Integrated, Hybrid Curriculum Focuses on Real-World Experiences

Naturopathic medicine students immediately gain real-world experience in the classroom as well as in a clinical setting through Bastyr University’s integrated, hybrid curriculum.

In fall semester of their first year, students begin clinical training as observers at Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle or Bastyr University Clinic in San Diego, allowing them to bring patient stories and real clinical experiences back to the classroom.

Each year, the case study discussion classes build on prior years by continually bringing in concepts learned earlier. To help students think more like doctors instead of scientists from the start, disciplines such as anatomy and physiology are combined with case study classes and the clinical experience.

Throughout the curriculum, faculty coordinate their lessons to help students learn how the concepts connect and how the disciplines work together to support each body system (i.e. respiratory system, circulatory system, cardiovascular system). This hybrid curriculum encourages a more independent and interactive learning environment with preparatory online coursework, voice-over PowerPoint lectures, webinars and other multimedia, so the classroom discussions can be a case-based application of the course content.

Expected Learning Outcomes

A naturopathic medicine graduate of Bastyr University’s School of Naturopathic Medicine will:

• Demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge in both basic biomedical and clinical sciences.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply clinical skills in the care of patients to the standards of a primary care naturopathic physician as defined by the profession.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply the philosophy and principles of naturopathic medicine in the care of patients.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the highest levels of ethics and professionalism by behaving with honesty and integrity in all interactions with patients, their families, other health care professionals, and others they interact with in the course of their professional career.
• Demonstrate an ability to apply evidence-informed practice efficiently and effectively in patient-care settings.

The following curriculum tables list the tentative schedule of courses each quarter. Next to each course are the number of credits per course (Crdt.), the lecture hours each week (Lec.) the lab/clinic hours each week (L/C) and the total contact hours for the course over the entire quarter (Tot.).

Click here for the curriculum for students starting in Fall 2018. Please note that changes to the curriculum may still occur before the start of the Fall 2018 academic year. For the 2018-2019 course catalog, click here. 

5-Year Extended Track

Students have the option of completing the naturopathic medicine program in a five-year extended-track curriculum, although all students do their first term according to the four-year track schedule. Moving to the five-year track slightly lessens the number of course credits each quarter.  Students can extend the program by stretching out the first two years of their program to three years (referred to as 5XA).

• The first two years of the program averages 25.6 credits per term and includes more basic sciences than clinical sciences.
• This 5-year option allows students to spread this credit load over three years, dropping the average credit load to 21 in the first year, 15.5 in the second year and 16 in the third year.
• The basic science classes are concentrated in your first and second years, with modality classes in your third year.
• Starting the summer of your third year you return to the four-year credit load for your 4/5 (19.75) and 5/5 (13.25) years.
• Clinic Observation 1 is completed in Year 1 and Clinic Observation 2 is completed in Year 3.   You enter clinic as an NMS3 in your 4/5 year.
• You take your Basic Science boards during the summer between your 2/5 and 3/5 year.
• Usually about 20 percent of any class is on the 5-year track.

Students can also extend the program by stretching out the last two years of their program to three years (referred to as 5XB).  Generally, students opt for the 5XA extension during the first year of the program, and the 5XB extension late in the 2nd year of the program.  The extra room in either schedule allows for the addition of a second program.