Overview
Graduate Programs in Nutrition at Bastyr University Prepare Students for Range of Careers
Located near the health-conscious city of Seattle, the graduate nutrition degree programs at Bastyr University offer a unique focus relevant to today's health care marketplace. Instead of focusing solely on the science of nutrients, Bastyr degree programs emphasize understanding the "whole food" - a study of food in its entirety, its individual components, how it affects the human body, and how it interacts with other foods.
Bastyr University also has an experienced faculty that guides students through the physiological, biochemical, socioeconomic, political, and psychological aspects of human nutrition.
The nutrition graduate program's curriculum emphasizes that good nutrition also involves understanding and meeting the greater needs of the planet. This includes using food as affordable medicine and learning how growing and processing food impacts the environment. A Bastyr University degree from its graduate program in nutrition prepares students to not only meet their clients' nutritional needs and challenges, but also to make an impact on a societal and global scale.
Bastyr's degrees from its graduate program in nutrition play an essential part in the school's mission to advance and integrate knowledge in the natural health arts and sciences. A variety of study options are available to meet diverse interests and career goals.
The M.S. in Nutrition (MSN) is for those interested in nutrition research and clinical work. This degree can also be combined with the didactic program in dietetics and the dietetic internship, qualifying graduates to pursue all career paths open to registered dietitians. The M.S. in Nutrition and Clinical Health Psychology (MSNCHP) is for those interested in both nutritional counseling and mental health counseling. The MSNCHP option leads to eligibility for licensure as a mental health counselor.
Abundant Resources and Experienced Faculty Enhance the Academic Life at Bastyr
Because of Bastyr's location in the Pacific Northwest near Seattle, a variety of unique academic resources enhance the university's nutrition curriculum. An organic herb and culinary garden facilitates students' education about plant cultivation and harvesting and a state-of-the-art nutrition kitchen enables students to master the preparation of foods and design their own recipes.
Students can take electives from many other programs at Bastyr University, including Oriental medicine, herbal sciences, health psychology, and exercise science and wellness. Evening and weekend workshops, lectures, and brown-bag lunchtime talks also increase students' opportunities to enrich their knowledge of health and healing.
Bastyr University draws the top nutrition faculty from Seattle as well as from around the world. All of the core faculty members are experienced instructors and practitioners. As part of a small, close-knit group within the program, students receive individualized academic and career advising from faculty who are known for their outstanding scholarship and for their consistent attention to student needs.
Campus Life at Bastyr is Vibrant and Full of Activity
Bastyr University is located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, just 12 miles north of Seattle, Washington. Seattle is known as one of the most livable cities in the country, with a mixture of metropolitan culture and breathtaking natural landscapes. Mountains, lakes, and parks provide abundant opportunities for recreation and relaxation.
The university campus rests on 51 acres of fields and woodlands. Adjacent to the campus are miles of wooded trails winding through the 316 acres of St. Edward State Park on the northeast shore of Lake Washington. The park has a secluded beach where coyotes, eagles, and spotted owls find refuge. There are also outdoor volleyball courts, tennis courts, and playfields.
Bastyr's campus is a vibrant place with continual opportunity for activities and socializing. Students participate in study groups, join a variety of clubs in their interest areas, become involved in Student Council, volunteer in the garden and participate in campus events including Haunted Trails, the annual Herb and Food Fair, and the Talent/No Talent show.
Facilities include a gourmet cafeteria that is a popular gathering place and includes a juice bar and healthy snacks and desserts. A wireless network and abundant computer kiosks create the opportunity for constant connectivity, and the library and bookstore offer some of the best study resources available for the natural health sciences.
Bastyr University's new student residential village is under construction and will open in summer 2010. This campus on the outskirts of Seattle is comprised of 11 cottage-style buildings connected by a series of garden paths, courtyards, and outdoor living spaces; the new student village is being carefully designed for energy efficiency and minimal environmental impact.
