Columbines School
Electives
In addition to our core curriculum, Columbines School of Botanical Studies offers additional supplemental elective coursework for our apprentices. They are not required to obtain the First or Second Year Certificates of Completion.
First Year Apprenticeship Electives
Physiology for the Herbalist
This 36 hour eighteen class series is designed for the retention of the basic physiology concepts. Students who have had one year of herbal training with another herbalist may participate in this class.
This introduction will focus on membrane physiology and the nervous system. This is the same class taught at Michael Moore’s Southwest School of Botanical Medicine for seven years and is ideal for those wishing to study with physiology oriented herbalists. The required text is The Physiology Coloring Book by Kapit, Macey, and Meisami.
The class will run from in the fall or winter. Completion of Herbal Concepts or one-year of herbal study is also required. The instructor is Howie Brounstein. See the Academic Calendar for current dates and prices.
Second Year Apprenticeship Electives
Physical Assessment Skills
This lab class teaches pertinent physical assessment for the clinical herbalist. Topics may include legalities, ethics, vital signs, deep tendon reflexes, neurological screening, HEENT (head, ears, eyes, nose and throat), and other clinical assessment skills. This is not a class in diagnostics, but rather one of “red flag” assessment.
This lab series will consist of 6 three hour evening lectures over a nine day period. The class will run in November. Enrollment or completion of the Second Year Lecture Series, or comparable experience required. The instructor is Howie Brounstein. See the Academic Calendar for current dates and prices.
Field Electives
Springtime in the Sonoran Desert
Students discover Sonoran Desert ecosystems of Southern Arizona. Wander through old growth cactus ’forests’ with free time for personal exploration. This trip will not include harvesting of plants; however, it will provide a varied overview of the Sonoran Desert.
This adventure is offered in March. There will be five teaching days and two days for travel and personal research. As usual, we will car camp, and will be able to stop every few days for food and supplies.
Successful completion of the first year Apprenticeship Field Program is required. We accept only eight students, so timely enrollment is encouraged. The instructors are Howie Brounstein and Leah Kays. See the Academic Calendar for current dates and prices.
Southern California Botanical Adventure
This adventure will tour the southern California ecosystems from coastal chaparral to the Colorado province of the Sonoran desert. You will not want to miss seeing hillsides of shooting stars in March. We will start and end near San Diego.
This adventure is offered in March. There will be five teaching days and two days for travel and personal research. Successful completion of the first year Apprenticeship Field Program is required. We accept only eight students, so timely enrollment is encouraged. The instructors are Howie Brounstein and Leah Kays. See the Academic Calendar for current dates and prices.
Chasing Spring Option
Take both March field trips back to back. Start with the blooming flowers along the Arizona-Mexico border and follow spring north over a two week stretch into Southern California. The class ends at an appropriate time to chase spring north through California to the blooming Calypso Orchids of Eugene, Oregon!
This option is offered in March. There will be ten teaching days and four days for travel and personal research. Successful completion of the first year Apprenticeship Field Program is required. We accept only eight students, so timely enrollment is encouraged. The instructors are Howie Brounstein and Leah Kays. See the Academic Calendar for current dates and prices.
