Integrative Health Minor

Program Overview

Students in the UVM Integrative Health minor explore a wide range of evidence-based therapies that promote optimal health and healing. They learn how to integrate these therapies into conventional medical care through both clinical practice and health policy. Graduates of this program are leading the transformation of the healthcare system—from a reactive “sick care” model with significant environmental impacts to a proactive, sustainable approach that benefits patients, providers, and the planet alike.

Who Should Enroll?

This minor is ideal for:

• Pre-health and nursing students
• Aspiring healthcare professionals
• Anyone interested in whole person health for personal or professional growth 

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Curriculum

The minor includes 9 required credits and 6 elective credits from diverse integrative health topics.

Core Courses (9 credits)

• Intro to Integrative Health
• Science and Evidence in Complementary and Integrative Health
• Human Health and the Environment 

Elective Areas (Choose 6 credits from at least two categories)

• Mindfulness & Mind-Body Practices
• Behavior Change & Wellness Coaching
• Health & the Environment
• Inclusion & Diversity in Health
• Yoga & Movement
• Integrative Nutrition & Herbalism
• Health of People and the Planet
• Travel and Global Health

Includes travel study options in Iceland and Mexico.

See the UVM Course Directory for descriptions and availability.

Meet Your Instructors

Learn from experienced faculty and healthcare professionals:

• Christine Vatovec, Ph.D., M.S. – Clinical Assistant Professor and Osher Center Planetary Health Lead
• Susan Whitman PA-C, NBC-HWC- Lecturer and Osher Center Health Coaching Lead
• Karen C. Westervelt, Ph.D., PT, ATC, NBC-HWC – Program Director 
  …and more

Admissions

No application required: Simply go to myUVM to declare the minor.

Outcomes

What Our Students Are Saying

Students often report a renewed perspective on healthcare and a deeper understanding of how to support patient well-being through integrative practices. 

“I now see myself not just as a future scientist or patient, but as an active participant in my own healing—physically, emotionally, and mentally.”
— Giovanni, Class of 2025, Molecular Genetics Major

More

Integrative Health Research

At the heart of our program is a commitment to advancing the field of integrative health through impactful research. Our faculty’s work not only shapes our curriculum but also influences national standards and best practices. Students in the Integrative Health minor gain a unique advantage, learning in a program that is both academically rigorous and grounded in real-world relevance.

Recent Research Highlights

Screen Time, Physical Activity, and Anxiety in Honors College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Parker, J., Westervelt, K., Sibold, J., Kasser, S. Published in the American Journal of Undergraduate Research (March 2025).

Incorporating Nutrition into Physical Therapy Practice: An Exploratory Study on Education and Attitudes
John, S., Westervelt, K., Kasser, S. Published in the International Journal of Health, Wellness and Society, Volume 11, Issue 1 (2021). 

Screen Time Moderates the Relationship Between Physical Activity, Substance Use, and Mental Health in U.S. Adolescents
Sibold, J., Tomasik, S., Miller, E., Edwards, E. In review, Child and Adolescent Mental Health (2025).

Exercise as a Moderator of Mental Health and Substance Use in Adults with Adverse Childhood Experiences
Sibold, J., Miller, E., Parento, E., Edwards, E. In review, Journal of Mental Health (2025).

Bullying Context Moderates the Relationship Between Exercise and Mental Health in U.S. Children
Sibold, J., O’Neill, L., Edwards, E., Murray-Close, A., Hudziak, J. Published in Journal of School Health, 90(3):194-199 (2020). 

Withdrawn Behavior, Leisure-Time Exercise Behavior, and Screen Time Sedentary Behavior in a Clinical Sample of Youth
Schreck, M., Althoff, R., Bartels, M., de Geus, E., Giummo, C., Sibold, J., Rubin, D., Hudziak, J. Published in Journal of Sport & Clinical Psychology, 10(3):206-221 (2016). Impact factor: 1.9. 

To learn more about the Integrative Health minor, email cnhs@uvm.edu.