Find answers to common questions about the University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management program.
Why choose a degree in Health and Wellness Management?
A UW Health and Wellness Management degree gives you the skills necessary to design, develop, implement, and maintain effective health and wellness programs. Healthcare/wellness programs are growing despite the challenging economic environment. A degree in health and wellness management can be the foundation for a variety of positions, including:
- Health and wellness manager
- Corporate wellness coordinator
- Director of sports, fitness, and wellness
These positions may be part of any employer, public or private, from healthcare systems to educational institutions, manufacturers, service or retail industries, community settings, and more. If you are currently working in, or seeking to work in, fields such as employee benefits, insurance, human resources, or corporate health promotion, a degree in health and wellness management may be for you.
For whom is the program intended?
UW Health and Wellness Management is intended primarily for adult and nontraditional learners who are seeking to complete their degrees or earn a new degree to advance their careers and position themselves for success in the exciting world of health promotion. Working parents, professionals, and veterans will find the flexibility of online courses to be especially convenient.
Ideal candidates for the bachelor’s degree program have 60 credits of transferable coursework, while candidates for the master’s degree program hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
What are the admission requirements?
See the bachelor’s or master’s degree Application and Admission sections for details.
Are there any program prerequisites?
There are four prerequisite courses required for admission to the Bachelor of Science program. If you have not completed some or all of these prerequisites as part of an associate degree or prior coursework, you will need to complete them, or equivalent courses, before taking specific Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness Management coursework. UW campus equivalents or other college/university equivalents may be substituted. The four prerequisite courses are:
- Introduction to Psychology
- Introduction to Biology
- Introduction to Public Speaking
- Composition II
There are four prerequisites for the Master of Science program, as follows:
- Personal Health or equivalent
- Anatomy and Physiology or Human Biology or equivalent
- Intro to Psychology or equivalent
- Elementary Statistics or equivalent
How do I apply?
See the bachelor’s or master’s degree Application and Admission sections for details. An enrollment adviser will be happy to help you through the process.
Do I need to take the ACT, SAT, or GRE?
If you have an associate degree or equivalent coursework, the ACT or SAT is not required for the bachelor’s program. The GRE is not required for the master’s program.
How do I know whether my credits will transfer?
Courses completed at other colleges or universities that have descriptions closely matching the descriptions of courses taught at the home campus will generally transfer as direct course equivalents, but may not be used for the balance of the degree requirements.
If you have completed coursework at a University of Wisconsin or Wisconsin Technical College System campus, you can use the University of Wisconsin Transfer Information System to evaluate how your credits might transfer to your UW Health and Wellness Management program home campus.
Once you have been admitted as a transfer student and confirm your intention to enroll, your home campus will conduct a complete credit evaluation.
What campuses are offering this degree?
The UW Health and Wellness Management program is offered by six institutions, depending on degree: UW-La Crosse, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior, UW-Parkside, and UW-Green Bay. Contact an enrollment adviser (1-877-895-3276 or learn@uwex.edu) to discuss which home campus may be the best match for you and your career goals.
Do I need to choose a “home” campus?
Yes. Although UW Health and Wellness Management program students take classes across partner campuses, you will still need to apply to a home campus. Having a home campus grants you access to specific campus resources such as advising, career assistance, libraries, and financial aid offices.
Is this an online program?
Yes, these degrees are offered completely online; there are no on-campus meetings or requirements. Books and materials are handled through an online bookstore. For a list of frequently asked questions about online learning, please see the page, “Are Online Courses Right for You?”
Are there specific enrollment/start times?
You may enter the program at the beginning of any term (fall, spring, or summer). Courses are offered in fall (starting early September), spring (starting late January), and summer (starting early June) semesters.
How can I tell whether online learning is right for me?
See the page, “Are Online Courses Right for You?” and call a friendly enrollment adviser at 1-877-UW-LEARN (895-3276) if you have any questions.
Who are the instructors for the program?
Courses in UW Health and Wellness Management programs are taught by faculty from the six participating University of Wisconsin campuses. Online courses have the same rigor, requirements, and expert faculty as classes taught on campus.
What subjects will the program cover?
View the bachelor’s degree courses and master’s degree courses sections for details.
What courses are required?
For the bachelor’s degree, you are required to take all of the 20 courses in the curriculum, including the capstone. For the master’s degree, you are required to take all 12 courses in the curriculum, including the capstone. There are no electives, and, because of the unique nature of the program, no other courses may be substituted for courses in the curriculum. View our complete bachelor’s degree course listing or master’s degree course listing.
How long does it take to complete a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness Management degree?
It depends on how many courses you take in a semester. Twenty-one courses with three credits each, plus one capstone are required. Courses are offered in the fall, spring, and summer sessions, so it would be possible to complete the degree in as little as two years. But only if you take full credit loads (approximately four courses) each semester. Students are encouraged to consider their own time constraints when estimating time to completion. Students with work, family, and volunteer obligations may require a slower pace.
How long does it take to complete a Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management degree?
It depends on whether you choose to study full or part time. The master’s program consists of 11 three-credit courses plus one capstone. Courses are offered in the fall, spring, and summer sessions, and a student may take as many as four courses per semester.
Students are encouraged to consider their own time constraints when estimating time to completion. Students with work, family, and volunteer obligations may require a slower pace.
How long do I have to earn my degree?
There is no completion deadline. You may take as many semesters as you need to earn your degree.
Are internships a required part of the program?
No. However, the bachelor’s degree course HWM 496: Health and Wellness Capstone and master’s degree course HWM 790: Health and Wellness Management Capstone will require a student to obtain field experience. Students will complete a 150-hour field experience project in HWM 496 with the goal of gaining hands-on experience in this exciting field.
What are the program’s tuition and fees?
Tuition for the online Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness Management program is $398 per credit (61 credits total) whether you live in Wisconsin or out of state. Textbooks are purchased separately and are not included in tuition.
Tuition for the online Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management program is $740 per credit for Fall 2018 (36 credits total) whether you live in Wisconsin or out of state. Textbooks are purchased separately and are not included in tuition.
There are no additional course or program fees. As these are online programs, students do not pay segregated fees-fees in addition to tuition that cover the costs of student-organized activities, facility maintenance, and operations such as student health centers.
Can I get financial aid?
A variety of financial aid opportunities are available for returning adult students. Contact the Financial Aid Office at your home campus for detailed information.
Are there benefits for veterans?
Yes. Contact the Veterans Coordinator at your home campus for details.
How do I withdraw from a course?
Add/drop/withdrawal deadlines for the University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management program are subject to the policies of your home campus.
Prior to withdrawing, we recommend that you talk with your instructor and/or adviser. For more information about the withdrawal policy and deadlines, please contact your home campus adviser.
How can I contact an adviser?
Contact an enrollment adviser at 1-877-UW-LEARN (895-3276) or learn@uwex.edu. Current students can email hwm@uwex.edu.
Are you ready 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
(Current students can email hwm@uwex.edu.)