Pictured | Cynthia Sofhauser, PhD | University of Texas at Austin, 1996 | Professor of Nursing, Complementary Health

Cynthia Sofhauser, PhD | Coordinator

Northside Hall 424 | (574) 520-4336

Complementary Health

Discourse surrounding complementary therapies and their use in healthcare abounds; yet, consumers are seeking out and using these therapies, often without informing their healthcare provider.  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. The capstone course is taken as an independent study course after other requirements for the minor have been met. This is often during the final semester before the awarding of the baccalaureate degree.

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 coordinator of the minor.

• All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise designated.

Minor Requirements

Core Courses (7 cr.)

• NURS-K 301 Complementary Health Therapies
• NURS-K 401 Integrative Health
• NURS-K 490 CI Elective (1 cr.)

Electives (8 cr.)

• ANTH-E 320 Indians of North America
• BIOL-N 390 The Natural World
  VT: Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine
• NURS-B 399 Human Behavior and Social Institutions
  VT: Death and Dying
• NURS-K 300 Transcultural Health Care
• NURS-K 414 Chinese Medicine in the Western World (4 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.)

Additional courses dealing with complementary health related issues may be reviewed and considered (Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, aromatherapy, energy therapies, nutritional therapies, 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.

Photo credit | Joe Haase