University of Maryland Graduate School

Integrative health care is a holistic approach to health, wellness, and healing. Here are some of the main principles of integrative health: 

• Provides client-centered, whole person care
• Treats the root cause of illness versus symptoms
• Goal is optimal health and healing
• Focuses on the relationship between the provider and patient
• Providers spend more time with patients
• Holistic conceptualization of health and treatment of illness

• Learn the most valuable trends in integrative health and how to evaluate them scientifically.
• Experience mind-body medicine and its powerful effects firsthand.
• Practice coaching skills that help your clients follow through with lifestyle changes and radically improve their health.
• Integrate theory, science, and practice into clinical assessment and treatment plans that can deliver real world, life-changing results for your clients.

This certificate program is designed to provide a flexible, highly accessible educational training opportunity to help individuals develop and maintain professional competencies and competitiveness in the workforce. Graduates of integrative health and wellness programs have found employment in a diverse number of fields, including medicine, nursing, counseling, coaching, wellness, fitness, massage, education, research, palliative care, and many more.

According to the US Department of Labor, employment of healthcare occupations is projected to grow 19% from 2014 to 2024. The knowledge and training you'll receive in the Integrative Health and Wellness Certificate Program will prepare you to jump-start your career in a number of rapidly growing fields, including:

• Holistic Health
• Patient Medical Care
• Mental/behavioral health care
• Allied Health Care
• Wellness
• Research
• Policy
• Education
• Health Communication

Integrative Health and Wellness is a 12-credit, four-course graduate certificate program offered in an asynchronous, 100% online environment. This means that we offer maximum flexibility to meet the needs of working professionals. There are no online meetings or set times when you'll need to log in; just submit your coursework before the posted deadline, and check back in for feedback from your instructors and classmates. 

As a student in this program, you will acquire expertise in integrative health and wellness. Your classmates will most likely be practicing professionals with a health, scientific, or academic background who are employed or seeking employment in positions requiring this specialization.

Is an Online Course Right for You?

Program Completion Timeline

• All four courses will be offered at least once each year to enable you to complete the program in 9 months
• Although most students complete the program in 9 months, you will be allowed up to 3 years to complete the program.

See the Course Descriptions

The Integrative Health and Wellness certificate is a stackable credential that can be applied toward a Master of Science in Health Sciences or a Master of Science in Health and Social Innovation. 

Health Science MS 

The 30-credit MS Health Science program is available entirely online and can be completed by a working professional is as little as 18 months. Upon the successful completion of the certificate, all 12 of the credits are completely transferrable to the MS Health Science program and the GRE requirement is waived. This means that when you finish your certificate, you'll be 18 credits away from a Master's degree! Want to know more about the 18 credits? See the core curriculum

Health and Social Innovation MS 

The 36-credit MS Health and Social Innovation program is available as a hybrid degree combining elements of online and in-class learning and can be completed by a working professional in as little as 24 months. Upon the successful completion of the certificate, all 13 of the credits are completely transferrable to the MS Health and Social Innovation program. This means that when you finish your certificate, if you choose you'll be 24 credits away from a Master's degree! Check out the curriculum for the MS in Health and Social Innovation.

If you prefer to complete the Master’s and certificate coursework concurrently, please submit your application for the Master’s program. In this case, the GRE requirement will not be waived.

Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics MS

The 30-credit MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program is available as a hybrid degree combining online coursework and in-person symposiums each semester. This program can be completed by a working professional in as little as 24 months. Graduates of our program are able to support patients and the medical cannabis industry with expertise regarding the science and clinical effects of the cannabis plant; add to existing scientific and clinical research on cannabis; and contribute to the development of well-informed medical cannabis policy.

Check out the curriculum for the MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics.

Please note: the Integrative Health and Wellness certificate curriculum cannot be applied toward the MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics, but a certificate student may find value in pursuing this field of study. However, if you complete the “MSCT 617 Introduction to Integrative Health” course in the MSCT program, you only need to complete the last three courses in the IHW certificate (i.e., the MSH 612 course will be waived).