Whole Foods and Medicinal Plants

The Certificate of Achievement of Whole Foods & Medicinal Plants is unique and falls under the umbrella of health and wellness.  The certificate of achievement provides students with the foundation involving the multidisciplined and comprehensive approach to well-being recognizing the importance of whole food and its influence on health and the significance of medicinal plants that have been used for millenniums in various healing traditions and medical systems.  Addressing the inter-relationship between the quality of the food we eat, physiological benefits for eating whole foods compared to processed and ultra-processed foods reducing the incident of many chronic diseases, exploring plants that are used for healing through the rich diversity of traditional knowledge of various multicultural healing systems, the connection with nature and the environment, the significance of sustainability and conservation as well as the importance of diversity and cultural heritage through global historical and current political, environmental and/or socioeconomic impacts.  All are interrelated, respecting traditional ecological knowledge passed down through generations, emphasis on sustainability over exploitation, which goes hand-in-hand with addressing climate change. Our courses and certificate is life changing and impacts our students for a lifetime.

This certificate is designed to provide the ability for students to individualize their program that suits professional and academic goals through their electives in addition to their core courses.

It also prepares students to pursue a variety of career opportunities in health and wellness including entry-level health educator, nutritional consulting, plant-based nutrition consultant, integrative health/wellness nutrition and herbal educator, journalist, writer, among many others.  Individuals educated in in this field can work for wellness centers, wellness/integrative health spas and/or clinics, fitness centers, health and wellness retreats, business owner, as well as other service-related and/or consumer related professions.  This certificate also addresses adult learners already credentialed with an existing practice, licensure and/or certification to enhance skill sets increasing marketability, as well as maintaining licensure and certifications in various integrative and allied healthcare disciplines/professions, health and wellness disciplines and service-related professions.

We anticipate 6 to 8 students beginning the certificate program each semester.  After the first several semesters this should lead to a consistent 15 – 20 completers each academic year.

Our certificate of achievement in Whole Foods & Medicinal Plants is designed for those students preparing for a career in the emerging field of health and wellness to include a broad base of opportunities in health education, nutritional consulting, health and wellness advocate, sustainability advocate, health food sales, nutritional journalist, plant based retail with entry level positions, as well as attracts many adult learners and older adults that are already in the workforce enhancing their skill sets to increase marketability in addition to an existing practice, licensure and/or certification, maintaining licensure and certifications in various integrative and allied healthcare disciplines/professions, health and wellness disciplines and service-related professions.

The certificate program focuses on the development of a comprehensive approach to health rooted in the basic tenets to recognize the importance of whole food and its influence on health and the significance of medicinal plants that have been used for millenniums in various healing traditions and medical systems.  Provides students with the foundation involving the multidisciplined and comprehensive approach to well-being recognizing the importance of whole food and its influence on health and the significance of medicinal plants that have been used for millenniums in various healing traditions and medical systems.  Addressing the inter-relationship between the quality of the food we eat, physiological benefits for eating whole foods compared to processed and ultra-processed foods reducing the incident of many chronic diseases, exploring plants that are used for healing through the rich diversity of traditional knowledge of various multicultural healing systems, the connection with nature and the environment, the significance of sustainability and conservation as well as the importance of diversity and cultural heritage through global historical and current political, environmental and/or socioeconomic impacts.  All are interrelated, respecting traditional ecological knowledge passed down through generations, emphasis on sustainability over exploitation, which goes hand-in-hand with addressing climate change. Our courses and certificate is life changing and impacts our students for a lifetime.

The certificate is relevant for individuals pursuing an education in holistic health, allied health disciplines, nutrition, integrative health therapies, dietitians, life coaches, massage therapy, health-related fields, healthcare professionals, nutritionists, personal trainers, sports therapist, yoga and Pilates instructors, athletic trainers, kinesiologists, exercise physiologists, manual therapists, wellness professions, acupuncturists, Ayurveda practitioners, teachers, care givers, mental health care, community health workers, occupational health workers, among a wide variety of other healthcare and integrative/holistic health professionals or any individual with an interest in food, plant- based nutrition and medicinal plants implemented for optimal health.

Entry Level (Emerging field broad base of opportunities):  Wellness centers, resorts, Chiropractic offices, fitness centers, wellness clinics, integrative medicine clinics/practices, wellness spas, health and wellness business or practice, nutritional wellness associate/coordinator, retail wellness associate, herbal/dietary supplement manufacturer worker, health food store manager, among other service-related and/or consumer related professions.

This certificate is designed to provide the ability for students to individualize their program that suits professional and academic goals through their electives in addition to their core courses.

It also prepares students to pursue a variety of career opportunities in health and wellness including entry-level health educator, nutritional consulting, plant-based nutrition consultant, integrative health/wellness nutrition and herbal educator, journalist, writer, among many others.  Individuals educated in in this field can work for wellness centers, wellness/integrative health spas and/or clinics, fitness centers, health and wellness retreats, business owner, as well as other service-related and/or consumer related professions.  This certificate also addresses adult learners already credentialed with an existing practice, licensure and/or certification to enhance skill sets increasing marketability, as well as maintaining licensure and certifications in various integrative and allied healthcare disciplines/professions, health and wellness disciplines and service-related professions.

The program components focus on three areas: general wellness; whole foods; and medicinal plants and ethnobotany.  Electives allow students to focus on wellness coaching, integrative health modalities, herbs and nutrition.

The whole foods and medicinal plants certificate is one of several certificates within the Wellness Department.  The certificate is relevant for individuals pursuing an education in holistic health, allied health disciplines, nutrition and integrative health therapies.  In addition to its workforce education component, it also serves as an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to gain basic wellness education to benefit their personal health and well-being.

There are no other similar programs in the Bay Area Community College Consortium region.  And few if any similar programs statewide in the community college system.  There is currently a program that is about to be implemented at San Francisco Statue University that will provide a transfer pathway to a four-year degree or our Wellness Program students.