Complementary and Integrative Health

The Master of Science in Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) is designed to provide practicing healthcare professionals with an evidenced-based program in complementary and integrative health practices. Students will be taught to assess, guide, and evaluate patient use of alternative modalities and to integrate CIH into one's own professional practice. The program provides core competencies in complementary and integrative health. This program provides the theoretical basis for applying complementary and integrative health practices and emphasizes the integration of evidence-based CIH therapies such as phytomedicine, functional nutrition, and mind/body modalities within the framework of conventional healthcare practice. 

A foundational principle of this program is interdisciplinary practice and collaboration with the goal of improving health outcomes. In addition, students will be introduced to historical, indigenous healthcare practices and upon graduation may seek further training to build expertise in a particular modality (e.g. yoga, nutrition, reiki, etc.) which may lead to additional credentialing or licensing.

American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation, Inc. has endorsed Drexel University's Complementary and Integrative Health Master's and Certificate programs, which allows graduates of these programs to sit for the nationally accredited board certification in holistic nursing.

Students from Drexel University's online MS in Complementary and Integrative Health degree program are eligible to apply and concurrently enroll in the University of Arizona's Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine (AWCIM) Integrative Health & Wellness Coaching (IHW) certification program. The concurrent completion of the AWCIM IHW coaching program can count toward the 9 elective credit requirement for the Drexel MS in Complementary and Integrative Health program. The AWCIM IHW Coaching program is approved by the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaching. Graduates of Drexel's MS in Complementary and Integrative Health in combination with the AWCIM IHW Coaching program would then be eligible to sit for the national exam. If you are interested in this option, you may either answer the related questions on the Drexel MS in Complementary and Integrative Health application or you can let your academic advisor know of your interest. Learn more about the program.

Transcripts

Official transcripts must be sent directly to Drexel from all of the colleges and universities that you have attended. Please note that transcripts are required regardless of number of credits taken or if the credits were transferred to another school. An admission decision may be delayed if you do not send transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have attended.

Transcripts must show course-by-course grades and degree conferrals. If your school does not notate degree conferrals on the official transcripts, you must provide copies of any graduate or degree certificates.

If your school issues only one transcript for life, you are required to have a course-by-course evaluation completed by an approved transcript evaluation agency.

Precise, word-for-word English translations of all non-English language documents are required along with official documents in the original language. All translations must be completed by the issuing institution or an ATA-certified translator. Visit the American Translators Association website to search for an ATA-certified translator.

International students: If you have already graduated from your previous institution at the time of your application, please email your graduation certificate(s) attached as PDF or Microsoft Word documents to [email protected]. Note: Any international applicant, regardless of program, may be required to provide a transcript evaluation should the Admissions Committee determine it is needed for the application to be reviewed. If your transcripts are selected for a course-by-course evaluation by an external agency, you will be responsible for supplying all necessary documentation and paying all necessary fees to have your transcripts evaluated.

If you have questions regarding what documents you must submit to fulfill the transcript requirements, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Standardized Test Scores

GRE test scores are not required.

Test of English as a Foreign Language

International applicants are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL minimum scores: 80/550/213), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English (PTE minimum score: 53) unless they meet the criteria for a waiver.

Essay

Please write an essay describing your career goals, including specific research and scholarly interests. Please be sure to indicate how your interests coincide with those of particular School of Education Faculty members.

Submit your essay with your application or through the Discover Drexel portal after you submit your application.

Résumé

Upload your résumé as part of your admission application or through the Discover Drexel Portal after you submit your application.

Letters of Recommendation

Recommenders should be able to speak to your academic performance.

Interview

Virtual, in-person, or telephone interview required for qualified applicants.

Academic Experience

Admission to this program requires a minimum 3.25 GPA (a 3.5 is preferred).

Writing Sample

Please submit a sample of scholarly writing, including but not limited to published articles, theses, or term papers, by mail or email as an attachment to [email protected].

Mailing Addresses