Bastyr University: Programs, Holistic Education, and Considerations
Bastyr University is a private alternative medicine university with campuses in Kenmore, Washington, and San Diego, California. It offers a range of academic programs with a focus on natural health arts and sciences. This article delves into the programs offered at Bastyr University, its educational approach, and some important considerations for prospective students.
Holistic Education at Bastyr University
The mission of Bastyr University's bachelor’s degree completion programs is to help each student build a strong foundation of basic knowledge and skills, as well as foster a greater understanding of health of body, mind, and spirit. The degree completion programs uniquely emphasize the importance of holism and the natural health arts and sciences. These programs provide students with opportunities to develop a deeper understanding of the interconnections between body, mind, and spirit, and learn to foster wellness in themselves and others through approaches found in the natural health arts and sciences.
Bastyr University bachelor’s degree completion programs provide students with opportunities to develop competency in basic skills, such as written and verbal communication, critical thinking, and the ability to work cooperatively with others. The degree completion programs also provide students with opportunities to develop competency in the fundamental theories, models, core knowledge, and skills of their major field of study.
Undergraduate Programs and Policies
The undergraduate experience at Bastyr encompasses a range of academic programs, which are coordinated by the Undergraduate Committee. As Bastyr University continues to develop undergraduate degree offerings, it strives to maintain consistency across all programs in terms of admissions requirements, shared courses, double majors, and undergraduate student support. Admissions requirements, the structure of interdisciplinary courses, double majors, and general policy issues affecting undergraduates are all considered by this committee.
The undergraduate curricula are designed for full-time participants. Students may complete a program on a part-time basis but should recognize that there may be scheduling conflicts between required courses. It is the responsibility of a student who wishes to complete a program on a part-time basis to work with an advisor to arrange an appropriate schedule.
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Double Major Options
Bastyr University will allow students to complete two majors, provided students are in good standing at the time they wish to declare their second major. The second major cannot be declared until the second quarter of attendance. However, students may start attending courses required for the second major in their first quarter of attendance. Students must submit a declaration of double major form to the registrar’s office at the time the major is declared. Students are required to have their program of study approved by the appropriate chair(s) and/or dean(s) at the time the double major is declared.
There are no predetermined schedules for the double majors. It is the student’s responsibility to create appropriate schedules for double major combinations. Students must meet quarterly with the undergraduate advisor in the registrar’s office for assistance in tracking the progress of the two majors. Students are advised that declaring a double major will increase the amount of time it takes to graduate. The minimum amount of time to complete any double major is three years.
If the required courses for any quarter exceed the limit on student credit loads as outlined in the Credit Load Limits Policy the student must obtain permission from the academic chairs of both majors. Students earning a double major must usually complete no fewer than 220 credits. The credit requirement total for double majors is determined by the total of the prerequisite basic proficiency, science, and general education credits, the major core credits in both programs, and any elective credit requirement with defined parameters for one or both majors (for example, 2 activity credits required for exercise science, and wellness majors). Where duplication exists between the two majors, the student is not required to make up the credits represented by the duplication.
Campus Environment and Facilities
Bastyr's main campus sits on 51 acres (20.5 ha) of forests and athletic fields near Lake Washington. The Saint Edward State Park forest surrounds it on three sides. The campus includes a renovated chapel, originally built in the 1950s for the St. Edward Seminary, which is now rented for musical performances, weddings, and other events. The chapel is known for its acoustical quality and architectural details, which include stained-glass windows, mosaics, and a box-beam ceiling. Bastyr's Student Village consists of 11 buildings, each housing a dozen students.
Naturopathic Medicine and Considerations
Bastyr University has received approval from the state of Washington as a recognized midwifery training facility and provides education for midwifery students in the articulated Bachelor/Master of Science in Midwifery degree.
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In 2024, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported that students who pursued doctorates of naturopathic medicine typically took on high levels of debt. For Bastyr, the median loan was $300,530 and the median earnings were $43,703, resulting in a debt to earnings ratio of 688%.
Historical Context
In 1996, Bastyr relocated to its current location in the Saint Thomas Center, formerly St.
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