Health and Wellness Management (MS)
College: College of Natural & Health Sciences
The Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management is a fully online degree program offered collaboratively by UW-Parkside, UW-Green Bay, UW-River Falls, UW- Stevens Point, UW-Superior, and UW-Extension. This online M.S. in Health and Wellness Management program focuses primarily on adult and nontraditional students who hold an undergraduate degree and have the desire to continue their education to achieve a graduate degree.
Program Learning Outcomes
- This program is designed to increase the student’s knowledge of the fundamentals of health and wellness and learn next-level program management skills.
- Upon completion of the M.S. Health and Wellness Management program students will be able to integrate health informatics, information technology, and communication strategies in the design, implementation and evaluation of programs.
- Additionally, students will demonstrate familiarity with best practices in behavior change facilitation, understand ethical and legal issues relevant to health policy and wellness management.
- Finally, students will recognize and know how to analyze the interrelations among health providers and key stakeholders including understanding how these relationships influence health care systems.
Requirements for the Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
HWM 700 | Contemporary Health and Wellness Perspectives | 3 |
HWM 705 | Strategic Management For Wellness Managers | 3 |
HWM 710 | Research Methods For Wellness Programs | 3 |
HWM 715 | Persuasion Skills For Wellness Managers | 3 |
HWM 720 | Exercise and Nutrition in Health and Disease | 3 |
HWM 730 | Biopsychosocial Aspects of Health | 3 |
HWM 740 | Health Systems and Policy For Wellness Manager | 3 |
HWM 750 | Planning and Evaluation | 3 |
HWM 760 | Wellness Law | 3 |
HWM 770 | Behavior and Development in Organizations | 3 |
HWM 780 | Best Practices and Emerging Issues in Wellness | 3 |
HWM 787 | Health and Wellness Management Capstone Preparation | 1 |
HWM 790 | Health and Wellness Management Capstone | 3 |
Total Credits | 37 |
University Requirements for Master’s Degree Programs
To receive a master’s degree from UW-Parkside, students must meet the following minimum requirements (note that individual programs may impose more stringent requirements):
- Complete at least 30 graduate credits, of which no more than 12 may be transferred from another institution.
- Have an overall GPA of at least 3.00 for all graduate work taken at UW-Parkside that is applicable to the degree program.
- Satisfy all requirements of the graduate degree program.
Students may take no more than seven years to complete a degree, beginning with the semester in which they complete their first course as a UW-Parkside degree-seeking graduate student, unless they apply for and receive an extension through the appropriate graduate program. Some programs may impose a shorter time limit. To graduate, students must file a request for graduation. The request form, signed by the student’s advisor and filed in the appropriate graduate program office, initiates the final review of the candidate’s records. Students also need to apply to graduate with the Office of the Registrar.
All applicants will need to demonstrate that they have taken the following prerequisite courses.
Program Prerequisites:
- Anatomy and Physiology or Human Biology or Equivalent
- Intro to Psychology or Equivalent
- Elementary Statistics or Equivalent
Students seeking admission to the M.S. in Health and Wellness management program require:
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited university, (in any discipline), and a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0. Students with a GPA less than a 3.0 may be considered for a provisional admission. The Academic Director has the discretion to waive a perquisite that will allow a student to take a HWM course. Please contact the Academic Director, Dr. Penny Lyter at lyter@uwp.edu for more information.
- A personal statement of not more than 1,000 words describing your reasons for pursing a Master of Science in Health Wellness and Management, your short and long term career goals, and what value you would add to the learning experience of your fellow students. Space for the personal statement is included in the online application.
- Resume
- Two letters of recommendation
Writing samples or recommendations may be requested and used toward an admission decision if warranted. Admissions will occur on a rolling basis with new applicants able to start the program during each of the academic terms: fall, spring, and summer.
Courses in Health and Wellness Management
HWM 700 | Contemporary Health and Wellness Perspectives | 3 cr
In this course, students will examine health and wellness concepts and probe foundational thinking with the contemporary health and wellness field. Expectations and development of the wellness professional will be explored.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Occasionally.
HWM 705 | Strategic Management For Wellness Managers | 3 cr
This course introduces students to management concepts to create strategic direction and the role of leadership in setting strategy capable of meeting competitive challenges within the wellness industry. Topics include key management theories; role of stakeholders; issue identification; program evaluation; and business plan development.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Occasionally.
HWM 710 | Research Methods For Wellness Programs | 3 cr
This course covers research methods and designs relevant to wellness program managers. Students will be introduced to various research designs including experimental and non-experimental, as well as qualitative and quantitative methods. The course will focus on providing a practical understanding of several statistical tools used in wellness-related research.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Occasionally.
HWM 715 | Persuasion Skills For Wellness Managers | 3 cr
In this course, students will develop communication and persuasion skills, which are essential for wellness managers. Utilizing a variety of media and techniques, students will hone their communication skills. Students will apply key marketing concepts to mount effective marketing campaigns for their organization.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Occasionally.
HWM 720 | Exercise and Nutrition in Health and Disease | 3 cr
The course introduces students to the roles that physical activity and nutritional practices play in the prevention, management, and treatment of chronic diseases and conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, COPD, arthritis, depression and anxiety.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Occasionally.
HWM 730 | Biopsychosocial Aspects of Health | 3 cr
This course is a survey of biological, psychologist and social-environmental aspects of wellness. Taking an applied focus, students will learn current theoretical and evidenced-based approaches in psychology, integrative medicine, and behavioral economics that impact wellness.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Occasionally.
HWM 740 | Health Systems and Policy For Wellness Manager | 3 cr
This course provides information pertaining to the US Health Care System with special emphasis on health and wellness. It provides an overview of the major public and private stakeholders including public health, insurance, and health care providers. Participants will examine how health policy impacts the design and financing of wellness programs.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Occasionally.
HWM 750 | Planning and Evaluation | 3 cr
The purpose of this course is to examine planning and evaluation as inter-related, cyclical activities. Students will examine major activities and processes involved in planning and evaluating wellness programs.
Offered: Occasionally.
HWM 760 | Wellness Law | 3 cr
This course introduces students to the legal and ethical environment of wellness management. Topics include the Affordable Care Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and HIPPA. Students will learn effective negotiation skills that can be used when dealing with contracts and vendors.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Occasionally.
HWM 770 | Behavior and Development in Organizations | 3 cr
In this course, students will study organizations, their members and why people and groups behave as they do. Processes and methods that improve behavior, effectiveness, and efficiency in organizational settings will be examined. The course will also cover various methods for assessing organizational behavior and change.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Occasionally.
HWM 780 | Best Practices and Emerging Issues in Wellness | 3 cr
In this course, students will study emerging trends, innovations, and best practices in the health and wellness industry with emphasis on preventative health care. Students will investigate major health challenges, programs, and policies to determine the influence of social, economic, multicultural, and global pressures on successful wellness practices.
Offered: Yearly.
HWM 787 | Health and Wellness Management Capstone Preparation | 1 cr
Provides the opportunity for students to prepare for their semester-long capstone project, identify a partner organization, develop a project proposal, and obtain approval from their home campus Institutional Review Board.
Prerequisites: MSHWM students must complete at least 24 credits or Academic Director Consent.
Offered: Yearly.
HWM 790 | Health and Wellness Management Capstone | 3 cr
This course provides a cohesive experience designed to synthesize and apply information from the MS HWM curricula. Students complete an individual capstone experience (internship/special project) that demonstrates through understanding of the knowledge, skills and disposition necessary to be a successful health and wellness manager.
Prerequisites: HWM 780.
Offered: Occasionally.