Curriculum: Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management

Curriculum: Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management
12.02.2024
30
01.13.2025
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curriculum icon Curriculum at a Glance

The curriculum of the MS Health and Wellness Management focuses broadly on preparing professionals to improve and support health and wellness in the U.S. through implementation of evidence-based strategies for behavior change and mobilization of solutions for preventing chronic disease.

The program consists of 18 core credits which incorporate both wellness leadership and management content necessary to sit for both certification exams. The remaining 12 elective credits are self-selected by the student based on their specific areas of interest. Electives can be applied to graduate certificates if desired (Leadership and Management, or Telehealth as examples).

Graduates will be prepared to pursue the Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP) credential through the National Wellness Institute (NWI).

*The first 6 classes listed below are the core classes for this degree, followed by the elective options.

Course Title / Description Credit
HPE 7002
Culture, Equity, and Vulnerable Population Health
Course: HPE 7002
Credit: 3
This course aims to sensitize students to forces shaping health and disease in multicultural societies and to raise students' level of awareness of health issues specific to minority populations. The course also provides practical experience in assessing health indicators for vulnerable populations and applying public health education principles to selected population needs.
3
HPE 7010
Wellness and Chronic Disease
Course: HPE 7010
Credit: 3
This course is designed to provide the student with an overview and understanding of modern public health approaches aimed at preventing and managing major lifestyle chronic diseases. An emphasis will be placed on identifying risk factors, commonly used biometric measures, and current lifestyle recommendations for optimizing health and wellness. Course will focus on leading chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and dyslipidemia.
3
HPE 7020
Innovative Wellness Leadership
Course: HPE 7020
Credit: 3
In this course, students will gain an understanding of the major leadership theories and concepts of innovation and apply them within the context of leading health and wellness programs and organizations. Students will also gain an understanding of how to establish collaborative relationships within and across key stakeholders and interdisciplinary teams to promote sustainable health and wellness practices that meet long-term personal, organizational, and/or community goals.
3
HPE 7040
Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health
Course: HPE 7040
Credit: 3
Course content will include concepts and methods of social and behavioral sciences relevant to the identification and solution of public health problems. Emphasis will be given to common theories and models of behavioral and social sciences that are used in health promotion such asplanning models, health belief model, transtheoretical model, theory of reasoned action,theory of planned behavior, theories of stress andcoping, social cognitive theory, social marketing,diffusion of innovations, and Freirian model of adult education.
3
HPE 7075
Evidence-Based Practice and Interpreting Research in Health and Wellness
Course: HPE 7075
Credit: 3
This course provides an introduction to evidence-based practice in health and wellness. This includes the ability to interpret best evidence from well-designed research studies, in addition to incorporating client values/preferences and professional experience, in approaching the prevention or management of disease. Students will learn to ask focused questions, analyze existing guidelines, critically analyze and synthesize relevant research, and integrate evidence into practice.
3
HPE 7050
Applied Experience in Health & Wellness Management
Course: HPE 7050
Credit: 3
This course allows students to engage in hands-on, competency-based work within the context of health and wellness management. Students will select from a menu of applied, real-world project options designed to focus on the key topical areas learned throughout the health and wellness management curriculum.
3
HPE 7014
Grant Writing and Resource Development
Course: HPE 7014
Credit: 3
The purpose of this course is to investigate sources of grant funding at the federal, state, and local level. Another primary purpose is examine grant announcements, RFPs (Request for Proposals), and example grant proposals. Students will also practice developing a grant proposal.
3
HPE 7015
Community Organization and Program Management
Course: HPE 7015
Credit: 3
The purpose of this course is to enable students to 1) utilize effective leadership and management skills to organize communities and to plan, implement, evaluate and manage health promotion and education programs within communities; 2) empower individuals within a community to take action; and 3) develop and maintain coalitions when needed.
3
HPE 7016
Current Topics in Nutrition Education
Course: HPE 7016
Credit: 3
This course provides an examination of current nutrition information and trends for health education professionals. The goal is to provide basic, concise, practical, accurate and evidence-based nutrition information in relation to the prevention of common chronic diseases. Emphasis will be placed on the application and education of individuals, groups and the community.
3
MGMT 7014
Leadership and Organizations
Course: MGMT 7014
Credit: 2
This course focuses on concepts and applications related to organizations and the individuals who design and work within them. The goal of the course is to help you better understand and practice individual and organizational management.We will cover micro-level issues (e.g., individual differences and motivation), mid-level issues (e.g., leadership, groups and teams), and macro-level issues (e.g., organizational culture and structure). By focusing on concepts, applications and issues, you will be better able to see and understand organizational phenomena that you might now take for granted. This course will also help increase your understanding of yourself and others so that you can be more effective in the organizations in which you manage and participate.
2
MGMT 7073
Human Resource Management
Course: MGMT 7073
Credit: 2
This course will provide students with a basic understanding of human resource practices and strategies for the general manager. The focus of the class is not on the technical practices carried out by the HRM function (such as developing compensation systems or designing training programs), but rather on those HRM-related practices that managers carry out on a day-to-day basis (hiring new employees, providing performance feedback, etc.). A second focus will be on examining these practices from a strategic perspective, in order to understand their impact on employee performance and, ultimately, organizational outcomes.
2
HPE 6024
Health and Wellness Coaching
Course: HPE 6024
Credit: 3
This skills-based course is designed to provide theoretical knowledge and practical application of health and wellness coaching for behavior change in a variety of settings. Topics include building rapport, effective coach-to-client communication techniques, screening and assessment, motivational interviewing, legal considerations of the profession, and professional scope of practice of the health coach.
3
HPE 6026
Stress Reduction
Course: HPE 6026
Credit: 3
This is a stress reduction course that focuses on techniques for stress reduction and their application. Students are exposed to techniques for relaxation, effective communication, managing anger, reducing anxiety, physical activity/exercise, healthy nutrition, and efficient time management. Graduate students plan,implement, and evaluate a stress reduction program in family, school, community, worksite, or patient care setting.
3
CNSL 8070
Motivational Interviewing
Course: CNSL 8070
Credit: 2-3
Motivational Interviewing is an evidence-based person-centered counseling practice for addressing the common problem of ambivalence about behavior change. Students in this course will learn how to describe and apply principles and techniques of MIto a wide range of behaviors (e.g.,smoking cessation, weight loss and medication adherence) across various settings (e.g., addiction treatment centers, hospitals and schools).
2-3
GNTD 6087
Fundamentals of Integrative Medicine
Course: GNTD 6087
Credit: 3
This interactive course provides an overview of the basic principles and history of integrative medicine and health while empowering students to learn tools for improving patient outcomes and their own self-care. This includes an emphasis on a critical review of the scientific evidence base for integrative medicine approaches as they relate to prevention, treatment of chronic disease, and overall wellness as well as listening coaching from your instructor to provide an interactive learning environment. Students experience a variety of integrative health modalities and a focus on a healthy lifestyle as models for disease prevention, treatment of illness, and overall health and wellness promotion to improve patient outcomes and their own self-care.
3
GNTD 6088
Science and Practice of Mind Body Medicine
Course: GNTD 6088
Credit: 3
Students will experientially explore commonly used mind-body modalities including mindfulness, guided imagery, breathwork, yoga, etc., which enhance stress management and promote overall wellness. This course provides an evidence-base and indication for use of mind-body techniques in a personal and professional/clinical setting. Graduate students will further develop their skills focusing on science by choosing one mind/body modality to research in more depth and propose a pilot research project – i.e. guided imagery as it relates to pre and postsurgical outcomes.
3
HPE 7004
Women's Health Issues
Course: HPE 7004
Credit: 3
The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of various physical, mental and emotionalhealth issues either unique to women or that affect women differently than men and to enable students to examine how the US health care system, politics, society and the media may impact and/or influence the health of women.
3
GNTD 6089
Self-Care and Mental Well-being
Course: GNTD 6089
Credit: 3
This course will introduce scientifically-validated strategies shown to reduce stress and increase mental wellbeing. It will also seek to increase students’ capacity to overcome setbacks, challenges, and difficulties. The course will include exploration and discussion of the psychological science of self-care and mental wellbeing, and include experiential learning of specific self-care strategies to bolster overall mental wellbeing and resiliency. This course will also develop the students ability to research and analyze current research in the field.
3
GNTD 6093
Food Literacy in Health and Wellness
Course: GNTD 6093
Credit: 3
This course will explore concepts relevant to food literacy, culinary medicine, and seek to enhance students’ fundamental culinary and nutritional knowledge for personal health. Throughout the course, we will examine dietary behavior on personal and global health outcomes and provide practical strategies for diet-related behaviors throughout one’s life. To gain a holistic perspective on food literacy, we will also examine facets of food systems and their impact on environments, communities, and public health.
3
HPE 7081
Individualized Study in Health Promotion and Education
Course: HPE 7081
Credit: 1-3
This course allows students to propose individual study in an area of specific interest. Individual studies are typically conducted in areas that are not included in the curriculum or that allow students to extend their learning beyond what is taught in a given course. Students must have a faculty member from the Health Promotion and Education (HP & E) program who agrees to supervise the individual study.
1-3
RSTH 6075
Leadership Theory for Healthcare
Course: RSTH 6075
Credit: 3
This course combines leadership theory and practice by blending discussion of research and theory with practical suggestions for improving leadership effectiveness in the health care environment. Topics include leadership and communication styles, various approaches to leadership, sources of power, and the key to successful influence in leadership. Public, group, organizational, and team leadership will be discussed along with an overview of the four-frame model.
3
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