Bachelor of Science with a Major in Herbal Sciences
Botanical Medicine Department Mission
We inspire students and colleagues to carry forward the traditions and enrich the knowledge of botanical medicine with integrity.
Botanical Medicine Department Vision
We facilitate learning about plants and plant-centered medicine, guiding students to apply this knowledge toward growing, harvesting, manufacturing and clinical practice. The inclusive range of knowledge runs from traditional wisdom to contemporary scientific information, emphasizing critical and creative thought and discovery.
The Bachelor of Science with a Major in Herbal Sciences is designed to provide a thorough, scientifically rigorous and inspiring exploration of herbalism and its applications. The curriculum of the herbal sciences major does not include the diagnosis and treatment of disease, but rather introduces the student to concepts of disease prevention and health maintenance using medicinal herbs. The curriculum addresses economic, historical and sociopolitical perspectives regarding herbal sciences. Additionally, issues related to herbal product manufacturing and quality assurance/quality control introduce the analytical aspects of herbs and herbal products. This program offers a substantial breadth of perspectives and approaches in the herbal sciences.
The program is based upon scientific inquiry in the herbal sciences. Students take courses in Anatomy and Physiology, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Botany during the first year of this program. Beginning in the first year, and heavily concentrated in the second year, are courses exploring various aspects of the herbal sciences. Introduction to Herbal Sciences, Herbal Medicine History and Traditions, and Herbal Preparations lay a foundation in the junior year. In Research Methods for Herbal Sciences, students learn to interpret scientific literature on medicinal herbs. In Ethnobotany and Northwest Herbs, the door opens to the connection between people and plants in indigenous cultures, old and new. The senior year includes Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology and Herb/Drug Interactions, and the Materia Medica series, deepening the knowledge base. First Aid for Herbalists lends hands-on experiences, as well as the Plant ID and Horticulture series, which runs through both years of the program. In additional courses, students become familiar with environmental, economic and political issues surrounding the herbal sciences. There are electives available that cover a wide array of topics including diverse field courses.
Additionally, students are required to complete an 88-hour practicum with herbal manufacturers, herb growers, wildcrafters, practitioners or researchers. Upon completion of this program, each student is uniquely qualified to enter the herbal industry, enter a clinically based program or pursue further education in a related field.
Admissions
For general information on the admissions process, please refer to the Admissions section in this catalog. The information below refers only to the herbal sciences program.
Prerequisites
Entering undergraduates must have at least a 2.50 cumulative GPA with a grade of C or better in all basic proficiency and science requirement courses. Prior to enrolling, students must have completed 90 quarter credits (60 semester credits), including a minimum number of credits in the basic proficiency, science and general education categories.
Note: Students may apply to the program while completing prerequisite coursework.
| Basic Proficiency and Science Requirements |
| English Literature or Composition |
9 quarter credits |
| General Psychology |
3 quarter credits |
| College Algebra or Precalculus |
4 quarter credits |
| General Chemistry (science-major level with lab) |
8 quarter credits |
| General Cell Biology (science-major level with lab) |
4 quarter credits |
| Botany |
3 quarter credits |
| Public Speaking |
3 quarter credits |
| General Education Requirements |
| Natural Science |
8 quarter credits |
| Arts and Humanities |
15 quarter credits |
| Social Sciences |
15 quarter credits |
| Electives |
18 quarter credits |
Basic Sciences Curriculum within Herbal Sciences
Basic science courses within the herbal sciences program include Anatomy and Physiology, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Disease Processes. These courses serve as a foundation for an understanding of the human body and provide students with the necessary skills and competency to pursue coursework in their chosen field.
The basic sciences faculty encourages and expects students to advance beyond the simple learning of scientific facts and to integrate systematically the information from basic science disciplines into a unified model of human organization and function. Problem solving, clinical cases and examples are an integral part of the basic science curriculum.
Graduation Requirements
Upper-division Bachelor of Science students enrolled at Bastyr University must complete a minimum of 180 credits (inclusive of credits transferred into Bastyr). To graduate, Bachelor of Science students must have a minimum 2.0 grade point average with a minimum of 45 credits in residence at Bastyr University.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Following are the learning objectives for students in the herbal sciences program:
- Identify most commonly used medicinal plants utilizing botanical, organoleptic and analytical methods of identification, and identify their medicinal indications and actions.
- Convey understanding of current political issues and trends pertaining to the herbal industry as well as the history of traditional use of herbs in medicine.
- Produce commonly used herbal preparations and discuss their potential in medicinal applications.
- Analyze herbal products using knowledge of pharmacognosy and Quality Assurance Quality Control (QAQC) test methods, and apply this analysis to potential research applications.
- Develop sound foundations in the sciences that prepare the student for science-based industry or graduate-level study, such as ethnobotany, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, clinical graduate work, research, herbal product development and QAQC, bulk herb supplier, or herbal agriculture.
- Exhibit knowledge of safety parameters for use of medicinal plants.
The curriculum tables that follow list the tentative schedule of courses each quarter.
Junior Year (Year I)
Fall
| BC3123 | Organic Chemistry for Life Sciences Lecture/Lab | 6 |
| BC3161 | Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lecture/Lab | 3 |
| BO3107 | Botany 1 | 2 |
| BO3108 | Introduction to Herbal Sciences | 3 |
| BO3109 | Plant Identification and Horticulture 1 | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Winter
| BC3162 | Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lecture/Lab | 3 |
| BC4117 | Biochemistry for Life Sciences 1 Lecture/Lab | 5 |
| BO3115 | Herbal Medicine History and Traditions | 2 |
| BO3116 | Botany 2 | 2 |
| BO3119 | Plant Identification and Horticulture 2 | 1 |
| BO4102 | Research Methods for Herbal Science | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring
| BC3163 | Anatomy and Physiology 3 Lecture/Lab | 4 |
| BC4140 | Biochemistry for Life Sciences 2 | 4 |
| BO3114 | Herbal Preparations | 3 |
| BO3125 | Ethnobotany and Northwest Herbs | 3 |
| BO3126 | Plant Identification and Horticulture 3 | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Senior Year (Year II)
Fall
| BC4114 | Disease Processes | 4 |
| BO4111 | First Aid for Herbalists | 2 |
| BO4119 | Pharmacognosy for Herbal Sciences | 2 |
| BO4122 | Test Methods for Botanical Authentication | 2 |
| BO4145 | Materia Medica 1 for Herbal Sciences | 4 |
| BO4148 | Plant Identification and Horticulture 4 | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Winter
| BO4100 | Herbs and Food | 3 |
| BO4113 | Pharmacology and Herb/Drug Interaction | 3 |
| BO4121 | QAQC Quality Assurance/Quality Control | 3 |
| BO4146 | Materia Medica 2 for Herbal Sciences | 4 |
| BO4149 | Plant Identification and Horticulture 5 | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Spring
| BO4147 | Materia Medica 3 for Herbal Sciences | 4 |
| BO4150 | Herbal Science Research Applications | 1 |
| BO4151 | Plant Identification and Horticulture 6 | 1 |
| BO4152 | Business and Law for Herbal Sciences | 1 |
| BO4802 | Herbal Sciences Practicum | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Total Requirements
| Total Core Course Credits |
83 |
| Total Elective Credits † |
7 |
| Total Requirements |
90 |
†Four elective credits must be in Botanical Medicine field classes.
Curriculum and course changes in the 2018-2019 Bastyr University Catalog are applicable to students entering during the 2018-2019 academic year. Please refer to the appropriate catalog if interested in curriculum and courses required for any other entering year.
Botanical medicine department electives include: Appalachia Field Course*, Autumn Wildcrafting, Botanical Studies in Costa Rica*, Cascade Herb Experience, Clinical Formulations and Applications of Botanical Medicine, Clinical Formulations and Applications of Botanical Medicine 2, Clinical Pharmacognosy**, Flower Essences, Food and Medicinal Mushrooms, Foundations of Aromatic Medicine, Herbal Medicine in Italy*, Herbal Medicine Throughout Oregon, Herbal Medicine Making for All**, Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicine, Introduction to Gemmotherapy, Medicinal and Edible Seaweed Experience, New England Botanical Intensive*, Plant Identification and Medicinal Field Botany, Plants in Ceremony, Organic Gardening, Spring Wildcrafting, Southwest Herbal Experience*, and Winter Wildcrafting.
Certificate of Holistic Landscape Design courses that can be taken as electives for other programs: Biointensive IPM and Plant Management, Horticultural Business Practices, Horticultural Research and Grant Writing, Mycology, Organic Greenhouse and Nursery Management, Organic Seed Production, and Soil Ecology.
*These field courses generally run every other year.
**Not available as an elective for Herbal Sciences students due to content being covered in core program courses.