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?
View the bachelor’s or master’s Application and Admission pages 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?
View the bachelor’s or master’s Application and Admission pages 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?
Check out “Are Online Courses Right for You?” and call an enrollment adviser at 1-877-895-3276 to discuss whether the online Health and Wellness Management program is a good fit for your learning style and career goals.
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 course page and master’s degree course page for details.
What courses are required?
For the bachelor’s degree, you are required to take all of the 21 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 bachelor’s degree course page or master’s degree course page for details.
How long does it take to complete a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness Management?
Students are required to complete all 21 courses in the curriculum (61 total credits). Courses are offered during all three semesters on a rotation. Completion time depends on how many courses a student takes during a semester and whether they attend all three semesters. Students should work with their advisor to formulate a completion plan that takes into account personal time constraints such as work and family obligations. Many students take two courses per semester and some take more. Some of our graduates achieved their degree by taking one course per semester. There is not one approach that works for all students. Our offerings will help you customize to best fit your personal situation.
How long does it take to complete a Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management?
Students are required to complete all 12 courses in the curriculum (36 total credits).Courses are offered during all three semesters on a rotation. Completion time depends on how many courses a student takes during a semester and whether they attend all three semesters. Students should work with their advisor to formulate a completion plan that takes into account personal time constraints such as work and family obligations. Many students take two courses per semester and some take more. Some of our graduates achieved their degree by taking one course per semester. There is not one approach that works for all students. Our offerings will help you customize to best fit your personal situation.
How long do I have to earn my degree?
Individual campuses have different completion requirements. Please check with your home campus for the actual policy. In some cases, there is the option to petition for more time when needed.
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?
View the Tuition and Financial Aid page for details.
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. Eligible veterans, their spouses, their children, and current members of the military may be eligible to receive state and federal military benefits. For more information, contact the Veterans Coordinator at your home campus.
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 enrollment adviser?
Call 1-877-895-3276 or email 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.)
