Graduate Certificate
Attention: Starting immediately, Graduate Certificates will no longer be available. Enrolled students can either complete their existing certificate programs or consult with their advisor to explore the possibility of transitioning into a master's degree program.
What You'll Study
The Graduate Certificate in Functional Nutrition and Herbal Therapy is designed for practicing health professionals to embrace the tenets of functional nutrition in a systems-based approach to whole-person wellness.
Innovative courses, delivered through synchronous meetings online, will highlight the functionality of body systems, etiology of diseases, toxic reactions of herbs, interactions with medications, herbal therapy, dietary approaches to imbalances in the body, and the roles of health care professionals in educating patients.
Learn from accomplished faculty and guest speakers who are practicing in this specialty area. This curriculum also serves as the basis for a concentration in functional nutrition within the graduate degree program. Please refer to our Master of Science in Nutrition page for more details.
How You'll Learn More
Graduates will gain mastery-level knowledge and skills to integrate into the care of patients. This graduate certificate provides 15 semester-credit hours designed to complement a base of professional competencies, and it can be completed in as little as one year. Courses integrate medical sciences with clinical applications through active learning strategies such as live discussions, case studies, group presentations, and expert panels. Current literature and advanced concepts will engage students with practical solutions to use functional nutrition to enhance the health and well being of clients.
Where It Can Take You
Distinguish yourself with a new academic achievement in the practice of nutrition and integrative medicine. Apply these holistic wellness principles to embellish your practice and set you apart from your peers.
Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate in Functional Nutrition and Herbal Therapy, graduates may meet the eligibility requirements of several national nutrition certifying boards. Eligibility varies with prerequisite courses and other professional training requirements completed outside the scope of this program. Please contact the specific board directly with questions, and review licensing laws by state for the most up-to-date information.
After completing this graduate certificate program, students may desire to go further and pursue the Master of Science in Nutrition degree. In this case, a new application as a degree-seeking student is required along with meeting the program entry requirements.
Our program advisors can help you decide how this program can work for you to meet your professional goals. Please email Nutrition@nova.edu for more information or to make an appointment with the program director.
Graduate Certificate Admission Requirements:
Working from an interprofessional perspective, eligible individuals include audiologists, dentists, physicians, physician assistants, physical therapists, pharmacists, registered dietitians, psychologists, or optometrists. Other health-related professionals with certifying credentials and graduate education may apply and will be carefully considered.
* bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university
* official transcripts
* completed application form
* non-refundable application fee of $50
* undergrad GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale (preferred)
Applicants may apply for admission into any one of three semesters (fall, winter, or summer). Deadlines for applying are August 1 for the fall semester, December 15 for the winter semester, and April 15 for the summer semester.
Upon receipt of the completed application and required materials, the Committee on Admissions will review the applicant's file and make recommendations to the program director. All final decisions on admission are made by the dean of Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Students must successfully complete the following five courses (15 credits):
NUT 5075 Advanced Practice Principles of Functional Nutrition
NUT 5200 Nutritional Biochemistry
NUT 5305 Clinical Approach to Functional Nutrition 1: Gastrointestinal Systems
NUT 5315 Clinical Approach to Functional Nutrition 2: Endocrine, Immune and Nervous Systems
NUT 5325 Clinical Approach to Functional Nutrition 3: Cardiovascular and Musculoskeletal Systems
Courses can be taken in any sequence, but it is recommended to move in sequence and build on foundational concepts. Please see NSU Course Catalog for more details fo the course descriptions.