Master of Science in Nutrition and Clinical Health Psychology

The MSN/CHP was developed to respond to the need for an integrated program that provides opportunities to ultimately obtain licensure as a mental health counselor and to practice as a certified nutritionist within that scope of practice specified in the state of Washington. Students planning to practice in other states will need to determine whether the program meets the requirements for licensure in that state, as state scope of practice and licensing requirements vary. This three-year graduate program provides interdisciplinary education in nutrition and clinical health psychology for students who want a fully integrated mind-body approach to human health.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

Demonstrate a solid theoretical foundation in counseling and health psychology.
Provide culturally appropriate nutrition and mental health assessment and individualized intervention strategies.
Effectively utilize a breadth of counseling and health behavior change skills for individuals and groups.
Develop the capacity for receiving and integrating feedback, ongoing self-reflection, continuous professional learning and self-care.
Display ethical and professional behaviors in all aspects of counseling practice, case management and interdisciplinary collaboration of care.

Admissions

For general information on the admissions process, refer to the Admissions section in this catalog. Information below refers only to the MSN/CHP program.

Prerequisites

Entering students must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate degree. Priority consideration will be given to applicants with a 3.0 GPA in nutrition prerequisites, a 3.25 cumulative GPA in all prerequisites and a 3.25 cumulative GPA in science prerequisites, with a B or better in Human Physiology, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Microbiology. Exceptional candidates who do not meet these priority standards will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Human Physiology (upper level)¹	1 course
Chemistry (science-major level with lab) (must include at least one organic chemistry course)	3 courses
Biochemistry²	1 course
Introductory Nutrition³	1 course
Abnormal Psychology	1 course
Developmental Psychology	1 course
College Algebra or Precalculus	1 course
Microbiology	1 course

¹A full anatomy and physiology series will meet the physiology prerequisite requirements.

²The biochemistry course must be upper-level and must cover intermediary metabolism.

³The nutrition course must include macro- and micronutrients, lifecycle, and physical activity.

Note: Science and psychology courses must have been taken within seven years of program start.

Admission to Clinical Training

In order to enroll in the Clinic Shift series, students must have successfully completed all prerequisites, based on the clinic track outlined below and under course descriptions for Clinic Nutrition Practicum, and must have met the criteria for professional behavior and attitudes. Students are also required to pass a national criminal background check (see "Felony Disclosure and Background Checks" in the Academic Policy and Procedure Manual for more information) and must show proof of completion of the clinic entry checklist prior to the first scheduled clinic shift.

Graduation Requirements

MSN/CHP students must complete a minimum of 118 credits and must have a minimum 3.0 GPA with a minimum of 79 credits in residence. MSN/CHP students must complete their degree within six years following matriculation into the program. A graduation requirement of the MSN/CHP program is that students must complete 600 hours of supervised counseling (including hours in counseling classes at BCNH and its satellites and external practicum sites), of which 100 hours need to be in nutrition counseling.

In addition to the didactic and clinical experience, MSN/CHP students are required to complete 10 hours of individual counseling or therapy sessions during the first year of the program and before their first counseling shift at BCNH. Documentation of these hours is required.

Exit Exam

Successful completion of a clinical competency exit examination is a requirement for students in the third year of the MSN/CHP. This examination tests the minimal knowledge and skills required to perform nutritional and mental health counseling with diverse clients. The examination does not cover the whole curriculum and cannot substitute for any part of regular course requirements. Students are eligible to take the exit exam if they are in good academic standing; have completed or are concurrently registered for all required (non-elective) courses by the end of the term in which the exam is scheduled; and are making satisfactory progress in the practicum.

Expected Competencies

Students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in their graduate coursework. Bastyr graduates are qualified to provide exceptional counseling services to individuals and institutions and contribute positively to the nutritional and mental health education of the community.

Students are expected to stay on track with the counseling curriculum. Students who wish to go off track must have permission from the director of clinical training.

The curriculum tables that follow list the tentative schedule of courses each quarter.

Year I

Fall

BC5118	Disease Processes 1	3
PS5301	Fundamentals of Counseling: Basic Skills	3
TR5120	Advanced Nutrition: Macronutrients	5
TR5136	Nutrition in the Life Cycle	3
TR5104	Research Methods in Health Sciences	3
Total Credit Hours:		17

TR5136: hybrid online course

Winter

BC5132	Disease Processes 2	2
PS5113	Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy	3
TR5124	Advanced Nutrition: Micronutrients	5
TR5320	Nutrition Assessment and Therapy 1	5
TR5101	Whole Foods Production	3
Total Credit Hours:		18

Spring

PS5202	Psychopathology	3
PS6315	Counseling Adults 1: Assessment and Treatment	3
TR5140	Advanced Nutrition: Bioactive Compounds in Foods	3
TR5321	Nutrition Assessment and Therapy 2	5
TR5803	Nutrition Clinic Entry	1
Total Credit Hours:		15

Year II

Fall

PS5110	Fundamentals of Counseling: Group Dynamics	3
PS7801	Clinic Shift 1: Nutrition/Clinical Health Psychology	2
PS6310	Nutrition and Pharmacology in Mental Health	3
TR5115	Food Science	5
TR6111	Contemporary Nutrition: Global and Ecological Issues	2
Total Credit Hours:		15

Winter

PS5115	Fundamentals of Counseling: Systems, Families, Couples	4
PS6105	Diversity and Multicultural Issues in Health Psychology	3
PS7802	Clinic Shift 2: Nutrition/Clinical Health Psychology	2
TR6100	Nutritional Supplementation	4
Total Credit Hours:		13

Spring

PS6130	Psychological Testing	3
PS6323	Assessment and Treatment of Children/Adolescents in Health Psych	3
PS7105	Alcohol and Substance Abuse	2
PS7803	Clinic Shift 3: Nutrition/Clinical Health Psychology	2
TR5100	Biostatistics	4
Total Credit Hours:		14

Year III

Fall

PS6317	Counseling Adults 2: Assessment and Treatment	3
PS7101	Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychology	3
PS7805	MSN/CHP Practicum 1	2
PS7811	Practicum Seminar 1: Nutrition/Clinical Health Psychology	1
Total Credit Hours:		9

Winter

PS6207	Counseling for Eating Disorders	2
PS7806	MSN/CHP Practicum 2	2
PS7812	Practicum Seminar 2: Nutrition/Clinical Health Psychology	1
PS7115	Developing and Evaluating Counseling Programs	3
Total Credit Hours:		8

Spring

PS7103	Mind-Body Techniques for Stress Reduction	3
PS7129	Career Counseling	3
PS7807	MSN/CHP Practicum 3	2
PS7813	Practicum Seminar 3: Nutrition/Clinical Health Psychology	1
	Clinical Competency Exam	0
Total Credit Hours:		9

Total Requirements

Total Core Course Credits & Hours	103
Clinic/Practicum Totals	15
Total Requirements	118

Curriculum and course changes in the 2015-2016 Bastyr University Catalog are applicable to students entering during the 2015-2016 academic year. Please refer to the appropriate catalog if interested in curriculum and courses required for any other entering year.