Curriculum 2005
Classes can be taken either on an individual basis or as a program for those interested in becoming professional herbalists. Core classes for those pursuing a comprehensive clinical training in American herbal medicine consist of indoor and field classes. Any class without a prerequisite may be taken on its own.
Core Classes
- Intermediate Materia Medica - Survey of 178 Herbs
- 74 hrs
- An in-depth survey of herbal therapeutics in acute and chronic disease, diagnosis, and constitutional therapy, with an introduction to politics of healthcare, multicultural issues, and counseling.
- Two Week Wildcrafting Trips
-
- High Sierra, Inyo Mountains & Panamint Valley - 43 hrs
- Redwoods, Trinity Alps & Six-Rivers Area - 43 hrs
- Materia Medica II 8 hrs
- Thirty-two more plants.
- (Prerequisite: Survey of 172 Herbs)
- Six Herb Walks
- 15 hrs
- Physiology for the Herbalist
- 58 hrs
- Survey of human physiology with emphasis on neuro-endocrine regulation, constitution, and diagnostic skills, a Darwinian/evolutionary approach that will excite all but the most retrograde vitalist.
- Two Weekend Field Trips
-
- Point Reyes National Seashore - 13 hrs
- Tahoe Lakes Basin Wildcrafting Trip - 14 hrs
- Advanced Medicine Making
- 18 hrs
- Professional level medicine making
- Field Botany
- 14 hrs
- Advanced Constitutional Therapy
- 40 hrs
- (Prerequisites: Physiology & Materia Medica)
- Visiting Herbalist Clinical Seminar
- Minimum 18 hrs
- (Prerequisite: current of past enrollment in Clinical Case Study)
- Clinical Case Study and Counseling Skills for the Herbalist
- 75 hrs
- (Prerequisites: Material Medica, Physiology, and consent of instructor)
- Recognizing Medical Emergencies & Understanding Common Pharmaceutical Drugs
- 16 hrs
- Student Clinic I
- 107 hrs
- Supervised group client work
- (Prerequisite: Clinical Case Study and consent of instructor)
- Epidemiology Microbiology Infectious Disease Basics for the Herbalist I
- 14 hrs
- Special Topics
- Minimum 20 hrs
- Supervised Student Project
- 1 per semester
Core Classes Total: 711 hours
Non-Core Classes
- Introduction to Herbs
- 16 hrs
- Playful introduction bringing edible, medicinal and cosmetic plants into your life.
- Creating Your Own Herbal Medicine Chest
- 10 hrs
- Basic home medicine making.
- Beginning Herbal Medicine
- 30 hrs
- Basic survey of herbal medicine by body system
- Special Topics:
- (hours variable)
-
- Aromatherapy
- Woman's Health
- Gardening
- Herbs and Massage
- Herbs for Pregnancy & Young Children
- Herbal Cosmetics
- Traditional Chinese Medicine