Health and Wellness Management vs. Exercise Science: What Are the Differences? 

A commitment to your physical health and wellness can transform your life. Over the course of your life, this commitment becomes increasingly important and harder to maintain. With research suggesting that guidance from a health coach positively impacts health outcomes, many people are turning to health and wellness professionals for help in their health and exercise journeys. If you have a passion for staying healthy and encouraging others to do the same, then a career in wellness may be a perfect fit for you!

Even so, there are a wide range of potential careers in the health and wellness field. How do you choose a degree program and determine a direction? What is the difference between health and wellness management and exercise science, two sub-fields within the health industry? To provide you with a better understanding of your options, we’ve broken down these specialty areas and compared them.

Key Takeaways:

• Despite significant overlap, exercise science and health and wellness management differ due to differences in coursework and long-term career trajectories.
• The former hones in on human movement and exercise physiology whereas the latter requires advanced leadership and management skills.
• With a graduate degree in either field, individuals can pursue a career in a wide range of health settings.

What Is Health and Wellness Management?

Approaching health from a compassionate and interdisciplinary perspective is at the heart of health and wellness management. Broadly speaking, this niche within the health care field focuses on improving population health through evidence-based strategies. Y

our first exposure to the health and wellness industry may have been working with a health coach or wellness coordinator, but that’s not the only place you’ll encounter these professionals. From physicians’ offices to corporate settings, health and wellness can be found in any setting that prioritizes public health.

What Is Exercise Science?

Those who work in exercise and sport science are concerned with the ins and outs of physical activity. Movement and activity both play a huge role in maintaining your health—whether it’s through strength training, running, or playing a sport. Whereas health and wellness management takes a broader approach to the topic, the study of exercise science is incredibly focused.

People who work in the field may conduct research on sport performance or work directly with clients in an athletic or rehabilitative setting. Exercise science also tends to overlap with kinesiology, the study of movement, and physiology, the study of functions within the human body (or other living systems).

Key Differences Between Health and Wellness Management vs. Exercise Science

Health and wellness management and exercise science overlap in key ways. For one, both disciplines offer careers in the health sciences and aim to improve the well-being of others. However, in what ways do they differ?

Skill Sets

A mastery of the health sciences is foundational to both exercise science and health and wellness management, but they utilize this knowledge in different ways.

To excel in the exercise science field, individuals must possess strong attention to detail, as well as organizational and analytical skills. Because they often work in client-facing roles, they also typically have a knack for interpersonal communication. Utilizing a thorough understanding of human physiology and how the body responds to movement, exercise science professionals cultivate a varied skill set. This allows them to perform fitness assessments, prescribe exercise programs, and work with those who have injuries or other health problems.

In health and wellness management, by contrast, individuals apply their knowledge to organizational and public health issues. Their most crucial skills include strong leadership, communication, and program management. While they may provide services directly to clients or patients, these professionals are able to step back and see the bigger picture when evaluating the health of an entire community or organization.

Educational Paths and Coursework

The educational paths for both fields can vary greatly. Entry-level positions are available in both disciplines with a bachelor’s degree, but a graduate degree will unlock additional high-earning opportunities.

Exercise science programs immerse students in physiology, sport science, and athletic performance. The bulk of the coursework covers applied exercise science and related research methods. From there, exercise students may choose electives that are more closely aligned with their goals, whether that involves athletic administration or fitness programming. Some typical exercise science courses include:

• Advanced Exercise Physiology
• Nutrition and Ergogenic Aids
• Risk Management for Exercise and Fitness Professionals
• Science and Practice of Mind Body Medicine

As the name suggests, the curriculum for health and wellness management emphasizes leadership skills more strongly and how they can be applied to health care. While the coursework for this degree can be customized to suit an individual’s goals, its core requirements focus on effective wellness management. Students can further specialize through electives, such as:

• Fundamentals of Integrative Medicine
• Food Literacy in Health and Wellness
• Grant Writing and Resource Development
• Self-Care and Mental Well-being

Career Paths

With a graduate degree in health and management wellness, you’re particularly well-prepared for roles that combine leadership skills with a passion for health. While these professionals may still work face-to-face with clients, they are more often working on the administrative side of the health field. Their management and coordination skills have a trickle-down effect and directly impact the experience clients have. Some potential career paths include:

• Health and Wellness Coach
• Health Fitness Specialist
• Health Promotion Specialist
• Health Educator
• Corporate Wellness Coordinator
• Wellness Manager/Director
• Personal Trainer

There’s also an abundance of career opportunities in exercise and sports science. Physician’s offices, hospitals and clinics, community wellness organizations, fitness centers, and universities all employ exercise scientists. While we typically think of exercise scientists working directly with clients or patients, higher-level opportunities also exist in research and management.

For example, a master’s degree in exercise science is the perfect next step toward becoming an athletic director, as well as:

• Exercise Physiologist
• Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Personal Trainer or Fitness Instructor
• Applied Sports Scientist
• Fitness and Wellness Coordinator
• University Educators
• Physical Education Instructor

How to Choose the Right Path for You

When it comes to determining the best educational pathway for yourself, understanding your options is only half the battle. Next, it’s up to you to be honest about your skills, interests, and goals. Through this self-reflection, you’ll discover which path is a better fit for you as an individual.

Consider Your Career Goals

As with any degree program, obtaining a job in your desired field is the end goal—so you’ll want to choose a degree program with your dream career in mind. Exercise science lends itself to hands-on coaching and physical activity, whereas health and wellness management allows you to excel as a leader in health organizations. If one of these sounds more suited to your strengths, then that may point you in the right direction.

However, given the similarities between the two disciplines, it’s not uncommon for there to be overlap in their career trajectories. Take, for instance, physical therapists: while a doctoral degree is required for this career, it’s typically a viable path so long as your bachelor’s degree is in the health sciences or a related field.

Determine Your Long-Term Growth Opportunities

A master’s degree is a weighty but worthwhile investment. When choosing a degree program, it’s important to not just consider your first job but also where you see yourself in ten years. Say you start out your career as a personal trainer or wellness coach. How do you envision your career progressing from there?

If your dream is to develop a virtual fitness program or climb an organization’s ranks until you’re an athletic director, then a degree in exercise science is more in line with your goals. But what if your ambitions are pulling you toward leadership roles in community health or corporate wellness? What if you’re passionate about making an impact as a medical and health services manager? Then a degree in health and wellness management will better equip you with the skills you need.

Earn Your Degree Online and Advance Your Career—Contact Us Today to Learn More!

At the University of Cincinnati, we take the health sciences seriously. That’s why we offer graduate programs in both of these exciting disciplines! At UC, you can earn your Master of Science in Exercise and Sports Science or your Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management 100% online.

Still unsure which graduate degree is right for you? Don’t panic. Contact an Enrollment Services Advisor today for more information on these programs. And remember, regardless of which degree program you choose, you’re guaranteed the personalized support that UC’s online staff is known for.

At UC, we know how hard it is to pursue a master’s degree in the gaps of your busy schedule. We want to make your education as stress-free as possible and see you through to the finish line!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are health science and exercise science the same?

Health science is a broad category composed of a wide range of health-related disciplines. Exercise science is one of those that focuses specifically on physiology and physical activity.

Is health and wellness the same as fitness?

Not exactly. Fitness, or physical activity, is a crucial aspect of staying healthy. Health and wellness, however, encompasses a range of areas that include fitness, nutrition, and health care.

Is it worth it to major in exercise science?

Yes! Particularly if you are interested in a fitness or athletic coaching career, a degree in exercise science prepares you to work with clients.