Nutrition & Wellness
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Discover how nutrition professionals promote sustainable food systems, address health disparities and advocate for food justice.
Be the Motivation They Need To Achieve Their Nutrition Goals
Nutrition, a complex field, becomes more complicated when one considers the delicate relationships individuals can have with food and eating. They need someone who can explain these complexities in clear language, help them recognize the many factors that influence their relationships with food, and devise strategies and interventions suited for their specific circumstances.
You can learn to provide that guidance in our online M.S.-to-Ph.D. Pathway in Integrative and Functional Nutrition: Integrative Wellness Coaching Specialization program. This unique pathway program examines how nutrition relates to the biological, environmental, behavioral, and emotional factors that influence physical health and wellness and how you can best support clients while they address the issues caused by these internal and external influences.
Integrative wellness coaching pairs perfectly with integrative and functional nutrition because both fields believe that wellness is achievable when the inner self harmonizes with the outside world. As a nutrition expert equipped with coaching skills and competencies, you will be able to use evidence-based approaches to build the structured systems your clients need to discover the ideal balance that supports their well-being.
If accepted, you will enter directly into the Ph.D. program and follow the advanced research course sequence required of doctoral students. When you have completed the credits required for the master’s degree, you will be awarded your M.S. in Integrative and Functional Nutrition degree without pausing or taking time off from your Ph.D. program.
The online M.S.-to-Ph.D. Pathway in Integrative and Functional Nutrition: Integrative Wellness Coaching Specialization program fulfills the current academic requirements for the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential from the American Nutrition Association. This program is also designed to meet the core academic requirements for the Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN) credential from the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board.
If you are interested in seeking the Registered Dietitian (RD) credential upon completion of the M.S.-to-Ph.D. Pathway in Integrative and Functional Nutrition: Integrative Wellness Coaching Specialization program at Saybrook University, please visit the website of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). ACEND® policies for Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways (ISPPs) allow individuals holding a doctoral degree without a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) verification statement to apply for an ISPP; however eligibility requirements and options may vary by program. You can see which Dietetic Internships, Coordinated, or Didactic programs currently offer ISPPs by visiting Accredited Education Programs. Doctoral degree holders without a DPD verification statement must attend an ISPP that is approved to offer a track for individuals with a doctoral degree. Students interested in applying to an ISPP should research the eligibility requirements of the program where they intend to submit an application, including whether you are required to locate your own preceptors, and then contact the program director. Individuals with work experience should also inquire whether the program grants credit for specific competency requirements through an assessment of prior learning.
M.S.-to-Ph.D. Pathway in Integrative and Functional Nutrition Job Outcomes
Upon graduation, you will have the skill set to pursue rewarding career opportunities in:
- Wellness coaching
- Nutrition coaching
- Nutrition consulting
- Research
- Product development
- Higher education
- Health program development
- Public health
Other Integrative and Functional Nutrition Programs
Interested in another Integrative and Functional Nutrition program? We offer multiple options that may align more closely with your goals.
- M.S. in Integrative and Functional Nutrition
- M.S. in Integrative and Functional Nutrition: Mind-Body Medicine Specialization
- M.S.-to-Ph.D. Pathway in Integrative and Functional Nutrition: Mind-Body Medicine Specialization
- Ph.D. in Integrative and Functional Nutrition
Program Components
Admissions Requirements
Applicants for the M.S.-to-Ph.D. Pathway in Integrative and Functional Nutrition: Integrative Wellness Coaching Specialization degree must submit the following documents:
- An official transcript from an accredited university demonstrating successful completion of a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or better
- Preference is given to those with a B.S. in the health, life, or physical sciences (e.g., nutrition, exercise physiology, biochemistry, chemistry)
- Professional resume or CV
- Personal statement
- Writing sample (if the department chair determines the personal statement contains grammatical mistakes, spelling errors, or poorly organized text)
Students must provide official transcripts showing completion of undergraduate science courses in the past 10 years, with a minimum grade of a B in each, including three credit units in the following: biochemistry or organic chemistry, anatomy and/or physiology, and human nutrition.
Sample Courses
Evidence-Based Coaching
This course presents a comprehensive overview of the foundational coaching competencies and skills as defined by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC), and Center for Credentialing and Education (Board Certified Coach). You will learn about the similarities and differences between coaching, counseling, and consulting; apply the coaching framework and skills to facilitate effective coaching conversations and processes; review the theories and evidence-based approaches that support the coaching process and its outcomes; and discuss career opportunities within the coaching profession.
Advanced Coaching
In the final skills and competencies development course, you will engage in twelve experiential coaching sessions with two to four practice clients. This advanced course provides you with opportunities to utilize and improve the spectrum of your coaching skills within your specific niche. Weekly faculty supervision and peer coaching support is an essential part of this course.
Catalog
Please refer to our academic catalog for more information on the M.S.-to-Ph.D. Pathway in Integrative and Functional Nutrition: Integrative Wellness Coaching Specialization program.
Career Outcomes
Saybrook University prepares you to make an impact in a variety of high-demand careers. Below, you will find possible career options and salaries associated with an online functional nutrition degree.
Data is pulled by a third-party tool called Lightcast, which includes data from sources including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, and other government databases. The information below represents a regional and national career outlook related to the Integrative and Functional Nutrition degree program*. Saybrook University is dedicated to assisting you in achieving your career goals.
*Many degree programs are intended to fulfill licensure requirements in specific states. The data shown here may not represent the state where you currently reside. For more information on how this program is applicable to the requirements of your state, please speak with your admissions specialist.
Accreditation
Students who complete the required coursework for the M.S.-to-Ph.D. Pathway in Integrative and Functional Nutrition: Integrative Wellness Coaching Specialization program will also complete the Integrative Wellness Coaching Certificate. This certificate program is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) as a Level 1 program with 125 contact hours. The certificate program is also a National Board of Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) Approved Training Program with 88 instructional hours.
Invest in Your Future
Saybrook University remains committed to keeping higher education affordable and accessible. Our Financial Aid Department is ready to offer guidance and support in determining suitable financial assistance tailored to your needs, including potential scholarship opportunities, grants, and more.
Cost
Saybrook wants you to have the information you need to make an informed decision about your academic and career aspirations. Our cost calculator provides an estimated cost of attending Saybrook to earn your M.S.-to-Ph.D. Pathway in Integrative and Functional Nutrition, Integrative Wellness Coaching Specialization degree.
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University Learning Experience
Our M.S. in Integrative and Functional Nutrition program is a 100% online program. While the core of this program is completed asynchronously, there are required synchronous, online features designed to deepen your educational experience. We call this a Virtual Learning Experience (VLE). In addition to the VLE, you will begin your studies with a virtual Welcome Week. Welcome Week activities, including a program orientation, are held online during the week before the start of Fall and Spring semesters. The in-person Community Learning Experience (CLE) is also available for you to explore. The CLE is held every odd-numbered year. It is optional and not required to complete the program.
Integrative and Functional Nutrition Faculty
Saybrook’s Integrative and Functional Nutrition faculty are practitioner-scholars dedicated to advancing their field through continued practice and comprehensive instruction. Meet some of our faculty members below.
Department chair, Integrative and Functional Nutrition
- Program Director, Integrative and Functional Nutrition
- Past President, Florida Public Health Association
- Past Co-President, Broward Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
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