For health professionals with master’s or doctoral degrees who choose not to take the full HNFM master’s degree curriculum, the University of Western States offers an online graduate certificate in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine that helps you to deepen your understanding of these subjects. The curriculum includes nine of the 17 required courses in the UWS master of science program. Please note, the HNFM certificate is distinct from the HNFM master’s degree program. Speak with an admissions advisor to find out which program is best for you.
Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine Certificate Learning Outcomes
With appreciation of the rapid advancements in the field of clinical nutrition and the increasingly respected role of nutrition in the maintenance of health and the prevention of disease, the online human nutrition and functional medicine graduate certificate program prepares graduates to safely and effectively utilize nutrition, natural remedies and biopsychosocial therapies in the management of patients with complex health challenges at an advanced level beyond traditional nutritional programs.
Graduates of the online HNFM graduate certificate will develop effective, evidence-informed management and wellness approaches utilizing nutritional and lifestyle interventions within a functional medicine framework.
Online HNFM Certificate Curriculum
The UWS catalog houses the online HNFM curriculum, course descriptions, curriculum sequence, and other helpful information about the program. Here are the eight required courses of the Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine Certificate program:
- Principles of Functional Medicine
- Evidence-based Nutrition
- Gastrointestinal Imbalances
- Detoxification and Biotransformation Pathways and Imbalances
- Hormone and Neurotransmitter Regulation and Imbalances
- Immune Imbalances and Inflammation
- Autoimmune Disease: Causes and Strategies
- Meal Planning in Health and Illness
Plus, one of our 11 available HNFM certificate elective courses.
Functional Nutrition Electives
Functional nutrition certificate completion consists of the eight required courses plus one elective of the student’s choice. The Principles of Functional Medicine course must be taken first, after which courses may or may not be taken in the order listed in the course catalog.
Here are the 11 Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine online elective courses available for students to choose from:
- Fundamentals of Mind-Body Medicine and Psychology of Well-Being
- Botanical Medicine
- Advanced Practices Modules (modules from IFM and AFMCP)
- Pharmacology and Drug-Nutrient Interactions
- Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenomics
- Psychology of Eating and Wellness
- Plant-Based Nutrition
- Nutrition Practice Strategies
- Ethical Use of Telehealth Platforms
- Identifying Mental Illness
- Mental Health Communication Skills
The Supervised Nutrition Mentorship is optional and fulfills the elective requirement.
HNFM Guest Lecturers
The online HNFM certificate program often hosts prestigious guest lecturers to speak about exciting topics in health, nutrition and wellness. Here are a few guests we’ve had the honor of hosting and the topics they presented on:
Neal Barnard, MD – “Evidence on Plant-Based Diets and Diabetes”
Kara Fitzgerald, ND – “Molecular Biology of Fatty Acid Therapy”, “Food Allergy, Intolerance, Sensitivity”, “Allergy and Atopy”
Alan Gaby, MD – “Controversies in Nutrition”
Alan Goldhamer, DC – “Fasting, Food Addictions”
James Gordon, MD – “Self-Care is the Heart of Health Care”
Dennis Hoyer, DC – “Fundamentals of Laboratory Assessment”
Master's Degree Credit
Textbooks