Welcome
President’s Welcome Message
A heartfelt welcome! It is both an honor and a joy to greet you as you join the Sonoran community. You are the heartbeat of this University. Each of us, whether student, faculty, staff, donor, or Board member, is united by a shared purpose: to transform the health of humanity through the profound healing power of Nature. Here, you are embraced as a unique and essential part of a community that cherishes love, inclusivity, and resilience.
Sonoran University is not just a place. It is a vibrant, living community. Our diverse degree and certificate programs are all rooted in the belief that every individual holds innate healing potential. This guiding principle shapes everything we do and inspires us to honor one another and the health within us all.
Over the past 26 years, Sonoran has flourished. Sonoran is renowned for academic excellence, innovative curricula, cutting-edge botanical research, novel clinical approaches and a network of community healthcare clinics. Sonoran University is home to the Neil Riordan Center for Regenerative Medicine, pioneering non-opioid care for chronic pain; the Virtual Health Center, bringing real-world experience to Clinical Nutrition students; the Ric Scalzo Institute for Botanical Research, where the mysteries of medicinal plants are unlocked; and a Community Health program delivering compassionate care to underserved communities. At the core of these initiatives are rigorous and innovative academic programs that nurture students who excel and go on to become compassionate, successful practitioners.
This university catalog is more than a guide, it is a map of the academic pathways we have thoughtfully designed to help you become a confident, trustworthy, and passionate healthcare provider. It is also a pledge: to uphold the highest standards and to support your learning journey. Within these pages, you will meet the dedicated faculty who will mentor you and discover courses that we hope will ignite your curiosity and passion as you embark on your studies.
Thank you for choosing a path that contributes so deeply to the well-being of our world. I am truly delighted you have chosen Sonoran University of Health Sciences. Welcome to a community of like-minded and like-hearted individuals. May you study with purpose, grow with courage, and thrive in all you do.
Yours in health,
Lise Alschuler, ND, eMBA, FABNO
President & CEO
Purpose and Publication Notice
This catalog is effective September 30, 2025.
Sonoran University of Health Sciences Course Catalog is published to provide applicants and the general public with information about educational programs, policies, and procedures. This catalog does not constitute a contract. Sonoran University reserves the right to make changes in the regulations, rules, and policies set forth in this publication. The University will communicate those changes with reasonable notice to interested parties. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information available at the time the copy is prepared for this catalog, Sonoran University does not guarantee its accuracy. Students are responsible for understanding and complying with all policies and procedures contained in the most recent catalog and in other publications distributed by Sonoran University. A student’s course of study is guided by the curricula published annually in this catalog. Information, programs, and requirements are subject to change without notice at the discretion of the administration. The University reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of this catalog at any time. This catalog supersedes all previous editions.
Sonoran University is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit corporation accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and approved to offer degrees by the Arizona Naturopathic Physicians Board of Medical Examiners and Arizona State Board of Private Postsecondary Education. Sonoran University’s Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) program is accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). In addition to the ND program, HLC has approved Sonoran University to offer distance education courses and programs, including the Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition (MSCN), Master of Science in Nutrition Business Leadership (MSNBL) and Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MSCMHC). Sonoran University’s MS in Clinical Nutrition program fulfills the didactic requirements to sit for the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) exam and has been approved for CNS candidates to earn 349 hours and meet the required competencies for the Supervised Practice Experience (SPE), see Academic Accreditation and specific program Information to learn more about accreditation and certification.
Sonoran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic background, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, age, disability, veteran status, nationality, thinking styles, or life experiences in the administration of educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, employment, or any other program or activity.