This evidence-based program provides health care professionals with the tools to assess, guide, and evaluate patients by merging complementary and integrative health practices into the framework of conventional clinical practice. Coursework explores topics such as phytomedicine, functional nutrition, and mind/body modalities, providing a solid foundation in core competencies, as well as a theoretical basis for applying these practices.
Program Outcomes
Graduates will be eminently positioned as leaders in this specialty field in roles such as:
- Consultants
- Educators
- Hospital Administrators
- Integrative Health Care Practitioners
- Program Developers
Program Features
- Courses taught by integrative health care practitioners and internationally-recognized leaders in the field
- Congruent with the educational standards set forth by the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) and meets the core competencies of the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health*
- Available entirely online
Drexel University’s online MS in Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) program offers a unique opportunity for students to simultaneously pursue a Health & Well-Being Coach Training Certificate through a collaborative partnership with Duke University.
This innovative pathway allows students to earn a master’s degree from Drexel while completing Duke University’s nationally recognized Health & Well-Being Coach Training (DHWCT) program, which is approved by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). The certificate earned through the DHWCT program may be applied toward the nine elective credits required for the MS in CIH degree.
The integrated curriculum equips students with the knowledge, skills and hands-on experience needed to empower others in making sustainable lifestyle changes to improve overall health and wellness. Upon completion of the DHWCT program and required coaching hours, graduates are eligible to sit for the NBHWC national certification exam.
Students who complete both programs will graduate with dual credentials:
- MS in Complementary and Integrative Health from Drexel University
- Certificate in Health & Well-Being Coaching from Duke University
This dual credential program prepares graduates to thrive in a rapidly evolving health and wellness landscape by combining academic rigor, practical training and national certification eligibility.
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.
State restrictions may apply to some programs. Learn more.
COMPLIANCE
The College of Nursing and Health Professions has a compliance process that may be required for every student. Some of these steps may take significant time to complete. Please plan accordingly.
Visit the Compliance pages for more information.
Application Deadline
August 15, 2025
Admissions Criteria
- Open to licensed health care professionals from a variety of disciplines, including:
- Nurses, physician’s assistants, psychologists, women’s health practitioners, members of oncology organizations, clinical nutritionists, and couple and family therapists
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited university with a major in a health-related field
- GPA of 3.0 or above on all previous coursework
Required Documents
With multiple ways to submit documents, Drexel makes it easy to complete your application. Learn more by visiting our supporting document submission guide.
- A completed application
- Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions attended (including trade schools)
- Two professional letters of recommendation from either previous or immediate supervisors or former faculty members who can attest to your clinical knowledge, skill, and potential aptitude for graduate study
- Personal Statement
- Resume including specific details of your responsibilities and job experiences
- Additional requirements for International Students
Tuition: Information on Tuition can be found here.
Curriculum
This program is organized into four 10-week quarters per year (as opposed to the traditional two-semester system) which means you can take more courses in a shorter time period. One semester credit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter credits.
Graduate students who utilize student loans (FAFSA) must maintain a minimum enrollment of 4.5 credits per term.
For Full List of courses, please visit Drexel Online.
Program Outcomes
- Practices within a legal and ethical framework of health care delivery and scope of practice
- Advances the role of advanced practice in the health care system through scholarship, clinical experience, advocacy and political involvement
- Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision-making
- Integrates multiple technologies and relevant theories into the organization and synthesis of health data required to develop plans of care for patients, families and communities
- Integrates culturally sensitive health promotion activities that contribute to the health and wellness of the community into clinical practice
- Demonstrates leadership in health care through involvement in the development of outcome-based standards of care and practice-based health policy issues
- Evaluates and modifies the quality and effectiveness of clinical practice based on current research findings, standards of care and patient outcomes
- Contributes to the advancement of complementary and integrative health and humanity through communication, collaboration and education
Nursing Program Mission and Values
The Nursing program faculty and staff are committed to educating nurses to embrace both the art and science of nursing, to integrate caring into practice, to think critically and practice competently, compassionately and safely in complex rapidly changing practice environments. The Nursing program supports administrators, faculty, staff and students in developing holistic evidence-based programs, which create healing and caring environments at all levels that reflect innovative education, interdisciplinary practice and research.
The highest goals of the program include demonstrating efficacy, quality and cost-effectiveness of evidence-based nursing interventions in promoting health, preventing disease, preserving human dignity, reducing health disparities and caring for the sick and injured.
All efforts in the Nursing program are designed to build nursing knowledge, enhance nursing practice, foster professional integrity, promote innovation, engage in interdisciplinary collaboration and ultimately improve the health outcomes of patients and families from diverse communities across the continuum of care.
The Nursing program is committed to excellence in nursing education through educational programs that are:
- Authentic: We value a deep connection to others, appreciation of diverse opinions and respect for the other’s frame of reference. We value going beyond objective assessment to understand the context of the other, creative use of self and engagement in the artistry of the caring-healing process—the essence of Nursing.
- Complex: We value complexity science by recognizing that our Nursing program is a complex, dynamic, unpredictable, emerging, self-organizing and adaptive system that cannot be reduced to the sum of its members. As such, we seek that administrators, faculty, staff and students develop skills to improvise, build on the innovations of others, develop positive interpersonal interactions, appreciate the reciprocity that our actions have on the larger system and ourselves and embrace surprise as an opportunity to learn, make sense of our dynamic reality and make a positive impact on the health of our clients.
- Rigorous: We continuously review and redesign programs, courses, technology-infused learning systems and educational products for depth and quality with the learner's experience and background in mind.
- Relevant: We continuously examine changing market forces, the progression of nursing knowledge and the best practices in health care and education to redesign educational programs. There is a strong commitment to population-focused care practice in diverse communities; therefore, we strive to ensure clinically relevant education and simulation experiences. Our faculty serves as excellent role models for developing clinicians.
- State of the Art: We value the use of technological innovation and patient simulation scenarios which foster advanced and evidence-based interdisciplinary communication and teamwork, multiple patient management and crisis resource management skills, provision of culturally relevant care, decreased prevalence of errors and adverse events and a higher intellectual standard in both undergraduate and graduate nursing education.
- Learner-Friendly: In consideration of the demanding, fast-paced lives of our students and nurse consumers, we offer high-quality educational programs in convenient and contemporary formats, including access to academic online courses with attention to user-friendly interfaces as well as resources to enhance academic success. In addition, the College of Nursing and Health Professions is committed to being a challenging and rewarding work environment for faculty, staff and administrators. Information and data on all aspects of the college’s operations are widely shared with faculty, staff and students and all are encouraged to participate in its decisions and activities.