Overview
Credits Per Trimester
6
TOTAL CREDITS
30
Duration
5 trimesters
Trimester of Entry
Fall, Spring
FORMAT
Online, Hybrid
COVID-19 PANDEMIC UPDATE: This program will next enroll students for the Spring 2023 trimester. This program will be delivered in its standard online format for students entering the program in the Fall 2022 trimester; the program can be completed by taking only online classes, and there are no requirements to come to campus.
The Master of Arts in Health and Wellness Coaching prepares students with the advanced 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. This recently revised program builds upon foundational coaching skills through advanced coaching skills, group coaching, professional and business development, and research literacy skills that support contemporary coaching practice. MUIH graduates are eligible for credentialing by the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) and the International Coaching Federation (ICF). This 30-credit program can be completed in the online format. The program can be completed in as little as 5 trimesters (20 months), and students may choose to take longer to complete the program based on their schedule.
NBHWC and ICF Certified Individuals: Individuals who are an NBHWC National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach or who are an ICF Associate (ACC), Professional (PCC), or Master (MCC) Certified Coach are eligible for advanced standing in MUIH’s M.A. Health and Wellness Coaching program. Advanced standing recognizes student’s certified learning as a health and wellness coach and applies it toward the attainment of MUIH’s M.A. Health and Wellness Coaching degree. Advanced standing reduces credits, costs, and time to program completion for NBHWC and ICF certified individuals. NBHWC certified individuals are eligible for 10.5 credits of advanced standing and will only need to complete 19.5 credits of coursework at MUIH. ICF certified individuals are eligible for 6 credits of advanced standing and will only need to complete 24 credits of coursework at MUIH. This program can be completed in as little as one year for individuals with such advanced standing, and students may choose to take longer to complete the program based on their schedule.
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.
Unique to MUIH’s health and wellness coaching philosophy, and an essential component of the curriculum, is teaching people to be aware of the body’s innate wisdom and to regard symptoms and struggles as teachers. Other distinctive program features include a focus on research literacy for informed coaching practice, an integrative approach to wellness and healing, a focus on whole-person care, and a model that emphasizes self-reflection and personal empowerment for healthy lifestyles. Students practice and hone their coaching skills through real-time coaching labs, working with mentor coaches and volunteer coaching clients. The program includes a series of three practicum. In the first, students work one-on-one with clients and begin to build their coaching practice. The second is a group coaching practicum, and the third is a practicum utilizing more advanced skills. Also provided are opportunities to coach volunteer clients and interprofessionalism in different settings, including conventional health care settings.
This program features highly credentialed and recognized faculty who hold the highest professional coaching credentials. Ninety percent of MUIH’s health and wellness coaching faculty hold professional credentials issued by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching and/or the International Coaching Federation (ICF). 67% are NBHWC credentialed, 67% are ICF certified, and 43% are dually certified by NBHWC and ICF.
The 15 credits of foundational coaching courses in the M.A. Health and Wellness Coaching program also make up the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health and Wellness Coaching. This certificate program serves as both a stand-alone credential and can serve as an entry point leading toward the M.A. degree.
MUIH’s Master of Arts 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 30 credits of required coursework in the following areas:
- 15 credit hours of core health and wellness coaching courses and Practical Skills Assessment.
- 15 credit hours of advanced courses including: advanced coaching skills, group coaching, inter-professionalism, cultural competence, research literacy in integrative health and evidence-informed practices, practice management coursework that provides students with the skills to build and sustain their own practice or business in coaching, and a final project course that integrates learning throughout the students’ academic journey.
Required Courses
The program consists of the following required courses:
- APP606 Becoming a Healing Presence (3 cr)
- APP700 Mindfulness, Meditation, and Health (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)
- COA665 Advanced Coaching: Groups, Populations, and Settings (3 cr)
- COA670 Advanced Topics in Health and Wellness Coaching (3 cr)
- COA705 Professional Development for Health and Wellness Coaches (1 cr)
- COAPSA Practical Skills Assessment (0 cr)
- IHM650 Practice Management in Coaching (2 cr)
- ISCI631 Introduction to Complementary and Integrative Health (1.5 cr)
- MUIH550 Academic Research and Scholarship (0 cr)
- RSCH601 Research Literacy in Integrative Health (3 cr)
Course Descriptions
Course descriptions are available in the Academic Catalog.
Advanced Standing for NBHWC and ICF Certified Coaches Programs
Individuals who are an NBHWC National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach or who are an Associate, Professional, or Master Certified Coach (ACC, PCC, MCC) by ICF are eligible for advanced standing in MUIH’s M.A. Health and Wellness Coaching program. Advanced standing recognizes student’s certified learning as a health and wellness coach and applies it toward the attainment of MUIH’s M.A. Health and Wellness Coaching degree. Advanced standing reduces credits, costs, and time to program completion for NBHWC and ICF certified individuals. The program can be completed in as little as one year for individuals with such advanced standing, and students may choose to take longer to complete the program based on their schedule.
NBHWC Advanced Standing: Individuals who are an NBHWC National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach are eligible for 10.5 credits of advanced standing and will only need to complete 19.5 credits of coursework at MUIH. Such students are exempt from taking the following courses at MUIH: COA605 (1.5 cr), COA610 (3 cr), COA616 (3 cr), COA620 (3 cr), and COAPSA (0 cr).
ICF Advanced Standing: Individuals who are an ICF Associate (ACC), Professional (PCC), or Master (MCC) Certified Coach are eligible for 6 credits of advanced standing and will only need to complete 24 credits of coursework at MUIH. Such students are exempt from taking the following courses at MUIH: COA610 (3 cr), COA620 (3 cr), and COAPSA (0 cr).
To receive advanced standing, students MUST submit official documentation of their NBHWC or ICF coaching certification BEFORE starting their first class at MUIH. Individuals who hold both NBHWC and ICF certification are encouraged to submit their NBHWC certification to maximize the amount of advanced standing they receive. Such documentation is only required to receive advanced standing; it is not required for admission into the program.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program students will be able to:
- Master the professional qualities, relational skills, and behaviors that promote healing presence and a client-centered coaching practice.
- Appraise and apply from a wide range of practice- and evidence-informed coaching skills to facilitate sustainable behavior change among diverse individuals, groups, populations, and settings.
- Develop tailored approaches from a wide variety of coaching theories, principles, and practices for use with diverse individuals, groups, populations, and settings.
- Integrate conventional, complementary, and integrative health perspectives into a comprehensive evidence-informed health and wellness coaching approach.
- Develop skills to accurately review and evaluate research literature from the field of health and wellness coaching for application to an evidence-informed coaching practice.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the coaching competencies and Code of Ethics as established by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC), as well as in the Scope of Practice as established by the NBHWC.
- Create a personalized business plan, professional development plan, and prospectus based upon concepts and principles of an integrative health and wellness coaching practice.
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)
- APP700 Mindfulness, Meditation, and Health (3 cr)
Trimester 4
- RSCH601 Research Literacy in Integrative Health (3 cr)
- COA665 Advanced Coaching: Groups, Populations, and Settings (3 cr)
Trimester 5
- COA705 Professional Development for Health and Wellness Coaches (1 cr)
- COA670 Advanced Topics in Health and Wellness Coaching (3 cr)
- IHM650 Practice Management in Coaching (2 cr)
Tuition & Fees
Fall 2022 Intake
| Course Code | Cost per Credit | # of Credits | Tuition Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|
| APP | $928 | 6 | $5,568 |
| COA | $928 | 17.5 | $16,240 |
| IHM | $928 | 2 | $1,856 |
| ISCI | $953 | 1.5 | $1,429.50 |
| RSCH | $953 | 3 | $2,859 |
| Total | 30 | $27,952.50 |
*Prices subject to change. Tuition costs are for illustrative purposes only.
Timeline
| Average Credits per Trimester | Typical Completion Time |
|---|---|
| 4 | 6 Trimesters |
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 |
| Cooking Lab Fee | NUTR 681 – $40/course NUTR 682 – $40/course NUTR 683 – $45/course NUTR 684 – $45/course NUTR 686 – $30/course NUTR 687 – $40/course NUTR 688 – $40/course |
| Cooking Kit Fee | $225 M.S. in Nutrition and Integrative Health students (1st trimester) and other students taking cooking labs (NUTR 681 – 689) |
| Herb Kit Fee | Students enrolled in the following herbal medicine courses: HRB 605 $160 HRB 614 $185 HRB 622 $150 HRB 642 $220 HRB 653 $85 HRB 705 $180 Due to international customs requirements, we do not ship herb kits outside of the United States Facilities/Food fee: HRB 636 $175 |
| Credit Card Adjustment Fee | 2.75% of amount paid by credit card |
| Graduation Fee | $75 |
Fall 2022 (ICF Advanced Standing) Intake
| Course Code | Cost per Credit | # of Credits | Tuition Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|
| APP | $928 | 6 | $5,568 |
| COA | $928 | 11.5 | $10,672 |
| IHM | $928 | 2 | $1,856 |
| ISCI | $953 | 1.5 | $1,429.50 |
| RSCH | $953 | 3 | $2,859 |
| Total | 24 | $22,384.50 |
*Prices subject to change. Tuition costs are for illustrative purposes only.
**Calculation of elective credit based on Nutrition Course rate.
Timeline
| Average Credits per Trimester | Typical Completion Time |
|---|---|
| 6-8 | 3-4 Trimesters |
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 |
| Cooking Lab Fee | NUTR 681 – $40/course NUTR 682 – $40/course NUTR 683 – $45/course NUTR 684 – $45/course NUTR 686 – $30/course NUTR 687 – $40/course NUTR 688 – $40/course |
| Cooking Kit Fee | $225 M.S. in Nutrition and Integrative Health students (1st trimester) and other students taking cooking labs (NUTR 681 – 689) |
| Herb Kit Fee | Students enrolled in the following herbal medicine courses: HRB 605 $160 HRB 614 $185 HRB 622 $150 HRB 642 $220 HRB 653 $85 HRB 705 $180 Due to international customs requirements, we do not ship herb kits outside of the United States Facilities/Food fee: HRB 636 $175 |
| Credit Card Adjustment Fee | 2.75% of amount paid by credit card |
| Graduation Fee | $75 |
Fall 2022 (NBHWC Advanced Standing) Intake
| Course Code | Cost per Credit | # of Credits | Tuition Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|
| APP | $928 | 6 | $5,568 |
| COA | $928 | 7 | $6,496 |
| IHM | $928 | 2 | $1,856 |
| ISCI | $953 | 1.5 | $1,429.50 |
| RSCH | $953 | 3 | $2,859 |
| Total | 19.5 | $18,208.50 |
*Prices subject to change. Tuition costs are for illustrative purposes only.
**Calculation of elective credit based on Nutrition Course rate.
Timeline
| Average Credits per Trimester | Typical Completion Time |
|---|---|
| 6.5 | 3 Trimesters |
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 |
| Cooking Lab Fee | NUTR 681 – $40/course NUTR 682 – $40/course NUTR 683 – $45/course NUTR 684 – $45/course NUTR 686 – $30/course NUTR 687 – $40/course NUTR 688 – $40/course |
| Cooking Kit Fee | $225 M.S. in Nutrition and Integrative Health students (1st trimester) and other students taking cooking labs (NUTR 681 – 689) |
| Herb Kit Fee | Students enrolled in the following herbal medicine courses: HRB 605 $160 HRB 614 $185 HRB 622 $150 HRB 642 $220 HRB 653 $85 HRB 705 $180 Due to international customs requirements, we do not ship herb kits outside of the United States Facilities/Food fee: HRB 636 $175 |
| Credit Card Adjustment Fee | 2.75% of amount paid by credit card |
| Graduation Fee | $75 |
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 National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) and the International Coaching Federation (ICF). This program features highly credentialed and recognized faculty who hold the highest professional coaching credentials. Ninety percent of MUIH’s health and wellness coaching faculty hold professional credentials issued by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching and/or the International Coaching Federation (ICF). 67% are NBHWC credentialed, 67% are ICF certified, and 43% are dually certified by NBHWC and ICF.
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 began 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 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 83% on NBHWC’s HWC Certifying Examination (from 2017-2021), as compared to the national pass rate of 84% on this exam during the same period.
Additional requirements may apply for this credential. Interested individuals are encouraged to check for the most recent requirements with NBHWC at nbhwc.org.
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.
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 Coach 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
From 2018-2020, 72% of recent graduates of MUIH’s M.A. Health and Wellness Coaching program were employed or self-employed within one year of graduation. 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 chose 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 16% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 2.6 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. It has emerged as a $6 billion service market in the U.S., with an estimated 109,000 health coaches and health educators in 2018. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the employment of health education specialists and community health workers, including health and wellness coaches, will grow 17% from 2020 to 2030, 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.”
Upcoming Webinars
Take a look at what our Master of Arts 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
Caressa Olivo, M.A.
Academic Advisor