Scholarships for Alternative/Holistic Medicine
Scholarships for Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine and other Holistic Practices
With many people these days looking to non-traditional therapies for a variety of ailments and conditions, the field of Alternative and Holistic Medicine has never looked better. A number of colleges and schools are now offering degree or training programs. And just like other students, those who are seeking degrees or training in Alternative and Holistic Medicine are also on the lookout for scholarships to help fund their education.
Company Scholarship Support
Think of the number of alternative health products on the market these days. Herbal remedies, Chinese medicine and holistic therapies are a booming industry. Some of the leading companies distributing these products fund scholarships for those students who want to study Alternative and Holistic Medicine.
American Specialty Health is an organization who is in the forefront of complementary health - in benefits programs, products and education. This organization awards scholarships to students interested in complementary health care which includes acupuncture and naturopathy, two leading fields of Alternative and Holistic Medicine. They also support students studying massage, chiropractic and dietetics. Candidates must be enrolled full-time in an accredited institution with at least a 3.0 grade point average. Acupuncture students could receive a scholarship up to $7,500 and Naturopathy students could receive up to $4,500. First year students are not encouraged to apply.
Scholarship Assistance from Associations
The American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) supports students in both undergraduate and graduate nursing programs who are interested in the field of Holistic Medicine. The Charlotte McGuire Scholarship Program offers two awards to students who are studying Holistic Nursing. Students must have at least a "B" grade point average and be members of the AHNA for a year if in a graduate degree program, or six months if enrolled in an undergraduate program. Monetary awards vary from year to year and are dependent on donations and support from other members and benefactors of AHNA.
Veterinary students wishing to study Holistic Medicine for animals also have options for scholarships. The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association offers several scholarships for deserving students who are enrolled in an accredited veterinary school. The Dr. Richard Kearns Scholarship and the Dr. Pedro Rivera Scholarship are just two of those monetary awards. Recipients are chosen based on their written essays which should answer such questions such as "Why do you want to be a Veterinarian?" and "Why the interest in Holistic therapies for animals?" These scholarship amounts vary from year to year. You may also want to see some other veterinary scholarship resources.
Scholarship Programs at Schools and Universities
The National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon offers several degree programs in Naturopathy and Chinese Medicine. It is the oldest accredited college in the U.S. offering these study paths. Its excellent reputation has spawned a number of scholarships available to students attending this school:
- The Academic Achievement Award Scholarship is aimed toward new students for the amounts of $1,500 or $2,500 depending on which study path they take. These scholarships are based on the student application and essay and are applied towards tuition for the first three terms.
- The Brant Ashton Memorial Scholarship is geared to those students who wish to follow a Natural Medicine study path, including homeopathy and any alternative treatment approaches to AIDS or HIV related illnesses.
- Wise Woman Herbals Scholarship is $1,000 and awarded to a student in their third or fourth year at the National College of Natural Medicine. It based solely on scholastic merit.
- The Founders Scholarship is $3,000 and awarded to several students based on merit and currently enrolled at the National College of Natural Medicine. Leadership, community service, dedication to Natural Medicine and scholastic achievement all play a part in finalizing the list of students eligible.
Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Los Angeles, California offers Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine paths of degree study. The university also offers several scholarships to ease the burden of exceptional students enrolled:
- Yo San Scholarship is a yearly $1,500 monetary award to new students enrolled full-time who already have earned a Bachelor's Degree and had a grade point average of 3.75 or higher.
- Master Ni Scholarship is awarded to students who display exceptional scholastic achievement as well as leadership. The scholarship committee at Yo San will also look at a student's past academic history as well as their pioneering spirit in Holistic and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
