acre campus is located in Kenmore, WA, just 12 miles north of Seattle. The University offers on-campus housing to students who are currently enrolled. In summer 2010, Bastyr's new Student Village earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum certification, becoming the first student housing project on the west coast to receive the highest green building classification. Bastyr students also enjoy easy access to cultural offerings, including Seattle's live music scene, theaters and art galleries. Outdoor recreational opportunities abound in the Puget Sound area.

If you are interested in any of our programs and would like to find out more, please Request Information.