Complementary Health

Cynthia Sofhouser, Ph.D. | Coordinator

Northside Hall 446 | (574) 520-4336 |
www.iusb.edu/nursing/ch_minor.php

About Complementary Health

Lay and professional discourse surrounding complementary therapies abounds and consumers are seeking out and using them. 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 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 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 IU South Bend student may complete a minor in complementary health. Students interested in pursuing a minor must register their intentions with the School of Nursing 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 School of Nursing on the IU South Bend campus. Students are required to take a core of two required courses for a total of 6 credit hours and a 1 credit hour capstone course. 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 Complementary Health Therapies before NURS-K 401 Integrative Health.

Students may select a total of 8 credit hours of electives 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 proves most helpful in their chosen field. Acceptance of elective courses for credit toward the minor is granted by the IU South Bend School of Nursing Admission, Progression, and Graduation (APG) Committee.

Minor Requirements

All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise designated.

Core Courses (7 cr.)

• NURS-K 301 Complementary Health Therapies
• NURS-K 401 Integrative Health
• NURS-K490 CI Elective (1 cr.)

Electives (8 cr.)

• ANTH-E 320 Indians of North America
• NURS-K 300 Transcultural Health Care
• NURS-K 421 American Health Care: International Experience (2-3 cr.)
• NURS-W 221 Native Uses of Herbs (1 cr.)
• NURS-Z 490 Clinical Experience in Nursing (1-6 cr.)
• NURS-Z 492 Individual Study in Nursing (0.5-6 cr.)
• WGS-W 221 Native Uses of Herbs (1 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 are particularly helpful, since most complementary therapies are derived from teachings indigenous to those cultures.