Tai Sophia Institute - Nutrition & Herbal Medicine Programs

Graduate Programs in Nutrition and Herbal Medicine

• Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health NEW!
• Master of Science in Herbal Medicine
• Graduate Certificate in Herbal Studies
• Graduate Certificate in Medical Herbalism

Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health

Inaugural Class Now Enrolling for September 2011

First Accredited Integrative Nutrition Program in the Country

Tai Sophia Institute is pleased to announce that the inaugural class of its first nutrition graduate program – the Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health* – is now enrolling for September 2011.The program offers a unique approach to the study of nutrition, one that emphasizes the vital and inter-related physical, medicinal, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual roles food plays in our lives.

Anchored in a wellness-based philosophy, this distinctive curriculum offers a solid biochemical and physiological understanding of the complex role of food and nutrition in human health combined with a rich personal learning process that enables students to cultivate sustainable change in themselves and others. Students will gain practical skills and apply theory through participation in whole foods cooking labs and practice coaching sessions.

The 47-credit program is designed to accommodate working professionals and can be completed in two years of concentrated weekend study (approximately one weekend each month plus two week-long intensives each year). Additional elective credits are offered to meet students' specific interests.

The comprehensive and multi-faceted program ensures that graduates are prepared for a variety of careers in the diverse field of nutrition as practicing nutritionists, consultants, coaches, educators, researchers, and writers.

Program Highlights

• Only accredited program that teaches nutrition from a holistic and integrative perspective
• Prepares graduates for a variety of nutrition and wellness careers
• Prepares graduates to sit for Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) exam
• Delivered in a two-year, weekend and intensive format
• Features custom-designed science courses and core competencies in nutrition assessment and treatment strategies
• Includes whole foods cooking as part of academic curriculum
• Addresses sustainability and the relationships between our food choices, our agricultural and processing practices, and the environment
• Integrates students into the broader health and wellness learning community at Tai Sophia Institute

* pending Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) approval

Master of Science in Herbal Medicine

Now Enrolling for September 2011

Integrating modern scientific knowledge with traditional wisdom, Tai Sophia's Master of Science in Herbal Medicine curriculum provides an understanding of varied health and wellness paradigms as well as the bio-psycho-social constructs that inform them. It engages nature as teacher, using natural rhythms of the living world to guide the model for client care and broader practices. The educational environment serves as a catalyst for meaningful change and empowers our graduates to serve as facilitators of change in others.

Students who have completed the program will possess a solid knowledge of the theory and practice of supporting health and wellness; be able to consult safely and communicate their competence effectively; and have a positive, knowledgeable understanding of the potential of herbs.

Program Highlights

• Founded by Simon Mills, coauthor of two of the world's leading textbooks on herbal practice, Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy and Essential Guide to Herb Safety.
• Highly experienced and prestigious core faculty with over 85 combined years of clinical practice.
• Extensive clinical training and practicum, with over 850 hours of training in the clinical use of herbs.
• Emphasis on integrating the use of herbs with whole food-based nutrition and behavioral change.
• Experiential excursions include a five-day field trip to a renowned plant sanctuary in Ohio, visits to local gardens and parks, work in the Tai Sophia herb garden, and time spent with Dr. James Duke in the Green Farmacy Garden, three miles from the main campus.
• On-site library offers an exceptional resource for research in herbal pharmacology, materia medica, human physiology, and the philosophical roots of holistic healing.
• Hands-on training in the preparation and formulation of herbal remedies in the Tai Sophia Herbal Dispensary.
• Graduates provide a bridge between conventional practitioners and traditional healers, allowing for bidirectional learning and increasing the accessibility of herbalism to the public.
• The program is rooted in the universal values of inquiry, personal discovery and growth, and the health and interrelationship of living systems.
• Full-time format includes two weekdays each week and, prior to clinic, one weekend each month.
• Program can be completed in approximately 30 months. Classes begin yearly in September.

Graduate Certificate in Herbal Studies

Now Enrolling for April 2011

Tai Sophia's Graduate Certificate in Herbal Studies is a one-of-a-kind program that combines modern science with traditional herbal wisdom, using the cycles of nature to guide the integration of herbs into daily life. The program's emphasis on practical skills ensures that you will learn to incorporate herbs into food preparation and a healthy diet and prepare simple herbal remedies.

Tai Sophia's Graduate Certificate in Herbal Studies is:

• Designed for individuals who have a keen interest in herbs, wellness, and self care, such as those with a background or interest in horticulture, gardening, culinary arts, nutrition, public health and education, environment and sustainability, as well as parents and caregivers
• Taught by internationally renowned experts and leaders in herbal medicine, nutrition, and wellness
• Focused on empowering you with the basic knowledge and skills to support self and family care
• Presented in an executive weekend format
• 12 graduate-level academic credits delivered over 10 weekends (approximately one weekend a month for 9 months)
• Approved for continuing education units toward licensure requirements for select professions
• Eligible for federal financial aid

Graduate Certificate in Medical Herbalism

Designed for Licensed and Certified Health-Care Professionals

Now Enrolling for April 2011

Herbs and herbal supplements are a growing, multi-billion dollar industry that consists primarily of consumers purchasing and using herbal products, often with a limited understanding of what they are buying and how to appropriately use them.

Tai Sophia's Graduate Certificate in Medical Herbalism provides a foundational knowledge of herbal medicine that emphasizes issues of quality, safety, and efficacy. Grounded in both modern science and traditional herbal wisdom, the program provides an integrated and comprehensive perspective on the use of herbs in a variety of health-care models.

Tai Sophia's Graduate Certificate in Medical Herbalism is:

• Exclusively designed for licensed and certified health-care professionals
• Delivered by internationally renowned experts and leaders in herbal medicine, health, and wellness
• Focused on the most frequently used herbal medicines and supplements in the U.S. market and their likely interactions with conventional pharmaceuticals
• Designed to give you the capacity to have an open, informative dialogue about medicinal herbs with your patients, colleagues, and herbal experts
• Presented in an executive weekend format to accommodate working professionals
• 12 graduate-level academic credits delivered over 10 weekends (approximately one weekend a month for 9 months)
• Approved for continuing education units and contact hours toward licensure requirements for select professions
• Eligible for federal financial aid

About Tai Sophia Institute

Founded in 1974, Tai Sophia Institute is a premier, accredited educational institution dedicated to the art and science of healing and wellness. For over three decades, Tai Sophia Institute's pioneering founders, world-class faculty, and exceptional clinicians have redefined health, wellness, and community, setting the gold standard for relationship-centered care, transformative leadership and social change, and self care.

Learning experiences in Tai Sophia's herbal medicine programs include visits to world-renowned Dr. James Duke's Green Pharmacy Garden, in addition to Tai Sophia's main campus which offers an impressive herbal dispensary, healing arts library, and herb garden.