1. Master-Herbalist Diploma Program (approx. 2-3 Years)

(Revised & Re-arranged as of Nov. 1, 2007)

        2. Western-Herbalism Certificate Program (approx. 1 year)

   (This is equivalent to the "Western Herbalism" module of the Master-Herbalist Diploma Program [for which see below, under "Module One"], but is available as a stand-alone, certificate program)

1.  Master-Herbalist Diploma Program

(2-3 Years of Study)

     The Master-Herbalist diploma program encompasses approximately two-to-three years of study in integrative herbalism (including modern Western Herbalism, Native-American Herbalism, Physio-medicalist Herbalism, American-Eclectic Herbalism, Chinese Herbalism, and Ayurvedic Herbalism)

MODULES & CREDITS

     The Master Herbalist (M.H.) diploma program consists of 67 semester credits (with 1 credit approximating 20 hours of study, for a total of 1340 hours of study), spread out over three different modules, as follows:

Module One: Western Herbalism

(42 semester credits)

Part One: Foundations of Western Herbalism

            (Click Here to See the "Table of Contents")

            (Click Here to See a Sample Page of the Workbook Text)

            (Click Here to See a Sample Page of the Lesson Questions)

Part Two: Botany, Nutrition, The Chemistry of Herbs, and 
                 the Forms of Herbal Therapy

            (Click Here to See the "Table of Contents")

            (Click Here to See a Sample Page of the Workbook Text)

            (Click Here to See a Sample Page of the Lesson Questions)

Part Three: Modern Western Herbalism 

            (Click Here to See the "Table of Contents")

            (Click Here to See a Sample Page of the Workbook Text)

            (Click Here to See a Sample Page of the Lesson Questions)

Part Four: Herbal Contraindications   

                 (Pregnancy, Lactation, Pathologies, & Drugs)

Part Five: Case Analysis/Healing Strategies  

     This Part helps the student to apply the information learned in the previous courses to real life.  Through the use of sample case histories, the student learns how to analyze a case and then choose the appropriate herbs and other supplements.

Module Two: Asian Herbalism

(12 semester credits)

This module encompasses an intense study of the herbal therapeutics of Ayurvedic Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. About 150 different Ayurvedic & Chinese herbs (those available on the Western market) and dozens of formulas (those available on the Western market) are covered, as well as the traditional assessment techniques (pattern analysis, constitution, tongue analysis, pulse analysis, and physiognomy) needed to choose the appropriate herbs.

            (Click Here to See the "Table of Contents")

            (Click Here to See a Sample Page of the Workbook Text)

            (Click Here to See a Sample Page of the Lesson Questions)

Module Three: Integrative Herbalism

(4 semester credits)

This module combines Western Herbalism, Ayurveda, & TCM into an integrative model of assessment and herbal therapeutics!  Very, very few schools (if any!) offer this unique training!

Module Four: Thesis

(6 semester credits)

     A 24-page, double-spaced thesis on an herbal-related topic of the student's choice (subject to approval by MWSHS).

Workshops

(3 credits = 60 hrs)

     Although 64 of the 67 credits necessary to obtain the Master-Herbalist diploma can be completed entirely by correspondence, the remaining three credits (= 60 hrs) need to be fulfilled via workshops. Said workshops can either be those conducted by MWSHS (we conduct them regularly every year) or by other qualified presenters, with no specification on where they are held.  Moreover, not only can they can be obtained at any time from the date of entrance into the M.H. program, but even qualifying workshops taken up to five years prior to entrance into the M.H. program may be applicable.  However, any and all workshops must be approved by MWSHS and must be spread out among several categories, as outlined below:

(1) 1 CREDIT (20 HOURS) MINIMUM AND 2 CREDITS (4O HOURS) MAXIMUM for Holistic Assessment Skills, such as: muscle testing, iridology, scleral interpretation, tongue assessment, pulse assessment, physiognomy (face assessment), or other physical assessment.

(2)1 CREDIT (20 HOURS) MINIMUM AND 2 CREDITS (4O HOURS) MAXIMUM for Wild-plant Walks conducted by an herbalist, naturopath, botanist, or naturalist.

(3) NO MINIMUM and 1 CREDIT (20 HOURS) MAXIMUM for misc. workshops on any aspect of Herbal Therapeutics (including medicine-making).

COMPONENTS OF THE M.H. DIPLOMA PROGRAM

     The materials provided by MWSHS to the student to complete the M.H. Diploma Program consist of one oversized textbook (300 Herbs: Their Indications & Contraindications), five oversize workbooks (a total of over 1000pp altogether!), several CDs containing oral discourses, the lesson questions (on CD), and e-mail support from our coordinators.

TIME COMMITMENT

     As of April 1, 2007, any student may take whatever amount of time is necessary for him/her to complete the program.  To complete the program in two years, however, the estimated study time needed per week would be about 12.5 hours, whereas for a three-year goal it would be about 8.5 hours per week.

LESSONS

     Lesson questions are enclosed on a CD. After the CD is opened, the answers may be typed out on the computer keyboard, saved, and sent to us via email at MWSHS@aol.com or alternately printed out onto hard copy (paper), answered longhand, and then snail-mailed back to us. The student should allow 2-4 weeks to receive the graded lesson(s), which are graded in groups of three or more.

EVALUATION METHOD

     In addition to the Workshops required (as described above), a student must achieve a score of 70% or better on the lessonwork for each of the Modules (including the Thesis) of this Program as well as pass a proctored, final examination with a score of 70% or better for each of Modules 1, 2, and 3 in order to obtain the required credits for the Diploma. (Three hours are allowed to complete each examination and to turn it in to one's proctor. The proctor is chosen by the student, but must be a responsible and professional member in the community and approved by MWSHS. Once choice of proctor is approved and the exam date has been set by the student, the exam is mailed to the proctor to arrive at least several days prior to the specified exam date.) The final grade for each Module is based 50% upon the average score from the lesson answers and 50% from the grade of the final examination for that Module.

TUITION & PAYMENT METHODS

     Tuition is calculated at $30 per semester credit, for a total of $1,920 for the 64 non-workshop credits and materials (excluding the textbook, which is currently priced at $25.00). Costs for the three workshop credits cannot be estimated due to widely differing charges on the part of workshop instructors, but they are the student’s responsibility regardless. We are pleased to offer the modules of the M.H. program separately, so that one may “pay as one goes,” rather than have to fund the entire Program at once. Note, however, that modules must be ordered in numerical order. Minnesota residents need add 6.5% sales tax to any purchase if paying by a method other than our online ordering system (in which latter case, sales tax is automatically computed and added). Other forms of payment accepted by MWSHS include cashier’s check, personal check, or major credit cards (called or faxed in). The purchaser has 30 days in which to examine the materials and decide whether to keep them or return them unused (and with no lessons submitted) for a refund.

2. Western-Herbalist Certificate Program

(1-2 Years of Study)

This is a stand-alone program equivalent to "Module One: Western Herbalism" of the "Master-Herbalist Diploma Program" described above.  (Scroll up to "Module One: Western Herbalism" for details.)  We've had many requests from health-care professionals, who want something readily usable as an add-on to their own practice, to make this new program available. In this regard, the Western-Herbalism Certificate Program provides practical information on the uses of Western herbs for healing in a variety of common scenarios, arranged by body system, and features summaries of hundreds of scientific studies, full referenced.  (The more complex systems of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine are thus excluded from this proram.) In addition, it features a large section on nutrition, as well as covers Western  assessment techniques such as laboratory analysis, iris-and-scleral interpretation, muscle testing, and facial analysis.

For Pricing, or to Order either of these Programs, click on the "How to Order" Tab in the Tab Menu to the upper left of your Screen.