NUNM’s Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Program
If you’ve ever considered pursuing a career in naturopathic medicine, you’ve probably wondered what it might be like to achieve a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree.
How do you get accepted into naturopathic medical school?
How long does it take to earn your doctorate in naturopathic medicine?
What is the curriculum for an ND program?
We wanted to remove some of the mystery and give you a glimpse of what ND students experience at NUNM as they’re earning their Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degrees.
Here’s an overview of how you begin your journey into naturopathic medicine.
What Is Naturopathic Medicine? Principles, Modalities, Licensing
Simply put, Naturopathic Medicine is an approach to health that considers the whole person when optimizing wellness and treating illness.
Instead of focusing solely on symptoms, Naturopathic Medicine takes into account additional mental, emotional, environmental, and nutritional factors in the treatment and prevention of both short term and chronic illness and disease.
Naturopathic Medicine is centered on The Six Principles of Healing, which are objective observations of the nature of health and disease:
- The healing power of nature
- Identify and treat the cause
- First do no harm
- Treat the whole person
- The physician as teacher
- Prevention
Learn more about the naturopathic principles of healing.
Another critical component in becoming a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine is understanding the Modalities of Naturopathic Medicine.
The Modalities of Naturopathic Medicine are the core natural therapies that all naturopathic doctors (NDs) are trained to use.
The naturopathic modalities taught at NUNM include:
- Botanical Medicine
- Clinical Nutrition
- Homeopathic Medicine
- Hydrotherapy
- Mind-Body Medicine
- Minor Surgery
- Nature Cure
- Naturopathic Natural Childbirth/Midwifery (elective courses)
- Pharmaceutical Medicine
- Physical Medicine
- Intravenous/IV Nutrient (Parenteral) Therapy
Learn more about naturopathic modalities
Licensing and scope of practice in becoming a licensed Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine differs from state to state.
These nuances may affect where and what you want to study in becoming an ND, as well as what you’ll ultimately be able to practice upon receiving your degree.
In the state of Oregon, we have the broadest scope of practice in North America. This means that NDs in Oregon can provide many primary care services, diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions, administer, dispense, and write prescriptions for pharmaceutical drugs, refer to and consult with health professionals, and utilize a variety of therapeutic modalities.
Learn more about Scope of Practice and Licensure
Study Naturopathic Medicine at NUNM: How to Apply
The ideal NUNM student is one who is passionate about healing their communities through the practice of naturopathic medicine. The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program is supportive, but rigorous.
The goal is to find students who can flourish in a demanding academic environment and emerge as future leaders of naturopathy.
Our Admissions Committee is looking for candidates with strong academic records. We want students who are critical thinkers, great communicators, and are driven by a sense of purpose as it relates to naturopathic medicine.
The application process for attending the National University of Naturopathic Medicine for all programs can be boiled down into three distinct phases:
- Preparation
- Submission
- Evaluation
While the application process at NUNM is relatively standard, the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program contains program-specific application requirements, including:
- A bachelor’s degree
- ND program-specific prerequisites
- A personal statement outlining what makes you the best candidate for this program
- An ND Primary Care essay
- An updated resume or curriculum vitae
- The identification of an academic or professional who can serve as a reference
After all application requirements are fulfilled, qualifying applicants will interview with a faculty member and an admissions representative.
After the interview and evaluation process is complete, admitted students will then complete their enrollment requirements before beginning the program.
Flexible Pathways In Earning Your ND
Not everyone seeking their ND has the same set of responsibilities to juggle. Some are solely focused on school. Many have a wide range of commitments to tend to throughout their days.
In order to balance your life’s many obligations with the intense rigors of your studies, we’ve created numerous pathways to help you find the right fit in achieving your goals.
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine students can choose a traditional 5-year or 4-year program, a 4-year online-start option, an accelerated 3 year program, or an accelerated 3.5-year online-start path to earning your degree.
Learn More About Program Pathways
- 3-Year Accelerated Curriculum
- 3.5-Year, 1st Year Online Curriculum
- 4-Year, 1st Year Online Curriculum
- 4-Year Curriculum
NUNM’s Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine: Curriculum
Our ND program’s curriculum provides a comprehensive approach to the understanding and application of naturopathic medicine. It consists of 4,100 hours of instruction, 1,200 of which involve hands-on clinical training.
Because Naturopathic Medicine is fundamentally a whole-person approach to treatment and care, courses on ethics and cultural humility are included among the many science and medicine-based classes, lectures, labs, and tutorials required to complete the program.
The goal is to create an immersive experience within the NUNM community while earning your ND degree.
Learn more about the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine curriculum
Student Life at NUNM
While the main focus of attending NUNM is academics, there are a variety of clubs, organizations and activities that you can participate in to make your experience an even richer one. Additionally, there are research and leadership opportunities that will help immerse students in the world of naturopathic medicine.
The pursuit of Naturopathic Medicine at NUNM is centered on the concept of community, where our faculty and students are coming together for the benefit of our broader community through education, healing, and treatment.
Ready to learn more about your journey to become an ND? We’d love to help guide you.
Contact NUNM today to schedule a campus tour, attend an event, or learn more about this exciting program.