Holistic Nutrition Certificate Program

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You are here » Home / Faculties & Programs / School of Holistic Nutrition / Holistic Nutrition Certificate Program

The Holistic Nutrition Certificate Program (HNP) is a unique 4-month program that introduces students to whole foods nutrition and the medicinal uses of food according to various cultures.

Graduates of this program can use knowledge and experience gained to advocate for healthier and more sustainable food choices. They can work in the health and wellness retail sector, grow and maintain urban and rural gardens, assist family and friends in making healthier food choices, or matriculate into the Diploma of Holistic Nutrition program at PRC.

To facilitate an easy transition into the Diploma of Holistic Nutrition, 3 courses (Holistic Nutrition, Western Nutrition, and Intro to Supplements) within the HNP are directly transferable into the 3-year diploma program.

Below are the courses that comprise the Holistic Nutrition Certificate Program. Successful completion of all components is necessary for graduation with a Holistic Nutrition Certificate.

Holistic Nutrition
This course provides a basic understanding of natural nutrition, with an emphasis on preventative nutrition and curative foods. Detail is provided on the energetic and physiologic effects of food on the human digestive system, 5-element food balancing, working with modern day foods and treating various common syndromes. Upon completion students have the knowledge and ability to create preventative and curative nutritional plans for patients. This course contains both a theoretical and practical component.

Western Nutrition
This course offers a deep introduction to the discipline of integrative nutrition in its contemporary Western context. The course investigates foods and nutrients both scientifically and according to 'traditional' understandings, while considering health, ecology, politics and economics. Students gain practical skills and understanding toward incorporating nutritional recommendations into their clinical practice.

Intro to Supplements

This course examines dietary supplements including vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplementation. Students examine lifestyle habits and physiology that my cause imbalances and deficiencies and learn about side effects including supplement/drug, and supplement/food interactions.

Backyard Gardening
This course covers organic methods for growing annual, biennial and perennial food and medicinal plants. Topics include the following: how plants grow and what conditions different types of plants require; garden location and design; organic soil management, composting, fertilizers and the soil food web; basic gardening methods (sowing, starting seedlings indoors, transplanting, thinning, watering, mulching, propagating perennials); managing common insect and disease problems organically; winter protection of vegetables and perennials; basic seed saving. In the age of financial uncertainty, gardening skills are a sought after commodity. This course helps students to be sustainable with independent food production throughout the year. The course book, Backyard Bounty, is a BC Bestseller written by the course instructor, Dr. Linda Gilkeson.

Food Therapeutics
Students are introduced to using food as medicine. Disorders of various systems of the body are explored including the digestive, respiratory, excretory and structural systems to name a few, and students learn to recommend foods to help treat these disorders.

Whole Foods Preparation
This course helps students to prepare simple yet wholesome foods and takes them from the creation of meal menus to basic preparation. Many myths about food preparation are explored, and students are provided with simple tips and steps to creating healthy meals from scratch.

Politics of Food
The food industry is one of the largest and most powerful in the world. This course examines various positive and negative aspects of the industry, and looks at the environmental impact of the food choices that we make.

Global Dietary Practices
Indigenous cultures from around the globe have unique, extremely diverse and surprisingly healthy dietary traditions. Modern day cultures have lost touch with many of these traditional practices and rely more on science and technology for dietary cues. This course explores the strengths and weaknesses of nutritional approaches from around the world.

Natural Emergency Medicine
Whether on a family trip or at home, people rely on First Aid for the treatment of acute conditions. For thousands of years for humans and animals this reliance has been on the plant world. This component introduces students to the application of plants and pressure points for treating emergency situations.

*Courses that transfer into the Diploma of Holistic Nutrition program.

The Holistic Nutrition Certificate Program is offered twice yearly, with programs beginning in January and September. Classes are scheduled on Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturday and Sunday days.

Graduates of this program can use knowledge and experience gained to advocate for healthier and more sustainable food choices. They can work in the health and wellness retail sector, grow and maintain urban and rural gardens, assist family and friends in making healthier food choices, or matriculate into the Diploma of Holistic Nutrition program at PRC.

To facilitate an easy transition into the Diploma of Holistic Nutrition, 3 courses (Holistic Nutrition, Western Nutrition, and Intro to Supplements) within the HNP are directly transferable into the 3-year diploma program.

Entering students into the Holistic Nutrition Certificate Program at Pacific Rim College must be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or satisfactory post-secondary education, be of good moral character and have an interest in herbal medicines. In addition, all non-native English speaking applicants must demonstrate a mastery of written and spoken English. Any foreign applicant may be required to submit an official score report from an English proficiency exam such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Test System).

To register for the Holistic Nutrition Certificate Program, please complete and submit a Program Registration Form available through the button below. For further information, please contact an admissions officer at admissions@pacificrimcollege.ca or by phone. For all registrants, your space in the program will not be reserved until a $350 enrolment deposit has been paid.

International students are welcome to attend Pacific Rim College and are encouraged to apply. Canadian law requires foreign students to have a valid study permit to study in Canada. Pacific Rim College provides international students with the necessary documentation to receive a valid study permit. In some cases students can apply for and obtain a permit upon entering Canada.

Fall 2012 Holistic Nutrition Certificate Program
September 6 - December 21		Holidays TBA
Thursdays	3:30pm - 6:30pm
Fridays	3:30pm - 6:30pm
Saturdays	9:00am - 5:00pm
Sundays	9:00am - 5:00pm

The schedule for the Fall 2012 Holistic Nutrition Certificate Program will be released soon.

Tuition for the Fall 2012 Holistic Nutrition Certificate Program is $3950. A $350 non-refundable enrolment deposit* is due at time of registration, and full tuition payment is due on August 24 for the Fall 2012 program.

*Any student determined by the college to be ineligible for program enrolment will receive a refund of the enrolment deposit.

Holistic Nutrition Certificate

Total Requirements

Holistic Nutrition*
Western Nutrition*
Intro to Supplements*
Backyard Gardening
Food Therapeutics
Whole Foods Preparation
Politics of Food
Global Dietary Practices
Natural Emergency Medicine

45 hours
45 hours
45 hours
30 hours
27 hours
24 hours
24 hours
18 hours
18 hours

This program is approved for Canada Student Loans. British Columbia residents can apply for student loans online through StudentAid BC by clicking here. Students can also pick up a paper application from PRC or any other academic institution registered with Canada Student Loans. For non-British Columbia residents, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca for information about Canada Student Loans.

For a list of all financial aid programs available to PRC students, please visit our Financial Aid page.