About the Program

Lifestyle medicine is the evidence-based approach of using lifestyle interventions to prevent and treat many chronic diseases, improve outcomes and quality of life, tackle health disparities, and decrease healthcare costs.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is proud to offer the first Lifestyle Medicine Major and Minor at the bachelor’s level in the country. The major and minor can be completed fully online or through a combination of classroom and online courses.

The Bachelor of Science Major in Lifestyle Medicine provides students with competencies in lifestyle medicine, health navigation, and wellness coaching. Lifestyle medicine is the use of evidence-based lifestyle approaches, including healthful eating, physical activity, sleep, stress management, tobacco cessation, fostering relationships, emotional wellness, and environmental health. These approaches prevent and treat many chronic diseases, improve outcomes and quality of life, tackle health disparities, and decrease health costs. Throughout the major, themes of cultural competence, service, self-care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and whole-person health will be emphasized.

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How will the Lifestyle Medicine program impact you?

The major prepares students to incorporate the principles of evidence-based lifestyle medicine in health related careers, prepares students to obtain related certifications, and positions them as leaders in addressing national health concerns. This major is also applicable to students wishing to enter graduate health professional schools; however other prerequisites will likely be necessary for admission. A minor is required.

Lifestyle Medicine Major, B.S.

The Lifestyle Medicine Major requires the following courses and electives. In addition to the courses listed below, many courses will require prerequisite courses prior to registration.

Summary of Major Requirements

Required Core Courses: 45 Credits
Required Elective Courses: 3 Credits
Total for Major: 48 Credits

Course Information

Required Core Courses (45 Credits)

Required Elective Courses (3 Credits)

EXS 1020 – Resistance Training Techniques (Credits: 3)
EXS 1640 – Physical Fitness Techniques and Programs (Credits: 3)
HCM 3500 – Health Care Research Methods (Credits: 3)
PUB 3010 – Community Health Survey, Assessment and Health Improvement Planning (Credits: 3)
PUB 3020 – Introduction to Epidemiology in Public Health (Credits: 3)
PUB 3030 – Essentials of Environmental Health in Public Health Practices (Credits: 3)
HCM 3800 – Long-Term Care: Managing Across the Continuum (Credits: 3)
HON 3910 – Honors Colloquium (Credits: 3)
HON 4950 – Senior Honors Thesis (Credits: 3)
HON 4951 – Paired Senior Honors Thesis (Credits: 1)
HPS 1440 – Stress Management Techniques (Credits: 3)
HPS 3340 – Physiology of Exercise (Credits: 4)
HSP 3220 – Conflict Resolution and Decision Making (Credits: 3)
HSP 3470 – Counseling the Substance Abuser (Credits: 4)
HSP 3550 – Intimate Partner Violence (Credits: 3)
HSP 3560 – Motivational Interviewing (Credits: 2)
HSP 3575 – Motivational Interviewing for Health Professionals (Credits: 3)
HSP 4290 – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma Informed Care (Credits: 1)
ITP 2800 – Health, Society, and the Environment (Credits: 3)
ITP 2810 – Men Across Cultures (Credits: 3)
ITP 2820 – Anger In Men: A Whole Approach (Credits: 3)
ITP 3000 – Men’s Health (Credits: 3)
ITP 3100 – Health Education and Counseling (Credits: 3)
ITP 3200 – Ethics in Health Care (Credits: 3)
ITP 3700 – Physiology of Aging (Credits: 3)
ITP 4000 – Pediatric Holistic Health (Credits: 3)
ITP 4100 – Women’s Holistic Health (Credits: 3)
ITP 4600 – Clinical Pathophysiology (Credits: 4)
ITP 4999 – Applied Learning with Lifestyle Medicine (Credits: 3)
NUT 3040 – Nutrition Concepts and Controversies (Credits: 3)
NUT 3050 – Concepts of Lifecycle Nutrition (Credits: 3)
NUT 3200 – Nutrition and Sports Performance (Credits: 3)
NUT 3350 – Global Nutrition and Health (Credits: 3)
NUT 3400 – Nutrition and Weight Management (Credits: 3)
NUT 3500 – Food Safety (Credits: 3)
PSY 2120 – Brain and Behavior (Credits: 3)
PSY 2150 – Positive Psychology (Credits: 3)
PSY 2210 – Psychology of Human Development (Credits: 3)
PSY 3410 – Health Psychology (Credits: 3)
PSY 3440 – Cravings and Addictions (Credits: 3)
RECR 2330 – Advocacy, Leisure, and the Aging Adult (Credits: 3)
RECR 3330 – Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation Services (Credits: 3)
RECR 4630 – Recreation Programs for the Older Adult (Credits: 3)
RST 1550 – Food Fundamentals (Credits: 3)
RST 3875 – Food Preservation Techniques (Credits: 3)
SPS 4500 – Teaching Assistantship in the College of Professional Studies (Credits: 3)
SWK 1010 – Introduction to Social Work (Credits: 3)
SWK 1600 – Community Engagement and Civic Responsibility (Credits: 3)
SWK 3010 – Social Work Practice with Children and Youth (Credits: 3)
SWK 3030 – Social Work with Older People (Credits: 3)
SWK 3080 – Social Work with Families (Credits: 3)
SWK 3120 – Privilege, Oppression, and Power (Credits: 3)
SWK 3150 – Social Work and Child Maltreatment (Credits: 3)
SWK 3500 – Social Work Practice with LGBTQ People (Credits: 3)
UA 2735 – Urban Vegetable Farming (Credits: 3)
UA 3905 – Farm to Table Sustainability (Credits: 3)

Lifestyle Medicine Extended Major, B.S.

The Lifestyle Medicine Extended Major requires the following courses and electives. In addition to the courses listed below, many courses will require prerequisite courses prior to registration. A minor is not required.

Summary of Extended Major Requirements

Required Core Courses: 45 Credits
Required Elective Courses: 15 Credits
Total for Extended Major: 60 Credits

Course Information

Required Core Courses (45 Credits)

Required Elective Courses (15 Credits)

EXS 1020 – Resistance Training Techniques (Credits: 3)
EXS 1640 – Physical Fitness Techniques and Programs (Credits: 3)
HCM 3500 – Health Care Research Methods (Credits: 3)
PUB 3010 – Community Health Survey, Assessment and Health Improvement Planning (Credits: 3)
PUB 3020 – Introduction to Epidemiology in Public Health (Credits: 3)
PUB 3030 – Essentials of Environmental Health in Public Health Practices (Credits: 3)
HCM 3800 – Long-Term Care: Managing Across the Continuum (Credits: 3)
HON 3910 – Honors Colloquium (Credits: 3)
HON 4950 – Senior Honors Thesis (Credits: 3)
HON 4951 – Paired Senior Honors Thesis (Credits: 1)
HPS 1440 – Stress Management Techniques (Credits: 3)
HPS 3340 – Physiology of Exercise (Credits: 4)
HSP 3220 – Conflict Resolution and Decision Making (Credits: 3)
HSP 3470 – Counseling the Substance Abuser (Credits: 4)
HSP 3550 – Intimate Partner Violence (Credits: 3)
HSP 3560 – Motivational Interviewing (Credits: 2)
HSP 3575 – Motivational Interviewing for Health Professionals (Credits: 3)
HSP 4290 – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma Informed Care (Credits: 1)
ITP 2800 – Health, Society, and the Environment (Credits: 3)
ITP 2810 – Men Across Cultures (Credits: 3)
ITP 2820 – Anger In Men: A Whole Approach (Credits: 3)
ITP 3000 – Men’s Health (Credits: 3)
ITP 3100 – Health Education and Counseling (Credits: 3)
ITP 3200 – Ethics in Health Care (Credits: 3)
ITP 3700 – Physiology of Aging (Credits: 3)
ITP 4000 – Pediatric Holistic Health (Credits: 3)
ITP 4100 – Women’s Holistic Health (Credits: 3)
ITP 4600 – Clinical Pathophysiology (Credits: 4)
ITP 4999 – Applied Learning with Lifestyle Medicine (Credits: 3)
NUT 3040 – Nutrition Concepts and Controversies (Credits: 3)
NUT 3050 – Concepts of Lifecycle Nutrition (Credits: 3)
NUT 3200 – Nutrition and Sports Performance (Credits: 3)
NUT 3350 – Global Nutrition and Health (Credits: 3)
NUT 3400 – Nutrition and Weight Management (Credits: 3)
NUT 3500 – Food Safety (Credits: 3)
PSY 2120 – Brain and Behavior (Credits: 3)
PSY 2150 – Positive Psychology (Credits: 3)
PSY 2210 – Psychology of Human Development (Credits: 3)
PSY 3410 – Health Psychology (Credits: 3)
PSY 3440 – Cravings and Addictions (Credits: 3)
RECR 2330 – Advocacy, Leisure, and the Aging Adult (Credits: 3)
RECR 3330 – Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation Services (Credits: 3)
RECR 4630 – Recreation Programs for the Older Adult (Credits: 3)
RST 1550 – Food Fundamentals (Credits: 3)
RST 3875 – Food Preservation Techniques (Credits: 3)
SPS 4500 – Teaching Assistantship in the College of Professional Studies (Credits: 3)
SWK 1010 – Introduction to Social Work (Credits: 3)
SWK 1600 – Community Engagement and Civic Responsibility (Credits: 3)
SWK 3010 – Social Work Practice with Children and Youth (Credits: 3)
SWK 3030 – Social Work with Older People (Credits: 3)
SWK 3080 – Social Work with Families (Credits: 3)
SWK 3120 – Privilege, Oppression, and Power (Credits: 3)
SWK 3150 – Social Work and Child Maltreatment (Credits: 3)
SWK 3500 – Social Work Practice with LGBTQ People (Credits: 3)
UA 2735 – Urban Vegetable Farming (Credits: 3)
UA 3905 – Farm to Table Sustainability (Credits: 3)

Lifestyle Medicine Minor

The Lifestyle Medicine Minor requires the following courses and electives. In addition to the courses listed below, many courses will require prerequisite courses prior to registration.

Summary of Minor Requirements

Required Core Courses: 9 Credits
Required Elective Courses: 9 Credits
Total for Minor: 18 Credits

Course Information

Required Core Courses (9 Credits)

Required Elective Courses (9 Credits)

Choose at least 9 Credits from the following (at least 3 hours must be upper division). Note: for ITP 2950/HPS 2700 & ITP 4400/HPS 4700 credit will only be given for one prefix: ITP or HPS

COMM 2020 – Introduction to Health Communication (Credits: 3)
EXS 1020 – Resistance Training Techniques (Credits: 3)
EXS 1640 – Physical Fitness Techniques and Programs (Credits: 3)
HCM 3150 – Health Care Organization and Management (Credits: 3)
HCM 3500 – Health Care Research Methods (Credits: 3)
PUB 3010 – Community Health Survey, Assessment and Health Improvement Planning (Credits: 3)
PUB 3020 – Introduction to Epidemiology in Public Health (Credits: 3)
PUB 3030 – Essentials of Environmental Health in Public Health Practices (Credits: 3)
HCM 3700 – Health Disparities in the U.S. (Credits: 3)
HCM 3800 – Long-Term Care: Managing Across the Continuum (Credits: 3)
HCPS 3000 – Introduction to Patient Navigation (Credits: 3)
HON 3910 – Honors Colloquium (Credits: 3)
HON 4950 – Senior Honors Thesis (Credits: 3)
HON 4951 – Paired Senior Honors Thesis (Credits: 1)
HPL 1870 – Stress Management (Credits: 2)
HPS 1030 – Fitness and Well-being: Variable Topics (Credits: 1)
HPS 1440 – Stress Management Techniques (Credits: 3)
HPS 2700 – Wellness Coaching I (Credits: 3)
HPS 3340 – Physiology of Exercise (Credits: 4)
HPS 4700 – Wellness Coaching II (Credits: 3)
HSP 3220 – Conflict Resolution and Decision Making (Credits: 3)
HSP 3470 – Counseling the Substance Abuser (Credits: 4)
HSP 3550 – Intimate Partner Violence (Credits: 3)
HSP 3575 – Motivational Interviewing for Health Professionals (Credits: 3)
HSP 4290 – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma Informed Care (Credits: 1)
ITP 1000 – Health Career Foundations (Credits: 3)
ITP 1500 – Dynamics of Health (Credits: 3)
ITP 2700 – Holistic Health (Credits: 3)
ITP 2800 – Health, Society, and the Environment (Credits: 3)
ITP 2810 – Men Across Cultures (Credits: 3)
ITP 2820 – Anger In Men: A Whole Approach (Credits: 3)
ITP 2950 – Wellness Coaching I (Credits: 3)
ITP 3000 – Men’s Health (Credits: 3)
ITP 3100 – Health Education and Counseling (Credits: 3)
ITP 3200 – Ethics in Health Care (Credits: 3)
ITP 3450 – Dynamics of Disease (Credits: 3)
ITP 3700 – Physiology of Aging (Credits: 3)
ITP 3800 – Stress and Sleep: Impact on Health and Disease (Credits: 3)
ITP 4000 – Pediatric Holistic Health (Credits: 3)
ITP 4100 – Women’s Holistic Health (Credits: 3)
ITP 4400 – Wellness Coaching II (Credits: 3)
ITP 4550 – Advanced Health Navigation and Assessment (Credits: 3)
ITP 4950 – Community Coaching for Health (Credits: 3)
ITP 4999 – Applied Learning with Lifestyle Medicine (Credits: 3)
NUT 2040 – Introduction to Nutrition (Credits: 3)
NUT 3040 – Nutrition Concepts and Controversies (Credits: 3)
NUT 3050 – Concepts of Lifecycle Nutrition (Credits: 3)
NUT 3200 – Nutrition and Sports Performance (Credits: 3)
NUT 3400 – Nutrition and Weight Management (Credits: 3)
PSY 2120 – Brain and Behavior (Credits: 3)
PSY 2150 – Positive Psychology (Credits: 3)
PSY 3410 – Health Psychology (Credits: 3)
PSY 3440 – Cravings and Addictions (Credits: 3)
RECR 2330 – Advocacy, Leisure, and the Aging Adult (Credits: 3)
RECR 3330 – Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation Services (Credits: 3)
RECR 4630 – Recreation Programs for the Older Adult (Credits: 3)
RST 1550 – Food Fundamentals (Credits: 3)
RST 3530 – Healthy International Cooking (Credits: 3)
RST 3875 – Food Preservation Techniques (Credits: 3)
SPS 4500 – Teaching Assistantship in the College of Professional Studies (Credits: 3)
SWK 1010 – Introduction to Social Work (Credits: 3)
SWK 1600 – Community Engagement and Civic Responsibility (Credits: 3)
SWK 3010 – Social Work Practice with Children and Youth (Credits: 3)
SWK 3030 – Social Work with Older People (Credits: 3)
SWK 3080 – Social Work with Families (Credits: 3)
SWK 3120 – Privilege, Oppression, and Power (Credits: 3)
SWK 3150 – Social Work and Child Maltreatment (Credits: 3)
SWK 3500 – Social Work Practice with LGBTQ People (Credits: 3)
UA 2735 – Urban Vegetable Farming (Credits: 3)
UA 3905 – Farm to Table Sustainability (Credits: 3)

Accreditation

Academic Accreditation is an assurance of the quality of an academic program. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an independent corporation that was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. HLC accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region, including Colorado and 18 other states. The mission of the HLC is to serve the common good by assuring and advancing the quality of higher learning. For more information, please visit the Higher Learning Commission.

Wellness Coaching and Lifestyle Medicine Pathway

The Wellness Coaching and Lifestyle Medicine Pathway at Metropolitan State University of Denver is an Approved Health and Wellness Coach Training & Education Program by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) and prepares students for the NBHWC certifying examination.

The pathway consists of the following courses:

ITP 2950/HPS 2700 Wellness Coaching I
ITP 4400/HPS 4700 Wellness Coaching II
ITP 3850 Lifestyle Medicine

In addition to completing this pathway, students must also fulfill additional NBHWC requirements such as a submitting a coaching log and required documentation to the NBHWC to be able to take the examination.

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"Being a part of Health Professions department is one of the best decisions I have made for myself within the last five years. I was blessed to experience and relish in growth within myself, grace and acceptance from my peers, and consistent assurance of my greatness and capabilities from the departments staff. The wealth of information, self-confidence and long-term social capital I have gained from this experience will forever be unmatched and I am eternally grateful."

Carolyn Taylor-Harris

"When I considered returning to school two years ago it was critically important to me that I do so only if there was a program that really connected with my interests and values. Then I discovered the Lifestyle Medicine program at MSU Denver, and I knew I had found a match. Since enrolling, I have experienced nothing but complete and total support from the amazing faculty, and an explosion of growth in my knowledge of health and wellness. Enrolling in the Lifestyle Medicine program has been life-changing for me, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the field of evidence-based wellness."

Jonathan Aluzas

"I think that the added value of this program is how it takes into account healing the whole person instead of just treating the symptoms. It goes into the mind-body healing aspect of holistic health which is very important in the healing process, and something that I don't think I can find in another program."

Kenny Kusnadi

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303-615-1200
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The Department of Health Professions is located:
Auraria Campus, West Classroom #239

Mailing Address

Department of Health Professions
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Campus Box 33, PO Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362

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Lifestyle Medicine

About the Program

How will the Lifestyle Medicine program impact you?