Bachelor of Science in Health and Community Wellness
The mission of the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Health & Community Wellness is to provide professional candidates for employment in a variety of settings to promote health and wellness. Through program courses and experiential learning experiences, students will be prepared to help people, organizations, and communities change lifestyle behaviors to minimize health risks and improve overall wellness.
Students have the option of taking 15 credit hours of electives or choosing an approved minor such as Biology, Business Administration, Management, Psychology, Sociology, Nutrition Promotion & Education, Sport Management, Coaching, or others. Students must maintain a minimum of 2.0 GPA for good academic standing in this program on the General Track.
Students also have the option to choose 1 of 4 professional tracks: Athletic Training, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, or Dietetics. These tracks will prepare students to apply for a Master's or doctoral program in the designated field of study. Students must maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA for good academic standing in this program on any of the 4 professional tracks.
For more information, please see the Academic Catalog. A program map, which provides a guide for students to plan their course of study, is available for download in the Courses tab below.
Program Description
The Health and Community Wellness program consists of 120 required credit hours and built to prepare graduates for a diversity of occupations in the health and wellness industry. The B.S. degree with a major in Health and Community Wellness includes:
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Action-oriented curriculum with hands- on courses based on the latest research and methodology, following the criteria established by the National Wellness Institute
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Student-centered teaching that permits a flexible plan of study, allowing students to customize a program for advanced study in a related area of interest
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Market-driven instruction allows students to gain in-field experience via a service-learning course
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Mutually beneficial partnerships with wellness professionals to develop strong connections between industry and the university.
Program Location
Carrollton Campus
Method of Delivery
Classes are delivered in both face to face and distance learning formats using the latest research and methodologies. All classes will be technology enhanced.
Accreditation
The University of West Georgia is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Credit and transfer
Total semester hours required: 120
Maximum Hours Transferable into program: Conditional Upon Review*
*Review and Approval by Program Coordinator and Advisor.
This program may be earned entirely face-to-face. However, depending on the courses chosen, a student may choose to take some partially or fully online courses.
Save money
UWG is often ranked as one of the most affordable accredited universities of its kind, regardless of the method of delivery chosen.
Details
- Total tuition costs and fees may vary, depending on the instructional method of the courses in which the student chooses to enroll.
- The more courses a student takes in a single term, the more they will typically save in fees and total cost.
- Face-to-face or partially online courses are charged at the general tuition rate and all mandatory campus fees, based on the student's residency (non-residents are charged at a higher rate).
- Fully or entirely online course tuition rates and fees my vary depending on the program. Students enrolled in exclusively online courses do not pay non-Resident rates.
- Together this means that GA residents pay about the same if they take all face-to-face or partially online courses as they do if they take only fully online courses exclusively; while non-residents save money by taking fully online courses.
- One word of caution: If a student takes a combination of face-to-face and online courses in a single term, he/she will pay both all mandatory campus fees and the higher eTuition rate.
- For cost information, as well as payment deadlines, see the Student Accounts and Billing Services website
There are a variety of financial assistance options for students, including scholarships and work study programs. Visit the Office of Financial Aid's website for more information.
Coursework
This describes the general course work required for this program.
Downloads
General
This undergraduate course is an introduction to the Health and Community Wellness degree. Through this course, students will discover the many aspects of an undergraduate degree in Health and Community Wellness, including an overview of the classes required, current and future opportunities available with a degree in this field, the potential opportunities, certifications, and work experiences which students can pursue.
This course engages students in critical analyses of contemporary cultural and sociological issues and their interaction on the health and wellness (physical, social, emotional, psychological) of individuals and society as a whole. Students will actively examine contemporary societal issues from multiple vantage points in order to better understand their complexities and the impact they have on the well being of all.
This undergraduate course is a study of human growth and development from birth through aging and death. The course focuses on areas of physical, cognitive, social, personality, and emotional development as a series of progressive changes resulting from the biological being interacting with the environment. The course will study factors affecting these changes within historical, multicultural, and societal perspectives.
An introduction to the role of mental and emotional health in overall well-being. Emphasis is placed on research and practice related to improving mental health and emotional well-being. In addition, barriers to improving mental health are explored at the individual, community, and societal levels. Students are expected to establish and pursue personal goals related to improving emotional health and demonstrate a thorough understanding of the relationship between mental and emotional health and the other pillars of healthful living. Students will also examine common behavioral strategies with regard to substance use and abuse and its management and the use of alternative remedies for physical, mental and emotional dependencies and addictions.
This course examines the psychosocial antecedents and consequences of health behaviors, with an emphasis on physical activity. This course will reinforce and extend students' knowledge of mental and emotional wellness, while examining the influence of physical activity on cognitive, mental, and emotional outcomes. Students will also learn and apply behavior change theories in various health promotion contexts, such as worksite wellness programs and health education campaigns.
This undergraduate course provides healthy eating and nutrition principles for fitness and wellness professionals. The course helps students understand the role of nutrition in improving health and applying these ideas to establish healthy SMART goals and eating plans. A review of current eating habits and patterns using nationally recommended dietary guidelines and nutritional assessment tools will be covered. Course topics include the relationship between nutrition and various diseases, use of dietary supplementation, and nutrition for improved sport and fitness performance.
This undergraduate course provides students with a comprehensive overview of the practical and theoretical skills needed to plan, implement and evaluate health promotion programs in a variety of settings. The course helps students develop a health education program, work through examples and activities for program planning application and review the essential tools for effective practices in health promotion, education and evaluation.
This undergraduate course provides students with leadership skills and experience that directly apply to fitness programs. Topics include current trends in group exercise formats, exercise program design and implementation, methods of intensity monitoring, exercise risk factors, safety issues as they relate to proper alignment and technique, evaluation of existing programs and basic business practices, professional certifications and educational organizations in group fitness instruction.
This undergraduate course gives students an overview of the current issues and trends in the health, fitness, and wellness industry, by providing quality opportunities for gaining in-depth knowledge of the most relevant topics impacting the field. The course specifically highlights career opportunities and code of conduct for professionals, legal issues and responsibilities, working with special populations, nutrition and weight control, fitness and wellness promotion, current certifications, healthcare, and the business of the industry. Additional content may vary based on recent trends related to epidemiology, exercise and aging, psychology of health and fitness, program adherence, research methods, exercise prescription and assessment, consumer choices, and sport concerns.
In this course, students will reflect on the role various forms of electronic and digital technology can play in the health and community wellness profession and how you can engage these processes with your clients. You will become skilled in using selected digital tools used common in today's health and wellness careers. In addition, you will be exposed to basic theories of communication, methods of delivery, and evaluation. Further, you will learn to determine appropriate applications of these theories and techniques in health promotion settings.
Issues related to the appropriation of health interventions (specific physical activity and/or exercise programs) for special populations, including, but not limited to: older adults, children, obesity, diabetes, CVD, cancer, anxiety, depression, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, COPD, HIV, organ transplant, PAD, arthritis and musculoskeletal injuries. Evidence-based, advanced programming methods and population-specific considerations will be discussed. ACSM s Exercise is Medicine initiative will be a focal point for this course.
This course will introduce the skills and techniques related to guiding groups and individuals through autonomous behavior change. Students will learn and apply motivational interviewing techniques and coaching frameworks. There will also be an emphasis on cultural competence and humility to promote positive coaching relationships.
Applying WELCOA s Seven Benchmarks framework, students will create a workplace wellness program that measures investment value for business and industry. Students will utilize market data and assess workplace culture, environment, and demographics to craft a corporate operating plan to impact employee wellness. By exploring the evidence-based and result-oriented standards, students will be able to identify stakeholder-engaged wellness initiatives, enhance decision-making skills based on current industry outcomes to support the whole employee across the continuum of health, develop sustainable policies and practices for employee wellbeing, and communicate the findings from wellness program evaluations.
Supervised pre-professional practice experience in health and wellness promotion and coaching. Students will be placed at community sites in a range of venues and will receive on-site supervision by a field supervisor as well as seminar meetings with the course instructor.
This undergraduate course is designed to develop skills and knowledge related to physical activity and physical fitness. Assessment labs for the five health-related fitness components will be included in this course. In addition, this course is designed to provide students with basic knowledge in the area of personal wellness, including nutrition, stress management, chronic diseases, and planning for and implementing a healthy lifestyle change.
This course focuses on the structure and function of the major body systems, with an emphasis on the musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory systems. This course analyzes these systems and their role in human movement and physical activity.
For Education majors only. Students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to respond in an emergency to help sustain life, reduce pain, and minimize the consequences of injury or sudden illness until professional medical help arrives. Specific school based situations relating to child injuries and emergencies will be addressed. Certification in CPR and First Aid is awarded upon successful completion of the course. Students must make a grade of C or better in order to use the course in Area F.
This course focuses on the incidence, prevalence, distribution, and preventative measures of disease acquisition and other factors relating to health. Topics include but are not limited to the following: health-related fitness; obesity; nutrition and dieting; chronic and communicable diseases (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, respiratory disease, HIV/AIDS, stress and depressions, arthritis, osteoporosis, etc.); and how the environment influences human health and disease (air, water and soil, and also all the physical, chemical, biological and social features of our surroundings).
This class focuses on the physiological responses and adaptations of the human body during exercise. In depth analysis of the responses of the respiratory, circulatory, and muscular systems will be a major focus. Pre-participation health screening, biometric and fitness assessment, and participant goals will be considered to design individualized training programs. Laboratory activities include data collection and analysis, exercise programming case studies, and exercise demonstration and instruction practice.
A broad survey of the major topics in psychology including, but not limited to, research methodology, biological and social factors influencing behavior, development, learning, memory, and personality.
Jamie Brandenburg, M.P.H., LPN, CWP, DE
Lecturer
Melissa Brillhart, MA, RD, LD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Ashlee Davis, Ph.D
Assistant Professor
Chrissy Knoll, MS, CPT
Lecturer, Health and Community Wellness
Guidelines for Admittance
Each UWG online degree program has specific requirements that you must meet in order to enroll.
- Complete online application. A one-time application fee of $30 is required.
- Official transcripts from all schools attended. Official transcripts are sent from a regionally or nationally accredited institution.
- Verify specific requirements associated with specific populations identified here: Freshman Adult Learners Transfer International Home School Joint / Dual Enrollment Transient Auditor Post-Baccalaureate Non-Degree Seeking Readmission
- For more information go to UWG Admission Deadlines
Program Specific Admittance Guidelines
The proposed criteria for admissions include the following:
- Academic status at the University of West Georgia in good standing
- Minimum GPA of 2.0
Application Deadlines
For more information see: UWG Admission Deadlines
Admission Process Checklist
- Review Admission Requirements for the different programs and guides for specific populations (non-traditional, transfer, transient, home school, joint enrollment students, etc).
- Review important deadlines:
- Fall semester: June 1 (undergrads)
- Spring semester: November 15 (undergrads)
- Summer semester: May 15 (undergrads)
See program specific calendars here
- Complete online application
Undergraduate Admissions Guide
Undergraduate Application
Undergraduate International Application - Submit $30 non-refundable application fee
- Submit official documents
Request all official transcripts and test scores be sent directly to UWG from all colleges or universities attended. If a transcript is mailed to you, it cannot be treated as official if it has been opened. Save time by requesting transcripts be sent electronically.
Undergraduate & Graduate Applicants should send all official transcripts to:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Murphy Building
University of West Georgia
1601 Maple Street
Carrollton, GA 30118-4160 - Submit a Certificate of Immunization, if required. If you will not ever be traveling to a UWG campus or site, you may apply for an Immunization Exemption. See Immunizations Guidelines for more information.
- Check the status of your application
- For more information go to UWG Admission Deadlines
Contact
For more information on the Bachelor of Science in Health and Community Wellness, contact Chrissy Knoll, MS (Program Coordinator) at 678-839-2241 or email at cknoll@westga.edu.
Advisement information: http://www.westga.edu/coeadvisement/
Specific dates for admissions (Undergraduates Only), go to: UWG Admission Deadlines
Program Goals/Objectives:
The B.S. degree with a major in Health and Community Wellness will:
- provide an educated workforce who are prepared for the wide range of career options in the health and wellness industry.
- provide an interdisciplinary curriculum offering a broad scope of preparation across disciplines in counseling, physical education, health and special education.
- provide flexibility of coursework to allow students to customize their program in preparation for advanced (graduate) study in a related field of interest.
- contribute to the health and wellness of citizens working and living in Georgia, through a highly skilled workforce.
Student learning outcomes:
- The student will be able to apply discipline-specific and theoretical concepts related to industry standards set by the National Wellness Institute in five critical aspects: systems aspect, methodological aspect, professional aspect, project management aspect, and contextual aspect.
- The student will be able to implement evidence-based information appropriate to developmental level, health literacy level, learning needs, learning readiness, and cultural values and beliefs to educate clients and the public about health promotion and wellness.
- The student will demonstrate dispositions essential to becoming effective professionals.
- The student will apply participatory, holistic, and strength-based processes to design and evaluate a wellness program that meets the objectives and outcomes established by key stakeholders.