Alternative Medicine College

Johnson State College is among the nation’s first accredited colleges to offer a science-based undergraduate degree program in wellness and alternative medicine (WAM). This program is a great fit if you’re interested in science and want to:

• Explore bold new horizons in health care.
• Examine the mind-body connection and its role in personal wellness and well-being.
• Understand the role wellness plays in the development of sustainable communities.
• Learn the science, theories and histories of Western (i.e., allopathic) and alternative and complementary health care therapies, including acupuncture, naturopathy, Ayurveda, chiropractic, homeopathy and Native American healing.
• Understand mind-body therapies, including meditation, yoga, massage, biofeedback and other stress-reduction techniques.

Students in this program explore the social, cultural, political and psychological dimensions of various systems of health care. It is a rigorous, science-based undergraduate program that emphasizes holistic models for health, wellness and healing. Based on the scientific protocols set by the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine and Bastyr University’s Naturopathic Medical School program in Seattle, Wash., it provides the scientific knowledge and practical skills needed to make informed healthcare decisions and lifestyle choices and to prepare for careers as state-of- the-art healthcare professionals, veterinarians and doctors.

Students study conventional, allopathic medicine in the U.S. as well as alternative medical models from around the world. While completing their degrees, students may elect to co-enroll in certification programs to become massage therapists, yoga instructors, reiki masters and Ayurvedic consultants. Graduates are prepared for medical- and health-related graduate programs and careers in holistic health care, Naturopathic medicine, mind-body therapies, and other healing occupations.

This program was updated in spring 2014 to reflect advances in medical knowledge and contemporary practice. The revised curriculum takes effect in fall 2015.

Degree Requirements

You'll gain practical skills and training in this rigorous, science-based program while exploring the social, cultural, political and psychological dimensions of various healthcare systems and holistic models for health, wellness and healing.

Possibilities

WAM graduates are perfect candidates for further training and certification programs. Whether as independent practitioners or as team members in clinical or hospital settings, WAM-trained physicians, nurses and healers are increasingly in demand.