Complementary Health

Complementary Health Coordinator:

While lay and professional discourse surrounding complementary therapies abounds, consumers are seeking out and using these therapies. Therefore, it is critical that all interested students, particularly future health care providers, be given the academic opportunity to learn about and explore complementary therapies and the issues surrounding their use. Students achieving a minor in complementary health will gain a thorough understanding of a number of complementary therapies. This understanding involves exploring the foundational belief systems of these therapies and the cultures from which they are derived. Students will critically examine complementary therapies in light of the disease processes for which they are prescribed as well as explore the inherent political, economic, and ethical issues surrounding these therapies.

Any interested IUSB student may complete a minor in complementary health. Students interested in pursuing a minor must register their intentions with the Nursing Program and consult with a faculty advisor prior to enrollment in required core courses.

Minor in Complementary Health

The minor in complementary health consists of 15 credit hours and is awarded by the Nursing program at Indiana University South Bend campus.  Students will be required to take a core of two required courses for a total of six credit hours and a one credit hour capstone.  The two required courses may be taken in any order to facilitate student completion of the minor.  However, it is recommended that students take NURS K 301, The Art and Science of Complementary Health before NURS K492, Integrative Health Care.

Students may select a total of eight elective credit hours to fulfill the requirements of the minor. Elective courses enable the student to expand and build upon knowledge acquired in the core courses. Selection of electives permits the student to personalize the minor in a way that will prove most helpful in their chosen field. Acceptance of elective courses for credit toward the minor will be granted by the IUSB Nursing APG committee.

Required Core Courses
K301, The Art and Science of Complementary Health (3 cr.)
K401, Integrative Health Care: Blending the Traditional and Non-Traditional (3 cr.)
K490, Capstone in Complementary Health (1 cr.)

Electives
NURS, K300, Transcultural Health Care (3 cr.)
NURS, K421, American Health Care: International Experience (3 cr.)
NURS or WOST, W221, Native Uses of Herbs (1 cr.)
ANTH, E320, Indians of North America (3 cr.)
NURS, Z492, Individual Study in Nursing (1-6 cr.)
NURS, Z490, Clinical Experience in Nursing (1-6 cr.)

Additional courses dealing with complementary health related issues may be reviewed and considered (aroma-therapy, nutrition, healing touch, etc.).  Courses on Asian cultures or other non-Western cultures would be particularly helpful, since most complementary therapies are derived from teachings indigenous to those cultures.