Overview
Credits Per Trimester
5-6
TOTAL CREDITS
15
Duration
3 trimesters
Trimester of Entry
Fall, Spring
FORMAT
Online
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health and Wellness Coaching prepares students with the foundational skills and expertise to help clients clarify and implement health and wellness goals and sustain life-changing behaviors. MUIH’s program is one of the few graduate programs in health and wellness coaching in the U.S. and allows students to earn the highest academic credential in the cutting-edge field of health and wellness coaching. MUIH’s program is also one of the few programs in the U.S. to offer two professional credentialing pathways. MUIH graduates are eligible for credentialing by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). This 15-credit online program can be completed in 1 year (3 trimesters).
Audience
This program is designed for individuals seeking to promote health and wellness by working with individuals and small groups reached via private practice, in integrative health clinics, conventional medical settings, fitness and wellness centers, and organizations. Health and wellness coaches partner with their clients, and facilitate introspection, goal setting, behavioral change, accountability, and goal achievement. Health and wellness coaching can be conducted as a stand-alone professional practice, or be used to complement another health, wellness, or medical practice including nutrition, nursing, social work, health promotion, herbal medicine, acupuncture, Ayurveda, fitness and training, yoga therapy, massage therapy, and naturopathic medicine, among others.
Program Description
This program provides the skills, knowledge and expertise needed to become skilled health and wellness coaches who help clients clarify health and wellness goals through introspection, leverage their strengths, address challenges in behavior change, implement and sustain life-changing behaviors, and manage both setbacks and progress. The program develops an understanding of behavior change theories and principles, excellence in core coaching competencies, and the skills necessary to help clients adopt individually designed attitudes and lifestyle changes most conducive to optimal health and wellness. Students build a broad view of health and wellness that incorporates both conventional measures of health that focus on prevention of illness and disease and promotion of healthy lifestyles, as well as additional measures of health found in complementary and alternative health practices from a variety of wisdom traditions.
This program features highly credentialed faculty who hold the highest professional coaching credentials. 90% of MUIH’s health and wellness coaching faculty hold professional credentials issued by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and/or the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). 67% are ICF credentialed, 67% are NBHWC credentialed, and 43% are dual ICF and NBHWC credentialed.
This certificate program serves as both a stand-alone credential and as an entry point leading toward the Master of Arts in Health and Wellness Coaching degree for individuals interested in more advanced health and wellness coaching knowledge and skills. The 15 credits of coursework in the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health and Wellness Coaching count towards half of the 30 credits of coursework in the M.A. Health and Wellness Coaching program.
MUIH’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health and Wellness Coaching is a graduate program, which differs from training programs offered in the field. Click here for a description of the added value of a graduate program.
Can’t decide whether health promotion or health and wellness coaching is the program for you? Review this comparative summary to learn more about these professions.
Admission Requirements
| Trimester of Entry: | Fall, Spring |
| Application Priority Deadline: | Application deadline by Trimester |
| General Requirements: |
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| Program Specific Requirements: | Complete Essay Questions in application:
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Curriculum
The program consists of 15 credits of required coursework of foundational health and wellness coaching courses and Practical Skills Assessment.
Required Courses
- APP606 Becoming a Healing Presence (3 cr)
- COA605 Foundations of Healthy Lifestyles (1.5 cr)
- COA610 Fundamentals of Health and Wellness Coaching (3 cr)
- COA616 Theories and Principles of Behavior Change (3 cr)
- COA620 Applied Healing Strategies (3 cr)
- COAPSA Practical Skills Assessment (0 cr)
- ISCI631 Introduction to Complementary and Integrative Health (1.5 cr)
- MUIH550 Academic Research and Scholarship (0 cr)
Course Descriptions
Course descriptions are available in the Academic Catalog.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the professional qualities, relationship skills, and behaviors that comprise healing presence.
- Demonstrate the range of both practice- and evidence-informed coaching skills needed to facilitate sustainable behavior change in clients.
- Apply a wide variety of theories, principles, and coaching practices that promote behavior change.
- Integrate an understanding of conventional and complementary health perspectives to develop a comprehensive understanding of health and wellness.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the core competencies and an understanding of the ethical codes and Scope of Practice of the International Coaching Federation and the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching.
Program Format & Schedule
Program Format
This program is offered in the online format. Click here to view MUIH’s definition of online, hybrid, and on-campus course and program formats.
The program may occasionally offer some courses on-campus for students that wish to learn in person, but students are not required to take any on-campus courses. Not all courses will be offered in the on-campus format. The schedule of on-campus courses is determined on a trimester-by-trimester basis. When offered, on-campus courses are delivered in a weekend format to accommodate students with weekday commitments and those who can travel to attend the program. Classes typically meet Friday evenings and all-day Saturdays and Sundays. Class dates are subject to change.
Program Schedule
For trimester start and end dates, see the Academic Calendar.
Course Schedule
Trimester 1
- APP606 Becoming a Healing Presence (3 cr)
- COA605 Foundations of Healthy Lifestyles (1.5 cr)
- ISCI631 Introduction to Complementary and Integrative Health (1.5 cr)
- MUIH550 Academic Research and Scholarship (0 cr)
Trimester 2
- COA610 Fundamentals of Health and Wellness Coaching (3 cr)
- COA616 Theories and Principles of Behavior Change (3 cr)
Trimester 3
- COA620 Applied Healing Strategies (3 cr)
- COAPSA Practical Skills Assessment (0 cr)
Tuition & Fees
Tuition
| Trimester | Course Code | Cost per Credit | # of Credits | University Fee | Tuition Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall ’24 | COA/ISCI* | $928/$953 | 6 | $275 | $5,605.50 |
| Spring ’25 | COA | $928 | 6 | $275 | $5,568 |
| Summer ’25 | COA | $928 | 3 | $275 | $2,784 |
| Total | 15 | $825 | $13,957.50 |
*Prices subject to change. Tuition costs are for illustrative purposes only.
Additional Fees
| Fees | Cost |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $50 |
| Non-Refundable Tuition Deposit | $150 |
| University Fee (per trimester) | $275 All students, including students taking a voluntary break in enrollment. Click here to learn more about the fee. |
| Late Registration Fee |
$75/course After registration deadline and before start of the schedule adjustment period for current students $150/course During the schedule adjustment period for current students |
Tuition
| Trimester | Course Code | Cost per Credit | # of Credits | University Fee | Tuition Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall ’23 | COA/ISCI* | $928/$953 | 6 | $275 | $5,605.50 |
| Spring ’24 | COA | $928 | 6 | $275 | $5,568 |
| Summer ’24 | COA | $928 | 3 | $275 | $2,784 |
| Total | 15 | $825 | $13,957.50 |
*Prices subject to change. Tuition costs are for illustrative purposes only.
Additional Fees
| Fees | Cost |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $50 |
| Non-Refundable Tuition Deposit | $150 |
| University Fee (per trimester) | $275 All students, including students taking a voluntary break in enrollment. Click here to learn more about the fee. |
| Late Registration Fee |
$75/course After registration deadline and before start of the schedule adjustment period for current students $150/course During the schedule adjustment period for current students |
Licensure, Certification, & Credentialing
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health and Wellness Coaching and the Master of Arts in Health and Wellness Coaching programs offer two professional credentialing pathways. Students who complete these programs are eligible for credentialing by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). 90% of MUIH’s health and wellness coaching faculty hold credentials issued by ICF and/or NBHWC. 67% are ICF credentialed, 67% are NBHWC credentialed, and 43% are dual ICF and NBHWC credentialed.
International Coaching Federation (ICF)
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health and Wellness Coaching and the Master of Arts in Health and Wellness Coaching are approved by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Courses in these programs provide the Approved Coach Specific Training Hours (ACSTH) required to become an ICF-certified coach and fulfill the minimum synchronous 60-hour training requirement to apply for ICF’s Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential. Additional requirements apply for this ICF credential, and requirements beyond coach training increase with higher level of credentials. Interested individuals are encouraged to check for the most recent requirements with ICF at coachfederation.org.
National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC)
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health and Wellness Coaching holds the status of NBHWC-Approved Training Program, and it is embedded in the Master of Arts in Health and Wellness Coaching program. Students who begin the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate or Master of Arts in Health and Wellness Coaching in fall 2019 or later, who have completed the NBHWC-approved coursework as part of MUIH’s programs, and who have met NBHWC’s additional requirements will qualify to sit for the national board exam, the HWC Certifying Examination. The HWC Certifying Examination was developed by NBHWC in conjunction with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). Individuals who pass this exam will earn the title of National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC).
Graduates of MUIH’s Post-Baccalaureate and Master of Arts in Health and Wellness Coaching programs have a pass rate of 87% on NBHWC’s HWC Certifying Examination, as compared to the national pass rate of 81% on this exam.
Additional requirements may apply for this credential. Interested individuals are encouraged to check for the most recent requirements with NBHWC at nbhwc.org.
Program Accreditation & Approvals
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health and Wellness Coaching and the Master of Arts in Health and Wellness Coaching programs hold various approvals from the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). Students who complete these programs are eligible for credentialing by both organizations. See the Licensure, Certification, and Credentialing section below for additional information.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of MUIH’s health and wellness coaching programs are employed in a variety of settings including private practice; integrative group practices; health care systems; hospitals; wellness centers; health and wellness online and mobile platforms; consulting firms; community, non-profit, and outreach organizations; state, local, and federal agencies; and colleges and universities. Many graduates choose to have a portfolio career in which they have multiple positions and employers within one or more profession, rather than one full-time job. A portfolio career provides such individuals with variety in their work life and the opportunity to develop a wide and varied professional network.
Individuals with skills and knowledge in health and wellness coaching will support the continued projected growth of healthcare occupations in the U.S. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects healthcare occupations to grow 13% from 2021-2031, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 2 million new jobs. Healthcare occupations are projected to add more jobs than any other occupational groups in the U.S. Health and wellness coaching is aligned with the growing trend toward integrative approaches and holism in health and wellness. The National Health Interview Survey indicates 59 million Americans spend $30.2 billion per year out-of-pocket for integrative health practices, and 33.2% of U.S. adults use integrative health practices.
Health and wellness coaching has been identified as an innovative and cutting-edge career. Deloitte Insights includes wellness coaches among the ten winning business archetypes in the future of health. The health coaching industry has emerged as an estimated $7 billion service market in 2021, with an estimated 128,000 health coaches and health educators already in the workforce, advising and motivating clients to make lasting lifestyle and behavioral changes. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects the employment of health education specialists, including health and wellness coaches, will grow 12% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations due to “an emphasis on promoting healthy behaviors, particularly based on experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic.” The growing number of National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) and International Coaching Federation (ICF) credentialed coaches is also an indicator of the growth of the field. There are 6,500 NBHWC certified coaches and 30,802 ICF certified coaches in 130 countries and territories.
Upcoming Webinars
Take a look at what our Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health and Wellness Coaching program offers and how MUIH is the choice for you!
Program Administration
Duston Morris, Ph.D., CHES, ACE-HWC
Department Chair
Suzanne Zolnick, M.A.S.
Department Manager
Crystal Hoyte, M.S.
Associate Director of Academic Advising & Student Orientation Specialist