Main Office: Room 2400 College of Health and Human Services
Telephone: (269) 387-2650

Western Michigan University’s Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness (IHHW) program offers a graduate certificate that can be pursued as an independent certificate or as a supplement to other graduate training. The certificate complements and supports the coursework of related fields, enabling students to work within their chosen profession from a holistic perspective that may enhance career opportunities. Students in the helping professions such as social work, counseling, psychology, theology, occupational therapy, health studies, nursing, education, and the arts will especially benefit from this program. Students who earn the graduate certificate will understand the philosophy of holism (the interconnectedness of body-mind-spirit) and the connection between their personal journey and their expression of this in the world of relationships and work.

Please be aware that financial aid for the integrative holistic health and wellness graduate certificate is only available if you are pursuing another graduate degree at Western Michigan University.

Application

IHHW uses an online application system that can be accessed at: www.wmich.edu/holistic/academics/grad/apply. Within the online application system, applicants must provide general information (including educational history details), as well as specific program requirements listed below. Applicants must also request official transcripts, and any required graduate test and/or language proficiency official scores, be sent to WMU.

1. A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) is required; please submit within the online application system.
2. This program does not require a graduate test. Note: International applicants may have to provide evidence of English language proficiency. More information can be found within the online application.
3. The program requires a letter of recommendation from someone who can speak to your readiness for graduate work, communication skills, and appreciation of diversity.
4. Please prepare a written statement which covers the following information and attach it with the online application:

• Identify your major reasons for seeking admission to the Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness Graduate Certificate Program.
• Identify two personal or professional goals.
• How do you see your participation in the program assisting you in reaching your goals?
• Explain how and when you plan to use this training.
• Describe any current or past activities that demonstrate your personal commitment to wellness.
• List any holistic certifications or modalities in which you are trained.
• Have you completed the undergraduate minor in Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness?

Deadlines

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. However, the application must be complete (i.e. all official transcripts and required documents received) two weeks prior to the start of any given semester/session or the application will be deferred to the following semester/session. Once a semester/session has started, all applications will be deferred to the following semester/session.

1. A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) is required; please submit within the online application system.
2. This program does not require a graduate test. Note: International applicants may have to provide evidence of English language proficiency. More information can be found within the online application.
3. The program does not require any supplemental recommendations.
4. Please prepare a statement which covers the following information, and attach it within the online application:

• Identify your major reasons for seeking admission to the Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness Graduate Certificate Program including personal or professional goals which you feel will be more obtainable through your participation in the program.
• Explain how and when you plan to use this training. Do you have a personal commitment to wellness that is demonstrated in your daily activities?
• List any holistic certifications or modalities in which you are trained, and note whether you have completed the undergraduate minor in Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness.

Additional Information

Please select degree you are seeking in the academic intent section of the application so that it can be routed to the correct department. If you have any questions, please review the website below for program and contact information. Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness Program - College of Health and Human Services.

Professional Fieldwork

HOL 6700/HOL 7120 is a 180 hour professional field or internship experience in Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness to complete the graduate certificate program. Your field experience can be completed in one semester or up to one year. If the 180 hour internship is not completed within one semester, the student may receive an incomplete grade with the approval of the instructor or advisor. This incomplete grade may then be removed and replaced with a “credit/no credit” grade as soon as all of the 180 hours of internship are completed within one year.

Students may complete their 180 hours of internship field experience in Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness by selecting one or a combination of the following areas:

• Research
• Teaching courses and seminars
• Program development and evaluation
• Clinical work

Those graduate students already enrolled in a master’s degree or doctoral degree program at WMU or at any other fully accredited university, may use their required internships within their programs to satisfy the requirements for HOL 6700 (master’s level) or HOL 7120 (doctoral level) as long as all of the holistic health certificate course requirements are fulfilled as stated and a component from holism is included in the internship. The field experience must be approved by both the degree program and certificate program and requirements for both programs successfully completed.