Studying Holistic Wellness: Degrees at a Glance
Do you want to learn more about alternative medicine and holistic healing? Do you have an interest in learning about the human body and have a desire to help people? If so, holistic wellness graduate degree programs may be a good fit.
Holistic wellness is based on the theories of healthy living, including injury and disease prevention. Holistic wellness master's and doctoral programs typically promote various aspects of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. Holistic wellness professionals work in a variety of settings, including traditional healthcare facilities, private businesses and academic institutions.
Wellness professionals were expected to be in high demand; according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of dieticians and nutritionists was expected to grow by 20% from 2010-2020. During the same time period, health educators could expect to see an increase of 37%. Although career opportunities appear promising, students should be aware that holistic wellness graduate degree programs are extremely rare.
| Master's | PhD | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is this degree for? | - Individuals who want to help people maintain healthy lifestyles - People who are new to the health services industry or are seeking a career change - Bachelor's degree holders who want to specialize in wellness management | - People who want to work in holistic wellness management, policy and research - Master's or bachelor degree holders with an interest in health or holistic healing |
| Common Career Paths (with approximate annual salary) | - Health educator ($52,000 - may vary with experience)* - Nutritionist ($55,000 - may vary with experience)* | - Health specialty professor ($99,000 - may vary with experience)* |
| Time to Completion | Typically two years (full-time) | 3-4 years (full-time) beyond a master's degree |
| Common Graduation Requirements | - Satisfy coursework requirements - Practicum, if applicable | - Satisfy coursework requirements - Pass PhD qualifier exams - Research, write and present dissertation - Teaching or research assistantship, if applicable |
| Prerequisites | - Typically a bachelor's degree in a related or unrelated field - Prerequisite courses in psychology, anatomy and/or physiology - GPA requirements | - Transcripts from previous bachelor's and master's degree programs - Advanced research courses and a prior understanding of wellness topics may be encouraged or required - GRE scores |
| Online Availability | Rare | None found as of January 2013 |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2011 mean figures).
