Naturopathic Medicine

The 21st Century Physician

There has never been a more exciting time to become a naturopathic physician. With increasing recognition that preventive care is essential to good medicine, naturopathic physicians are a natural fit for healthcare delivery that is sustainable, cost-effective, and effective. The University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine is committed to training physicians for the 21st century: doctors who are leaders in the emerging paradigm of healthcare, blending research and innovative technologies with the art of healing and natural therapeutics to provide patient-centered care. In an intimate setting of small class size and experienced faculty, students are challenged to bridge tradition with innovation while being mentored to explore the healer they are becoming. Come to UB and discover the 21st Century Physician you will become!

Principles and Practice

Steeped in traditional healing practices, naturopathic medicine emphasizes holistic, preventive care. By focusing on prevention, optimal health and wellness, and diet and lifestyle as first-line interventions, naturopathic physicians educate and empower patients to take responsibility for their health. As a naturopathic physician and graduate of UBCNM, you will not only help people optimize their health, you will change the way they think about health – for themselves, their families, and the planet.

Program Overview

Since 2001, the College of Naturopathic Medicine has been graduating physicians who are revolutionizing healthcare in the Northeast and across the country. Our curriculum combines traditional biomedical sciences with the latest developments in genomics and molecular biology to deepen your understanding of health, disease, and therapeutics. A semester format of 18-week sessions allows you to immerse yourself in the material and take the time to fully integrate concepts. You will benefit from course content that is integrated across the curriculum and reinforced with case studies for in-depth understanding of the application to clinical practice. Throughout your four years of study, you will learn and practice natural therapeutics, applying them to patient care under the guidance and supervision of experienced naturopathic physicians.

Learning Outcomes

The UBCNM graduate will:

• Integrate naturopathic medicine with biomedical science and diagnostic science to safely and effectively diagnose and treat disease, and to promote health and well being.

• Demonstrateprofessional behavior that is ethical, collaborative, and culturally aware.

• Apply emerging scientific and medical research to patient care and demonstrate a commitment to scholarly activity and lifelong learning.

• Positively promote and support the global awareness of and access to naturopathic medicine.

The College of Naturopathic Medicine curriculum follows a sequential course of study in which students continuously build upon a deepening foundation of biomedical and clinical sciences. Concurrently, students are integrating naturopathic philosophy, principles, and therapeutics into their medical knowledge. Students are admitted as a cohort and are expected to follow the curriculum as it is structured. At the completion of the program, students will have met the following requirements for graduation:

• Demonstrated competency in the didactic and clinical portions of the program
• Satisfactory completion of a thesis paper
• A passing score on all sections of Part I of the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam (NPLEX I).

The naturopathic program, including all graduation requirements, must be completed within seven (7) years of matriculation.

College of Naturopathic Medicine

The nation’s only CNME-accredited school on the east coast, the College of Naturopathic Medicine was established in 1997 and resides within a Health Sciences Division, which includes the Chiropractic College, The Fones School of Dental Hygiene, the Acupuncture Institute, the Physician’s Assistant Institute, and the Nutrition Institute. Opportunities for inter-professional education abound and students learn alongside their future colleagues. The College’s small class size and low student:faculty ratio allows students greater interaction with instructors and enhanced opportunities for student advising and mentoring. With a medicinal herb garden on campus and the recent addition of an herbarium to our Botanical Medicine Lab, students have a unique opportunity to deepen their experience in phytomedicine.

Naturopathic Clinic

Student clinicians train at the on-campus UB Clinics that houses the teaching clinics for the Health Sciences Division programs and features fully electronic medical records. Under the expert guidance of our clinical faculty, student clinicians care for a diverse population of patients on general medicine and elective specialty shifts, such as Personalized Medicine, Mind-Body Medicine, Pediatrics, Physical Medicine, Homeopathy, and Integrative Oncology. The College also collaborates with local hospitals and numerous community clinics where students can enrich their experience in hospital-based patient care, integrative medicine, community medicine, and special populations.

Center of Excellence in Generative Medicine

In 2009, the College co-created the Center of Excellence in Generative Medicine with world-renowned naturopathic physician, Dr. Peter D’Adamo. Beginning in 2012, the Center will research, develop, and employ the tools of systems analysis, molecular biology, and bioinformatics to better understand the unique and complex self-healing behaviors that are the basis of naturopathic philosophy and therapeutics. Students participate directly in the Center via programs in clinical practicum, investigation, symposia, and didactics that are integrated throughout the four-year curriculum. The Center of Excellence in Generative Medicine is a frontiers-focused biomedical initiative unique to UBCNM.

On-line Resources

As part of a traditional university, students have access to many amenities and resources, such as UB’s world-class library, boasting an electronic collection of over 60,000 textbooks and 80,000 journals. Not only can students find textbooks on-line, they can also access the most recent research in natural medicine in just a few clicks. The university also offers continued access to this resource to support the on-going professional development of alumni.

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institutionCumulative GPA of 3.0 or higherRequired coursework taken in the last seven years with a C or better from an accredited school:Biology with labs-6 semester hours (Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs strongly recommended)General Chemistry with labs-6 semester hoursOrganic Chemistry with labs-6 semester hours (one class can be Biochemistry with lab)Physics with lab-3 semester hoursCommunication/Language Skills-6 semester hoursPsychology-3 semester hoursSocial Sciences or Humanities Electives-15 semester hoursRecommended coursework: Microbiology with lab, Biochemistry with lab, Botany with lab, Genetics with lab, Statistics, Developmental Psychology, Medical TerminologyInterview requiredBackground check required for deposited studentsRequired Materials ApplicationApplication fee (non-refundable)Official transcripts from every school attendedThree recommendation letters including one from a healthcare providerPersonal statement:In 500-750 words, detail why you are seeking this degree, how your background and experience has prepared you for medical school and a career as a Naturopathic Physician, your future goals, and why you seek to pursue your degree through the University of Bridgeport.Required Skills and Abilities* Applicants to UBCNM must possess the intellectual, physical, and emotional means required to independently undertake the full curriculum, meet the levels of competency established by the faculty, and embark on a successful career in naturopathic medicine. Candidates who require reasonable accommodations must nevertheless be able to demonstrate and perform the essential skills and capabilities listed below independently. Use of a trained intermediary would require that the candidate’s judgment and knowledge be mediated by someone else’s power of selection and observation and may compromise present and future patient safety; accordingly such intermediary’s are ordinarily not permitted. Admitted students with a disability have access to the Coordinator of Disability Services, who collaborates with administrative staff and faculty to arrange reasonable accommodations for courses and examinations. Observation: The candidate must be able to visually observe demonstrations and experiments in the biomedical sciences, and to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand. Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision and somatic sensation, enhanced by sense of smell and hearing.Communication: A candidate must be able to speak, to hear, and to observe patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity, and posture, and perceive nonverbal communications. A candidate must be able to demonstrate effective and sensitive communication with patients, as well as effective and efficient oral and written English with all members of the health care team.Motor: Candidates must have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic techniques. A candidate should be able to perform basic laboratory tests, re-position a patient, and conduct diagnostic and therapeutic procedures required for providing general patient care. Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: A candidate must demonstrate critical thinking, sound judgment, analysis, reasoning, and synthesis, essential to the problem-solving skills demanded of physicians. In addition, the candidate should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures.Behavioral and Social Attributes: A candidate must possess the emotional maturity and stability required for full utilization of her/his intellectual abilities, in addition to demonstrating the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients, instructors, and peers. A candidate must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that are assessed during the admissions and educational processes.* Adapted from the American Association of Medical Colleges guidelines.Computer Literacy A candidate for admission to UBCNM is expected to have access to a reliable computer and be proficient with computer use. While computers are available for student use in the Student Lounge and Wahlstrom Library, students will find it most helpful to have their own laptop computer. English as a Second LanguageA candidate whose native language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in reading, comprehension, oral, and written English. The ability to communicate in English in a medical setting, using appropriate medical terminology and, specifically, the ability to understand the nuances in the language and to speak effectively are essential to fully participating and succeeding in the classroom and clinic. Satisfying at least one of the requirements below ensures the student’s ability to take full advantage of the program and serve the outside community as practitioners. Students whose first language is not English may also be required to take additional elective credits and/or training to improve their language skills.Official TOEFL exam results of 213 on the computer-based test or 550 on the paper-based test or 79 on the Internet-based test (iBT) score. TSE score of 50 or greater. (Only students with paper-based or computer-based TOEFL exam scores will be required to complete this test). Official IELTS exam results of 6.5 or higher. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited US college or university. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 550 TOEFL iBT® test: 79

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Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

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