- Community & Alumni Engagement
- Professional Growth and Enrichment
- Professional Development Programs
- Culturally Based Native Health Certificate (Non-Credit)
Culturally Based Native Health Certificate (Non-Credit)
Virtual Open House
Wednesday, April 17: 5-6:30pm
Join us at one of our upcoming virtual Graduate School Open House events on Zoom! You'll have the opportunity to learn more about Western Carolina University, understand the Graduate School application process, and meet key program representatives.
Non-Credit
Western Carolina University offers four online courses culminating in a non-credit certificate in Native American Health. Each course has 4.5 CEUs and 45 contact hours. The courses are taught entirely online over the fall, summer and spring semesters. Students may take individual courses or complete the certificate program, which is comprised of 4 courses; two required courses and two electives. Students may take the courses in any order.
For students who are not currently enrolled at WCU, the fee for each course is $425.
For Credit
If students wish to earn credit, they may do so by applying for the Graduate Certificate program. Courses are also available for academic credit. Please contact Dr. Lisa Lefler about applying for academic credit: 828.227.2164 or llefler@wcu.edu.
Learn more at the program webpage
Who Should Take These Courses?
The courses are designed to enable health related professionals in the region, who are Cherokee or serve a Native American population, to acquire the cultural knowledge and methodological understanding to serve more effectively in their professions.
The courses are taught at the upper classmen college level, because of the level of work at the college credit level, applicants are best served with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
Course work for non credit students will be graded as pass/fail with an expectation for the student to accomplish a C or better. Workload will be somewhat less than college credit courses to accommodate students who are working or applying knowledge in their field.
Students who want to apply for the certificate program will pay an application fee of $25.
Course Schedule 2019-2020 (core courses are required)
- Cherokee Culture & History
- Western & Indigenous Psychologies
- Tobacco & Substance Use
- Issues in Indian Health
- Healing the Wounded Native
- Cherokee Culture & History
- Western & Indigenous Psychologies
- Roots of Health Disparities
- Issues in Indian Health
- Healing the Wounded Native
Questions about the content of these courses or academic credit should be directed to Dr. Lisa Lefler at Llefler@wcu.edu.
Questions about registration for these courses should be directed to Dr. Susan Fouts sfouts@wcu.edu.
Program Director
Lisa J. Lefler, Ph.D.
Dr. Lefler is director of Western’s Culturally Based Native Health Programs, a collaborative
program with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and WCU’s Colleges of Health and
Human Sciences and Arts and Sciences. CBNHP offers a 12-hour graduate and undergraduate
Native Health Certificate available on-line. The Native Health Certificate reflects
a new national model, involving Native communities from the ground up to educate health
professionals regarding Native cultures to improve health care delivery for indigenous
people. Dr. Lefler’s other interests include Indian youth and drug/alcohol abuse,
diabetes and health-related issues concerning stress, historic grief and trauma, and
applying Indigeous science to contemporary issues.