Nutrition & Wellness
Alumni Stories: Siri K. Zemel, Ph.D.
Siri K. Zemel, Ph.D., transformed a thriving career in health care into a journey of profound self-discovery.
Healing Through Advanced Nutritional Science and Applied Therapies
Our Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Integrative and Functional Nutrition Specialization program offers you an advanced exploration into the foundational scientific principles of nutrition. Guided by the demand for holistic, comprehensive approaches to health and wellness, this specialization is a powerful addition to every health and wellness practitioner's toolkit, enabling an enhanced level of healing and human optimization.
Within the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Specialization curriculum, you will study the foundational principles of nutrition, providing a strong science-based understanding of how nutrition influences the body, including learning about the uses and regulations of dietary and herbal supplements and regulations, approaches to managing chronic disease, understanding macronutrients, digestive systems, therapeutic diets, menu planning, and more.
After completing this specialization, you may be eligible to sit for the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) exam. The Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS) requires a graduate degree in the field of nutrition or other healthcare-related profession from a regionally accredited university. You must complete specific coursework and accrue 1,000 hours of supervised experience. Please make sure to consult with the specialization coordinator to select the appropriate courses when enrolling. Explore all of the CNS requirements here.
Integrative and Functional Nutrition Specialization Job Outcomes
Upon graduation, you will have an enhanced skill set and deepened perspective to augment your current practice or, with the appropriate licensure, expand into other roles and settings, including:
- Education
- Coaching
- Consulting
- Research
- Private practice
- Integrative medicine and wellness centers
- Medical centers
- Hospitals
- Medical spas
- Corporate wellness programs
- Health coach
Other Mind-Body Medicine Programs
Interested in another specialization in Mind-Body Medicine? We offer multiple doctoral programs that may align more closely with your goals.
- Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Applied Psychophysiology Specialization
- Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Contemplative End-of-Life Care Specialization
- Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Integrative Mental Health Specialization
- Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Integrative Wellness Coaching Specialization
- Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Mindful Leadership Specialization
*Credits earned may vary based on specialization courses chosen
Program Components
Admissions Requirements
At a minimum, you must have received, or anticipate receiving prior to the start of the semester you are applying into, a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university before applying for a doctoral degree at Saybrook. Applicants for the Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Integrative and Functional Nutrition Specialization degree must submit the following documents:
- An official transcript from an accredited university demonstrating successful completion of a master’s degree, with a 3.0 GPA or better
- 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)
New students must provide official transcripts showing completion of an undergraduate or graduate-level science course in the past 10 years, with a minimum grade of a B in anatomy and/or physiology. Without this introductory science prerequisite course, you will need to add IFN 5704 Anatomy and Physiology as an elective within your first year. Alternatively, you may complete the basic anatomy and physiology course from Saybrook’s academic partner, StraighterLine.
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 Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Integrative and Functional Nutrition Specialization degree.
Sample Courses
Foundations of Integrative and Functional Nutrition
Taking this three-credit course will expand upon your knowledge of basic nutrition science and you will gain a foundational understanding of the integrative and functional approach to nutrition. The course reviews the fundamental principles and perspectives of conventional, traditional, integrative, and functional medical models to identify best practices for nutritional care. You will learn about the concepts and tools used within these practices and how they align with the integrative practitioner’s goal for personalized, whole-person, relationship-centered, and environmentally sensitive care.
Integrative Approaches to Chronic Disease
In this three-credit course, you will learn about the multifaceted causes and consequences of these conditions. Through evaluation of research, you will develop an evidence-based integrative approach to prevent and manage these chronic diseases.
Nutritional Foundations of Mental Health
This three-credit course provides an overview of the practical and scientific approaches to understanding the impact that food has on mental health. Topics in this course will include learning about the quality and variety of food that is available to us, its impact on mental health, and the influence that nutrition has on brain development and maintenance throughout the life cycle.
Catalog
Please refer to our academic catalog for more information on the Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Integrative and Functional Nutrition 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 this 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 this 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.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics annual data update
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University Learning Experience
Students enrolled in the Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine degree program must attend any Community or Virtual Learning Experience as required for the courses in which they choose to enroll. Refer to the course descriptions for requirements. All new students begin their studies with a Welcome Week. Welcome Week activities, including a degree program orientation, are held online during the week ahead of the start of the Fall and Spring semesters. Participation is strongly encouraged. New Mind-Body Medicine students also participate in the Mind-Body-Spirit Integration (MBSI) Seminar. The MBSI consists of two full days of experiential learning (Virtual or Community Learning Experiences), and four, four-hour virtual sessions on consecutive Saturdays. Refer to the course description for requirements.
Mind-Body Medicine Faculty
Saybrook’s Mind-Body Medicine faculty are practitioner-scholars dedicated to advancing their field through continued practice and comprehensive instruction. Meet some of our faculty members below.
Core faculty, Integrative and Functional Nutrition
- Specialization Coordinator, Integrative and Functional Nutrition
- Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
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Discover how nutrition plays a critical role in mental and physical health. Learn a holistic approach to treating physical and mental signs of poor nutrition. Nutrition plays a critical role in mental and physical health. A diet rich in essential nutrients supports brain function, promotes positive mood and reduces the risk of mental health disorders […]