Master of Science in Health & Wellness Management
The Master of Science degree in Health and Wellness Management program will equip students with the competencies required to successfully promote and advance the health and well-being of defined groups of people, to effectively lead wellness programs and to conduct research in the discipline. The degree is designed to prepare professionals to assume senior leadership positions in the wellness management field and is unique from other programs in that it has an increased emphasis on management and leadership competency development and focuses on all dimensions of personal and organizational wellness. Over the past 30 years, wellness has developed into a primary business strategy as these programs, when managed effectively, have documented successes in addressing key business issues such as health care cost containment, productivity, absenteeism, and risk management. The program features a multidisciplinary curriculum that draws on psychology, health, nursing/healthcare, communication and management sciences.
Admission Requirements
Each applicant’s prior academic work and experience will be evaluated prior to admission. Applicants are expected to have college-level writing, oral communication and computer skills. Students who show exceptional promise but lack the minimal prerequisites may be admitted provisionally. Applicants are not required to take the GRE for admission.
The application process requires completion of a UW-Green Bay Graduate Application form; resume; personal statement describing the applicant's interest in the degree (see below); names and contact information of two references (see below); and official transcripts (undergraduate and graduate).
Prerequisites
Minimum admission requirements are:
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
- A minimum of a 3.0 grade point average (GPA).
- Prerequisite coursework in:
- Personal Health or equivalent
- Anatomy & Physiology or Human Biology or equivalent
- Intro to Psychology or equivalent
- Elementary Statistics or equivalent
- Two (2) letters of recommendation (can be professional or academic)
- Resume
- Up to 1,000 word statement of personal intent describing decision to pursue this degree and what you believe you will bring to the health and wellness management field.
- No required aptitude tests (GRE, GMAT, e.g.)
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HWM 700 | Contemporary Health and Wellness Perspectives | 3 |
| HWM 705 | Strategic Management for Wellness Managers | 3 |
| HWM 710 | Research Methods for Wellness Programs | 3 |
| HWM 715 | Persuasion Skills for Wellness Managers | 3 |
| HWM 720 | Exercise and Nutrition in Health and Disease | 3 |
| HWM 730 | Biopsychosocial Aspects of Health | 3 |
| HWM 740 | Health Systems and Policy for Wellness Managers | 3 |
| HWM 750 | Planning and Evaluation for Wellness Managers | 3 |
| HWM 760 | Wellness Law | 3 |
| HWM 770 | Behavior and Development in Organizations | 3 |
| HWM 780 | Best Practices and Emerging Issues in Wellness | 3 |
| HWM 790 | Health and Wellness Management Capstone Course | 3 |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Progress to Degree
Steps Toward the Degree
- The candidate applies to the Master Health and Wellness Management program by submitting an application, all required application materials to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
- The candidate is admitted to the Master of Health and Wellness Management program by the program Chair.
- The student fulfills the degree requirements for the program.
- The student is awarded a Master of Health and Wellness Management degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Faculty
Dr. Christine Vandenhouten PhD, RN, APHN-BC, CPH, Associate Professor and Academic Director of the Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management program. BSN (1986) Marian University, Fond du Lac, WI; MSN (1991) University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh; Ph.D. (2008) Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI.
Fields of interest: Health Policy, Healthcare Finance, Program Assessment and Evaluation, Emotional intelligence/leadership styles, Community/public health, global health, Interprofessional healthcare, Leadership on Boards of Directors.
Dr. T. Heather Herdman PhD, RN, Associate Professor, Nursing. B.S.N. (1988), University of South Carolina, Columbia; M.S.N. (1991), and Ph.D. (1995), Boston College
Fields of interest: clinical reasoning, nursing diagnosis, patient safety and outcomes, leadership, integrative health care, cultural competence
