The curriculum for the online UW Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness Management is designed and taught by the same UW faculty who teach on campus.
In this 61-credit bachelor’s degree completion program, you will acquire a foundation in health and wellness management through 21 required courses, including a fieldwork experience and a capstone course typically taken during the final semester. There are no electives.
Courses are completed entirely online. Students in other UW Extended Campus degree programs often say the online format is a big factor in their ability to earn a degree. You can watch lectures, participate in online forums with your classmates, and do homework whenever it’s convenient for you—all course content is accessible online from any device. Learn more about our online learning format.
Course Descriptions
Course availability for the UW Health and Wellness Management program varies each fall, spring, and summer.
If you have questions regarding transfer of previous coursework from other degree programs, or if you are a current student, please consult with your campus adviser prior to registration.
View upcoming UW Health and Wellness Management course schedules.
Core Curriculum
You are required to complete all eighteen core courses (3 credits each).
HWM 300: Introduction to Human Health
This course is designed to provide students with general background knowledge on many of the issues impacting our health today. Topics of study will include issues in mental, physical and social health such as stress, nutrition and fitness, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, relationships and sexuality and diseases and disorders. An introduction to behavior change theories and the factors contributing to overall wellness will also be included.
Prerequisite: UWCCO BIO 101 Concepts of Biology or equivalent
HWM 305: The Wellness Profession
This course explores the definition of wellness, health promotion, and the seven dimensions model of wellness. Students will learn the professional role and personal commitment required to implement life-style wellness programs. The course includes an overview of the history and philosophy contributing to the success of wellness and health promotion professionals. Students learn through assigned experiential learning the basic wellness principles. Activities explore personal wellness and whole systems healing in the seven dimensions of spiritual, physical, emotional, career, intellectual, environmental, and social.
Prerequisite: UWCCO PSY 202 Introduction to Psychology or equivalent
HWM 310: Changes Across the Lifespan
This course explores research and theory regarding the nature and processes of human development from early adulthood through old age and death. Key topics include biological theories of aging, the changing body, disorders of the brain, personality development, changing memory and thinking skills, relationship issues, careers and retirement, and death/dying.
Prerequisite: UWCCO BIO 101 Concepts of Biology or equivalent
HWM 315: Workplace Wellness Program Management*
This course examines the tenets of developing a successful worksite wellness program, introducing key concepts, resources and tools. Students will be introduced to worksite wellness, working with management, creating wellness teams, collecting data, strategic planning, incentives, budgets, legal issues, and creating supportive environments.
Prerequisite: UWCCO PSY 202 Introduction to Psychology or equivalent
*formerly titled Resource Management for Wellness Managers
HWM 320: Health and Medical Terminology
The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the basic terminology used in health and medical settings. Although most wellness settings are not inclusive of a medical center or clinical setting, often the clients are participating in a program because of a visit to a medical setting. Since healthcare uses a unique blend of prefixes, suffixes, and terms related to both preventative and clinical care, it is important that the wellness professional has the knowledge and abilities to decipher this information. Emphasis will be placed on the systems that a wellness professional will most likely be exposed to including cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular skeletal, and nervous systems.
Prerequisite: none
HWM 325: Health Literacy
This course will explore the current understandings and work in health literacy research, advocacy, and outreach efforts across the various health education and related fields. It will include readings, discussions, and competencies in evaluating health information for quality and credibility; locating health information and determining quality resources; identifying and assessing population health literacy; and understanding the networks of agencies working in health settings to address literacy in the health field.
Prerequisite: UWCCO PSY 202 Introduction to Psychology or equivalent
HWM 335: Worksite Health Environment
This course examines the workplace environment’s influence on daily health decisions and focuses on practical, contextual levers of behavioral change. Novel insights from the fields of behavioral economics and consumer marketing will be reviewed to help students understand the cognitive barriers to health behavior change and the environmental “nudges” that can be leveraged to overcome these barriers at work. Students will explore environmental assessment tools, active design principles, workplace policies, supportive research and real world examples.
Prerequisite: None
HWM 345: Physical Activity and Nutrition for Wellness Managers
This course presents professional recommendations and guidelines for physical activity and nutrition. Students will design workplace strategies that will meet recommendations and guidelines to support employees.
Prerequisite: UWCCO BIO 101 Concepts of Biology or equivalent
HWM 350: Research and Statistics for Wellness Managers
This course is designed to familiarize students with research nomenclature, procedures for the design and evaluation of research, and interpretation of statistical analysis in the health field. This course will also provide the tools for critically evaluating the validity of health research.
Prerequisite: None
HWM 360: Stress Dependencies and Addictions
This course examines common behavioral strategies with regard to stress and its management and the use of alternative remedies for physical and emotional dependencies and addictions.
Prerequisite(s): UWCCO BIO 101 Concepts of Biology or equivalent and UWCCO PSY 202 Intro to Psychology or equivalent
HWM 370: Understanding and Effecting Health Behavior Change
This course provides the basic knowledge of foundational change theories, including the Transtheoretical Stages of Change model, in order to help students understand how health behavior change happens. Included in the course is a self-reflection on personal wellness and strategies for implementing health behavior change.
Prerequisite(s): UWCCO PSY 202 Intro to Psychology or equivalent and HWM 300 Introduction to Human Health
HWM 385: Marketing and Communication for Wellness Managers
Students will develop basic marketing and promotional skills grounded in the disciplines of social marketing, health communication, and business marketing that address consumer health “needs” and customer “wants.” Students will be able to assess market opportunities in wellness services, programs, and facilities, and create marketing strategies and tactics. Emphases will be placed on best practices for behavior change, increased cost savings for employers, improved customer/employee participation, and/or revenues for wellness programs, services and facilities.
Prerequisite: HWM 325 Health Literacy
HWM 405: Survey of Information Technology in Wellness
This course is designed to (1) provide students with an overview of various information technology products and mediums impacting the wellness industry, such as (but not limited to): web portals, online health risk assessments, interactive health tools, trackers, videos/podcasts, telephone & digital health coaching, online challenges, social networking, electronic medical records, personal health records, electronic Health (eHealth), mobile Health (mHealth), mobile applications, and portable tracking devices (e.g., pedometers, glucose monitors, etc.); and (2) provide students with the information and resources needed to assess, create and/or select appropriate technologies and vendors.
Prerequisite: HWM 315 Workplace Wellness Program Management*
*Pending campus approval.
HWM 430: Population Health for Wellness Managers
This course introduces the evolution of health problems and services and will examine the methods designed to capture a community and workplace health profile. The participant will apply concepts involved in measuring and understanding the health of individuals and populations in order to enhance quality of life. The key social determinants of wellness and their interactions will be considered.
Prerequisite(s): HWM 300 Introduction to Human Health and HWM 350 Research and Statistics for Wellness Managers
HWM 460: Leadership and Change Management in Health
This course will examine the various leadership and management styles, including business models of leadership. Organizational behavior, decision-making, and attributes of effective leadership will be reviewed in this course. Understanding the impact of changes in healthcare, wellness and fitness programs on various organizations is an objective of this course.
Prerequisite: HWM 315 Workplace Wellness Program Management
HWM 470: Assessment and Evaluation for Wellness Managers
This course surveys general approaches to assessment, programming, and evaluation in health and wellness settings. Participants will explore individual, group, and organizational approaches to assessment, programming, and evaluating planned and organized efforts to promote both health and wellness.
Prerequisite(s): HWM 335 Worksite Health Environment and HWM 430 Population Health for Wellness Managers
HWM 480: Employee Benefits for Wellness Managers
The design and administration of a healthcare plan plays a key role in attracting and retaining employees and implementing employer’s cost savings. This course is designed to provide students with a solid introduction to the basic issues of healthcare benefits and teach students how to integrate successful return on investment (ROI) strategies for adopting preventive health benefits that enhance employees’ well-being.
Prerequisite: HWM 315 Workplace Wellness Program Management
HWM 485: Health Coaching for Wellness Managers
The course will assist in developing a strong, useful theoretical viewpoint for health coaching as well as understanding the approaches of therapists and how differential treatment therapeutic goals are set. The definition of coaching and diverse methodologies will be taught, practiced, compared, and contrasted. Students will specifically gain an understanding of what treatment and by whom is most effective for individuals displaying specific problems and under what set of circumstances. As a result students will learn a variety of treatment modalities and learn to respect vastly differing worldviews.
Prerequisite(s): HWM 305 The Wellness Profession and HWM 370 Understanding and Effecting Health Behavior Change
Fieldwork and Capstone Experience
The program curriculum requires a fieldwork experience, consisting of a fieldwork preparation course (1 credit), a fieldwork course (3 credits), and a capstone project course (3 credits). You will take the fieldwork preparation course in the semester prior to the fieldwork course. The fieldwork and capstone project courses may be taken concurrently, and are typically taken in the final semester.
Learn more about the fieldwork experience requirement.
View examples of past capstone projects.
HWM 493 Health and Wellness Management Fieldwork Prep
This course requires students to identify and secure fieldwork placement for completion the following semester. The fieldwork experience develops skills in program planning, implementation, promotion and evaluation, oral and written communication, collaboration and networking.
Prerequisite: None
HWM 494 Health and Wellness Management Fieldwork
Students engage in practical fieldwork experience as a pre-professional in a health/wellness setting to utilize skills and knowledge acquired in previous courses. This fieldwork experience is designed to further develop skills in some, but not necessarily all, of the following areas: program planning, implementation, promotion and evaluation, oral and written communication, collaboration and networking.
Prerequisite(s): HWM 460 Leadership and Change Management in Health, HWM 470 Assessment and Evaluation for Wellness Managers, HWM 480 Employee Benefits for Wellness Managers and HWM 493 Health and Wellness Management Fieldwork Prep
Learn more about the fieldwork experience requirement.
HWM 496 Health and Wellness Capstone
This course requires the application of knowledge and skills acquired through successful completion of all HWM courses taken prior to or concurrent with this course. Using a case study, students demonstrate competence in health and wellness management by completing assignments and participating in discussion that results in the logical, sequential building of a strategic plan for a comprehensive corporate wellness program. Students demonstrate interviewing, professional networking and resume writing skills along with formally presenting their final strategic plan.
Prerequisite(s): HWM 460 Leadership and Change Management in Health, HWM 470 Assessment and Evaluation for Wellness Managers, and HWM 480 Employee Benefits for Wellness Managers
Ready to begin the next chapter of your career? Here’s how to get started.
Our enrollment advisers are available Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Fridays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT, or by appointment.
Call: 1-877-UW-LEARN (895-3276)
Email: learn@uwex.edu
