Online

Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies

Holistic health nurse talking to patient
Online

Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies

Tap into the holistic model of health and healing.

Explore how you can draw from the best of modern medicine and cross-cultural healing wisdom to improve patient outcomes.

Widen your approach to healing.

Many healthcare practitioners find that the medical model practiced throughout the Western world has gaps that a holistic health model can bridge.  The Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies (MAHS) at St. Catherine University is an innovative program that invites individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to study philosophies, sciences, and arts of holistic health and healing.

This online curriculum draws on knowledge from all corners of life and all disciplines of study. You will research emerging and integrative models of healthcare, and learn to understand yourself and the current holistic health movement in the historical context of social change. You'll gain a deeper understanding of ancient healing traditions from different cultures, along with your own cultural influences, as you investigate the historic constructs underpinning today's medical systems.

In this program, you will:

  • Practice holistic health modalities in a community setting
  • Apply Western and Eastern concepts and research findings for a balanced synthesis
  • Pull from the influence of cultural and social change within the field, including the rich history of women as healers
  • Heal using therapeutic touch, healing touch and guided imagery
  • Encourage connecting to the sacred using various techniques to elicit spiritual healing

Our students are motivated by their interest in meaning and purpose in their lives. They are passionate about creating healthier and more vibrant communities by learning and integrating holistic practices, both personally and professionally. 

Students of all genders are welcome in the program.

Program at a Glance

Format: Online

Start: Fall or Spring

Time to completion: 2.5 years

Credits required: 39

Tuition per credit: $897 (2023-24 rates)

Total tuition: $34,983

 

Rates are subject to change each June 1. Tuition and fee information

All applicants will be reviewed for MAHS scholarships

Apply for financial aid

Degree questions, answered.

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Plan of Study

Below are sample plans of study. For course descriptions and other details, consult the University catalog.

Year 1

  • Fall
    HHS 6700 Foundations of Holistic Health and Wellness (2cr)
    HHS 6720 Complementary/Alternative Approaches to Health Care (2cr)
    HHS 6730 Culture as a Resource in Health and Healing (2cr)
    HHS 6760 Ecology and Health (2cr)
  • Spring
    HHS 8900 Quantitative and Qualitative Research: Mindful Inquiry (3cr)
    HHS 7520 Women and Holistic Health (2cr)
    HHS 6740 Spiritual Wellness (2cr)
    HHS Elective (3cr)

Year 2

  • Fall
    HHS 7500 Core Concepts in Mind/Body Interactions (2cr)
    HHS 7620 Organizing for Social Change (2cr)
    HHS 8940 Research Methods and Statistics (3cr)
    HHS Elective (3cr)
  • Spring
    HHS 6820 Movement, Relaxation and Health (2cr)
    HHS 7710 Alternative Approaches to Nutrition (2cr)
    HHS 8980 Research Seminar (2cr)
    HHS Elective (3cr)

Year 3

  • Fall
    HHS 8920 Practicum and Integrative Seminar (2cr)

Year 1

  • Spring
    HHS 6700 Foundations of Holistic Health and Wellness (2cr)
    HHS 6740 Spiritual Wellness (2cr)
    HHS 7520 Women and Holistic Health (2cr)
  • Fall
    HHS 6720 Complementary/Alternative Approaches to Health Care (2cr)
    HHS 6730 Culture as a Resource in Health and Healing (2cr)
    HHS 6760 Ecology and Health (2cr)
    HHS Elective (3cr)

Year 2

  • Spring
    HHS 6820 Movement, Relaxation and Health (2cr)
    HHS 8900 Quantitative and Qualitative Research: Mindful Inquiry (3cr)
    HHS Elective (3cr)
  • Fall
    HHS 7500 Core Concepts in Mind/Body Interactions (2cr)
    HHS 7620 Organizing for Social Change (2cr)
    HHS 8940 Research Methods and Statistics (3cr)
    HHS Elective (3cr)

Year 3

  • Spring
    HHS 7710 Alternative Approaches to Nutrition (2cr)
    HHS 8980 Research Seminar(2cr)
  • Fall
    HHS 8920 Practicum and Integrative Seminar (2cr)
Career Outcomes

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True Stories

Mary
<p>“My best friend has a bad case of Crohn's disease and was very sick for a long time. She found relief through holistic health modalities—herbs, supplements and energy healing. It stimulated my interest.</p> <p>There aren’t a lot of holistic health programs out there. This program just spoke to me. I was surprised by how dedicated the instructors are. They care so much and are so passionate. They’ll help you in any way possible to get through the program.</p> <p>Healthcare is shifting toward a holistic direction because it’s not just about treating the problem with medicine but treating the person individually and meeting them where they are. It’s moving from reactive care to preventative care. It’s about the mind, body and spirit and identifying the gaps. If you're struggling mentally, maybe start a meditation practice or breathing exercises.</p> <blockquote> <p>I'm a nurse, so I was looking at the program from a clinical practice standpoint. What I got was so much more. It helped me find my authentic self and the type of nurse I want to be.</p> </blockquote> <p>I used to be a very reactive person. Now I’m more aware of how I fill a space. I focus on breathing when I get worked up and can control my emotions now. The program opened my eyes to the way the world really is. It gave me the ability to find and give grace to everyone and everything.</p> <p>My background is hospice, oncology and palliative care nursing, so I streamlined my program toward holistic death and dying. I assisted in the death and dying class and did my practicum with a healthcare organization focusing on end-of-life documentation. Hospice isn’t depressing because I have a totally different view. It’s an honor to be with a patient or veteran at that specific moment in their life with their family. Because you're not just treating the patient, you're treating the entire family. I’m just helping them write their story. I’m hoping to get them to a point where they're comfortable and finishing up things in this life so they can move on to the next—whatever that is. It's guiding them to their own answers, back to their inner selves.</p> <p>The title of our group master’s thesis was,‘Turning Wounds into Wisdom: An Intuitive Inquiry into Healing Women's Body Image through Creative Expression.’ It's basically about improving one's confidence and self-acceptance. That thesis was a transformational experience for me that brought an aha moment. It triggered this whole self-revelation process and just lit a fire under me.</p> <p>And now I landed my dream role! I work at the Department of Veteran Affairs. I'm now the WholeHealth RN Program Manager, developing an entirely new department around employee and veteran whole health care. We’re lucky to have all kinds of things at the VA—acupuncturist, chiropractic care, Tai Chi yoga, guided meditation, biofeedback, massage, even aromatherapy.</p> <p>Looking back, I'm so happy I went through the program because, for me, it was life changing. If you’re thinking about getting into the program, don't do it with just a goal in mind. Be open to all the other possibilities it could bring.”</p> <div class="profile-button"><a href="/profiles?department=513">See All Stories</a></div>
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