Course Descriptions
Course Descriptions
HOL 1000 Choices in Living (Prerequisite for the minor), three credit hours
The course will focus on the relationship between individual choices, social responsibilities and optimal human functioning. Students will be educated in current theories and techniques of values clarification, motivation, and behavior change. Health and social issues relevant to young adults and throughout the life cycle will be examined. This course is designed for undergraduate students in all majors and is especially valuable for students interested in health and human services professions. This course satisfies General Education Area VIII: Health and Well-Being.
HOL 2000 Choices in Global Living, three credit hours
This course considers the concept of "health" at both the individual and global level by exploring the connection between an individual's lifestyle choices and their impact on the larger world of work and service. The theory of holism, along with related theories (multiculturalism, sustainability, and ecological systems) are considered across a variety of disciplines in order to examine current initiatives that are occurring in order to improve the human condition.
HOL 2701 The Resilient Mind, three credit hours
The Resilient Mind curriculum will provide you with the skills, knowledge, and techniques necessary to apply what you learn about resiliency to your daily life and to make choices to increase your health and well-being. This course emphasizes a whole-person approach but places particular emphasis on mental and emotional approaches to building resiliency. Students will be introduced, through direct experience, to the practical application of centering, and focusing your mind and body within everyday life. This class provides an environment to practice resiliency skills and refine the ability to act with self-awareness in utilizing psychological strengths. Direct application of these skills in daily life will give students a glimpse of the value of resilience in their lives and future careers. This course satisfies WMU Essential Studies Level 2: Exploration and Discovery-Personal Wellness Category and Foundational Knowledge of the Social Sciences, Humanities, or the Arts.
HOL 2801 Health and Well Being HC - restricted to Lee Honors College students only, three credit hours
This course is designed to promote greater awareness, understanding and ownership of the multiple dimensions of health and well-being. This course provides students with a holistic approach to understanding self and community through a health focus. Through dialog, experiential activities, service-learning and reflection, students explore theory and practice in the following areas: culture, research, and self-care; and well-being encompassing mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, environmental, social, and vocational health. As a Service Learning course it requires a minimum of 15 hours of service with a course-relevant community partner, which will count toward the Lee Honors College service requirement. This course satisfies General Education Area VIII: Health and Well-Being.
HOL 3000 Exploring Practices in Integrative Health Care, three credit hours
This course is a general survey of holistic health practices and issues, with a focus on the variety of alternative and complementary modalities that are present in integrative health care settings. Students will complete an assessment of the values and attitudes which underpin their current health practices, as well as examining the values and issues that shape our current health care models. They will explore and critically evaluate a variety of holistic health services and their application. The format for the course will be a combination of lectures, experiential activities, and student presentations.
HOL 3300 Holism and Nature, three credit hours
This course is designed to increase awareness of the environment and its link to our own health - physical, mental and spiritual. We will examine the connections between individual lifestyle choices and the effects those choices have on the earth. The intentions of the course are to assist participants in the exploration of human interactions with nature on global, historical, and individual levels. The format for the course will be a combination of experiential activities including visiting and working at a nature preserve, being outdoors (potentially in various kinds of weather), video presentations, meditation, readings, and discussions.
HOL 3301 Introduction to Meditation, one credit hour
This class will introduce students to the practice of meditation and the benefits that can be realized from a regular meditation practice on their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. They will also learn how they can benefit academically from realizing the acquisition of a calm and open mind. Although some of its tenets are grounded in Eastern philosophies, this meditation class is taught with a secular perspective. The main format of the class is experiential and reflective.
HOL 3303 Introduction to Tai Chi, one credit hour
This course will provide students with an understanding of the body and mind health benefits of Tai Chi through learning about and practicing a sequence of movements and other fundamental exercises.
HOL 3305 Introduction to Mindfulness Skills, three credit hours
This course will focus on the theoretical and experiential foundations of mindfulness. This class utilizes assigned independent readings, guided audio mindfulness practices, media didactics and reflective learning. The focus of HOL 3305 is on developing an understanding of mindfulness from a body, mind, community, and heart perspective. Along with our expectations that students will comprehend the information presented in class and readings, students are also expected to learn about mindfulness by directly engaging in an exploration of mindfulness practices (formal and informal).
HOL 3350 Introduction to Stress Management, three credit hours
Students will be introduced to theories regarding stress acquisition and management coming from the disciplines of physiology, sociology, psychology, and spirituality. They will explore their own views of and experiences with stress as well as the techniques that have been used to manage it. They will learn what contributes to the development and maintenance of stress and what gets in the way of being able to prevent or reduce it. Finally, they will learn about and practice various stress prevention and reduction methods and be able to apply these to the stress in their own lives.
HOL 3500 Holistic Approaches to Food, three credit hours
This course is designed to provide a holistic overview of the role of food as it relates to our body, mind and spirit within this culture; how food choices influence health and well-being; and how choices we make about securing food impacts our values and our connection to the greater whole.
HOL 3900 Special Topics in Holistic Health, one to four credit hours
This is a variable topics, variable credit undergraduate level course for the examination of integrative and holistic health care issues. Special topics and number of credit hours will be announced each time the course is scheduled. May be repeated for credit for each topic that is offered.
HOL 3910 Introduction to Spirituality, three credit hours
This course is designed to provide introductory information on spirituality and provides students with a holistic approach to understanding self and community through a spiritual focus. This course is designed about the following themes: spiritual self-care, spiritual research and health, and spiritual diversity. Students will engage in a variety of activities that will foster critical thinking skills and personal exploration. Students will be exposed to spiritual development models, spirituality and health research, and contemplative practices. Students will be assessed on their oral and written communication skills, as well as through their participation in experiential exercises. The course format includes lectures, small-group discussions, experiential exercises, and a final research project.
HOL 3960 Learning, Work, and Lifestyles: Holistic Perspectives, three credit hours
This course is designed as an academic and experiential exploration of "whole person" approaches to learning, work and lifestyle choices. Using the lens of holism, it explores individual learning styles, meaningful work theories and practices, as well as personal, communal and global lifestyle options. Students will have an opportunity to deepen their understanding of how they make decisions regarding these dimensions of life, the physical, mental and spiritual interconnection of these decisions and how this has an impact on their health/healing. The format of this course will combine experiential activities, journaling, small group discussions, guest speaker presentations, and video-audio presentations.
HOL 4700 Relationship-Centered Skills, three credit hours
This course provides students with a holistic approach to interpersonal process and communication in order to prepare them to function effectively in health care and relationship-centered settings. Students are exposed to theory and practice in the following areas: key principles of effective communication, holistic approaches to interpersonal process, and relationship-centered approaches to providing health and human services. This course is intended for students pursuing either the minor in holistic health or one of the majors in health and human services. Juniors and seniors or permission of instructor.
HOL 4850 Capstone in Holistic Health, three credit hours
This class is meant to be the capstone class for the minor in Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness. It is meant to be taken by seniors before or concurrent with their senior internship or project. It provides an in-depth exploration of key issues and ethical considerations that arise when considering health at the individual, interpersonal, community and global level. The course provides students with critical thinking and decision-making skills in order to effectively assess scientific information in the field of holistic health. It culminates with students beginning to explore their own research interests in areas relevant to their professional work. Prerequisites: HOL 2000, (HOL 1000 or HOL 2801) and senior standing.
HOL 4970 Independent Study in Holistic Health, one to four credit hours
This course will be arranged on an individual basis to provide students the opportunity to pursue independently the study of a special area in holistic healthcare. Students should be in the IHHW minor and should already have taken at least three holistic courses. This independent study opportunity is meant to help the student delve deeper into a topic area to which they have been previously introduced or to explore a holistic topic that is not currently covered by a holistic elective. A set research question and means of assessing the study shall be approved along with the number of credits that can be earned before registration can occur. Exceptions to these criteria must be approved by the Program Coordinator. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.
HOL 5072 Mindfulness Theory and Skills, three credit hours
This course will focus on the theoretical and experiential foundations of mindfulness. Research on the benefits of mindfulness for physical and mental health issues will be explored as well as the literature supporting the use of mindfulness in personal and professional relationships. Both formal mindfulness practices as well as informal strategies for everyday mindfulness will be offered and practiced in the class and individually. This class utilizes experiential activities, guided readings and reflective learning as well as focused scholarly study. Open to graduate students only.
HOL 5300 Special Topics in Holistic Health, one to four credit hours
Variable topic, variable credit course for consideration of current and special interests in holistic health. Specific topics, number of credit hours and prerequisites, if any, will be announced each time the course is scheduled. May be repeated for credit with different topics. Special topics are offered each semester.
HOL 5300 Special Topics - Chi Gong, one credit hour
In this special topics class, you will learn Ancient Five Element Qigong (Chi Gong) routines that have been a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. These routines are designed to build and strengthen your internal health creating harmony within yourself and with your environment. Qigong exercise has improved the functioning of the immune system, circulation and central nervous system, releasing stress and relaxing millions of people all over the world.
HOL 5301 Meditation to Enhance Living, one credit hour
The purpose of Meditation to Enhance Living is to introduce the student, through direct experience, to the practical application of meditation in daily life. We will discuss and experience various forms of meditation from different cultural and religious perspectives, yet the basic meditation practice is secular in nature. The latest scientific research on meditation will be reviewed, research that clearly supports the efficacy of meditation in reducing stress and in producing a sense of inner calm or peace. Participants who apply this practice to their daily lives will achieve a significant reduction in stress as well as an increase in their performance and perceived ease of performance. Open to upperclass and graduate students.
HOL 5303 Tai Chi to Enhance Living, one credit hour
This course will provide students with an understanding of the body and mind health benefits of Tai Chi through learning and practicing a short set and other fundamental exercises. The benefits of practicing Tai Chi for health and well-being will be explored through a selected review of the research on the topic. This course will also prepare students to apply for certification to lead others in Tai Chi practice through the Arthritis Foundation (AF). This will be accomplished by providing students with both the didactic and the practice elements to meet AF requirements. Open to upperclass and graduate students.
HOL 5304 Yoga to Enhance Living, one credit hour
This class is intended to introduce students to the history, philosophy, science, spirituality and health benefits that yoga has to offer. The class will combine lectures with the practice of yoga techniques including: asana (holding of postures), pranayama (breathwork), and meditation. Open to upperclass and graduate students.
HOL 5310 Introduction to Holistic Health, three credit hours
The primary purpose of HOL 5310 is to provide an introduction to the theories, research, and concepts related to holistic health and contemplative well-being. This course offers a comprehensive overview for students wishing to become familiar with holism; it also serves as an introductory class for students wishing to complete a graduate certificate program in Holistic Health.
HOL 5321 Holistic Health Coaching, three credit hours
This course introduces students to the foundational concepts of psychological coaching, including the history and theoretical roots, related professional organizations, and ethical codes regulating the coaching profession. The instructor, a professionally certified coach and trainer, will provide an overview of coaching techniques and models of coaching, as well as the role of coaching in promoting holistic health. Clear distinctions will be drawn between psychological coaching and psychotherapy, as well as other helping models. This course will also include an overview of the dimensions of wellness and how coaching techniques can promote lasting change to better support well-being. Suggestions and encouragement for integrating coaching skills into related professional roles will also be emphasized. Open to upperclass and graduate students.
HOL 5340 Holistic Health and Spirituality, three credit hours
This course helps students better understand the spiritual dimensions of each individual and the relationship of spirituality to the meaning of health. Various spiritual traditions, philosophies and practices will be explored with the primary emphasis on the implications of these teachings for everyday living. The course will address the role of spirituality in the therapeutic process for health care professionals and resources available for practitioners and educators. The format for the course will include lecture, discussion, experiential activities and audio/video presentations. Open to graduate students and undergraduates who have completed 57 credits and above.
HOL 5350 Holistic Approaches to Stress, three credit hours
Students will be exposed to the current research and theories regarding stress acquisition and management. Historical precepts and information drawn from current scholarly sources will be presented to provide a thorough understanding of the physiological, neurological, psychological, and sociological causes for and impact of stress, as well as the spiritual considerations in stress acquisition and management. Students will be taught a variety of stress prevention and reduction methods and how to apply these to their own lives and the lives of those with whom they may work. Open to upperclass and graduate students.
HOL 5360 Wellness Skills for Health Professionals, three credit hours
This course introduces wellness information and strategies for use by students and professionals working in the health and human services fields. The course is designed to teach the theories and techniques used to address wellness issues related to emotional, relational, cognitive, physical, and spiritual concerns. This course is designed to help students and health care professionals explore these wellness issues in their own lives to insure they are able to provide effective services to their clients/patients/consumers and to assist in preventing compassion fatigue. It is also designed to provide them with a guide to implementing these same wellness practices with those with whom they are working. Students will be exposed to current research in the areas of wellness and neurological functioning as it relates to wellness. Finally, students will explore diversity issues and ethical practices as they relate to wellness strategies. Open to graduate students and undergraduates who have completed 57 credits and above.
HOL 5380 Eastern Thought and Practice, three credit hours
Eastern thought and practice has formed our current understanding of the mind/body/spirit connection. For thousands of years the spiritual and/or philosophical practices of the Eastern psychological traditions taught practitioners how to cultivate the qualities of self-awareness, focus, kindness, contentment, mindfulness, and compassion. Modern day science has confirmed that these qualities have a direct and positive impact on health. Through comparative analysis of various philosophical and religious traditions (primarily Tibetan and Zen Buddhism) and experiences, students will explore these practices and consider how they inform their daily life, their understanding of themselves, their communities and the wider world and how they have influenced and continue to influence current scientific research on the mind/body/spirit connection. The meditative/mindfulness practices will help students move along the path to their own sense of inner peace, calmness, clarity and liberation. Open to upperclass and graduate students.
HOL 5500 Introduction to Holism and Expressive Arts, three credit hours
This course is a survey of expressive arts therapies used to facilitate the healing process and will deepen the student's understanding of the role of creative expression in health and healing. The use of arts therapies to promote health, reduce stress, and complement the traditional treatment of physical and mental illness will be discussed. Topics covered will be visual arts, sound/music, movement/dance, writing/poetry, and drama/psychodrama. The format for the course will be a combination of experiential creative activities, guest lectures, and video and audio presentations. No artistic experience or background required. Open to upperclass and graduate students.
HOL 5510 Holistic Approaches to Healing through Visual Art, three credit hours
This course introduces a holistic approach to the use of visual art in healing; how to choose and present appropriate art experiences; spontaneous and directed theme art activities, resources, and materials; guides for interpreting art; and ethics. A variety of activities such as drawing, painting, clay, sand tray, collage, mandalas, and masks will be explored. The format for the course is a combination of experiential activities, lectures, video, and slide presentations. The course is designed to give students and professionals in the counseling, social work, psychology, health care, occupational therapy, art, and other fields some practical tools and considerations for using art for health and healing with others or for personal growth. No artistic experience or background required. Open to upperclass and graduate students.
HOL 5520 Healing through Movement, three credit hours
This course is a survey of the use of movement for health and healing. Several movement and dance specialty areas are covered in order to explore personal growth, creativity, balance, stress reduction, spirituality, and cultural perspectives on healing of self and others. Body awareness, breathing, and communication will be emphasized throughout the exploration of movement modalities, such as Authentic Movement, Contact Improvisation, Creative Movement, Feldenkrais, Interplay, Labyrinth Walking, Progoff Journal Writing, Tai Chi Chuan, Dances of Universal Peace, and Movement Therapy. No movement or dance experience required. Open to upperclass and graduate students.
HOL 5530 Holistic Strategies for Illness and End of Life, three credit hours
This course will examine holistic strategies and techniques designed to help people cope with illness along the continuum from diagnosis through the end-of-life. Topics will include: complementary methods that assist with treatment, surgery, medical procedures, pain management, guided imagery; psychosocial/spiritual considerations; being/supporting the caregiver; and death and dying. Students will pursue their individual interests in a project which will include assessment, research and recommendations of holistic modalities for a person dealing with a particular illness. This course is appropriate for professionals/students in healthcare and related fields and for individuals who are looking for assistance with their own illness or caring for a loved one. Open to upperclass and graduate students.
HOL 5550 Successful Aging-Holistic Perspectives, three credit hours
This course will focus on holistic factors of aging and lifestyle choices that enable people to preserve and even enhance wellness and vitality in later life. Current images and myths of aging will be explored and research studies that outline holistic ways to delay, prevent, or positively treat common chronic diseases will be presented along with programs and policies that enable older people to practice positive aging strategies. This course will highlight the qualities of older people who remain physically active, intellectually engaged, emotionally involved, spiritually connected, and vital throughout their years. Open to upperclass and graduate students.
HOL 5560 Understanding Grief and Loss, three credit hours
This course examines basic principles of grief and loss in their many manifestations and myths including mourning practices and common reactions by the grieving person and those around him/her. Many types of loss will be considered including death, relationship break-up, abandonment, job loss, physical changes, grief and loss related to substance abuse, and other ambiguous and disenfranchised losses. Grief support techniques will be explored as well as issues related to self-awareness, self-care and boundaries in supporting those who grieve. The issues are explored through the lens of holistic health as they relate to physical, emotional, intellectual, relational, and spiritual areas. Open to upperclass and graduate students.
HOL 5602 Meditation Theory and Practice, three credit hours
This course will focus on the theoretical and experiential foundations of meditation traditions, which consist of traditional experiential practices and associated philosophies. A variety of meditation practices will be introduced and practiced. Research and theory on the benefits of meditation for physical and mental health issues will be explored, as well as the literature supporting the benefits of meditation in personal and professional contexts. Both formal meditation practices, as well as informal application of the underlying philosophies, will be explored and applied. This class utilizes experiential physical activities, guided readings and reflective learning as well as focused, scholarly study of this contemplative practice and tradition.
HOL 5603 Tai Chi and Qigong Theory and Practice, three credit hours
This course will focus on the theoretical and experiential foundations of Tai Chi and Qigong, which are physical movements practiced as part of traditional Asian medicine. Research and theory on the benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong for physical and mental health issues will be explored, as well as the literature supporting the benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong in personal and professional contexts. Both formal Tai Chi and Qigong practices, alongside the informal application of the underlying philosophy, will be explored and applied. This course will also prepare students to apply for certification to lead others in Tai Chi practice through the Arthritic Foundation. This class utilizes experiential physical activities, guided readings and reflective learning in addition to focused, scholarly study of this contemplative practice and tradition.
HOL 5604 Yoga Theory and Practice, three credit hours
This course will focus on the theoretical and experiential foundations of the yogic tradition, which consists of physical movements, breathing practices, and philosophies practiced as part of the traditional medicine of India. Research and theory on the benefits of yoga for physical and mental health issues will be explored, as well as the literature supporting the benefits of yoga in personal and professional contexts. Both formal yoga practices, as well as the informal application of the underlying philosophy, will be explored and applied. This class utilizes experiential physical activities, guided readings, and reflective learning as well as focused, scholarly study of this contemplative practice and tradition.
HOL 5650 Health and Wellness Coaching Skills, three credit hours
Prerequisite: HOL 5321 This coaching skills course builds upon HOL 5321, which introduces the foundational concepts of health and wellness coaching. Clear distinctions will be drawn between health and wellness coaching and psychotherapy, as well as other helping models. Related professional organizations and ethical codes regulating the coaching profession will be reviewed, along with the preparatory information for pursuing the national board certification for health and wellness coaching. Guidance and encouragement for integrating coaching skills into related professional roles will also be provided. This course is highly experiential and will emphasize the professional development of specific coaching skills and approaches to health and wellness behavioral change.
HOL 5750 Resiliency Theory and Skills, three credit hours
This course experience, designed for advanced undergraduates and graduate students, will provide you with the knowledge and practical techniques necessary to develop greater resiliency and build your skills of well-being. This course emphasizes a whole person approach, while placing particular emphasis on mental and emotional approaches to building resiliency. Our class provides a supportive environment to learn and practice resiliency skills, and to refine your ability to act with self-awareness in utilizing psychological strengths. Over time, deliberate application of these practices in daily life will provide a glimpse into the value of these skills in your personal life, and in your future career. Resiliency is comprised of skill-sets that can be learned and strengthened; this course invites and shows you how to build these skills of well-being.
HOL 5850 Applied Mindfulness Skills, three credit hours
Prerequisites: HOL 3305 or HOL 6305 This advanced mindfulness course will focus on the application and experiential strengthening of our mindfulness skills. This course will refresh and deepen your existing mindfulness skills and renew your formal practice commitment. Literature exploring the benefits of mindfulness for physical and mental health issues will be reviewed and expanded as we consider the systemic application of mindfulness in settings such as schools, medical facilities and other professional contexts. We will also “stretch” and grow our informal mindfulness skills in areas such as improving personal communication, challenging relationships, and how we experience difficult emotional states. Living with chronic illness and pain, along with trauma sensitive approaches will also be explored from a mindfulness-based perspective. Both formal mindfulness practices as well as informal strategies for everyday mindfulness will be offered and practiced in the class and encouraged individually. This class utilizes experiential activities, guided readings and reflective learning as well as focused scholarly study in the context of a supportive classroom community.
HOL 5980 Readings in Holistic Health, one to four credit hours
This course provides individualized, independent study and readings under guidance of a faculty member. Initiative for planning topic for investigation and seeking the appropriate faculty member comes from the student, with consultation from the advisor. Open to Upperclass and Graduate students. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.