Health & Wellness

Launch Your Career With a Health & Wellness Degree

Photo of the Health & Wellness Garden Health and wellness issues pose great challenges to each person, our nation, and the world. McKendree’s Health and Wellness degree program draws from biological, social, and behavioral sciences to prepare students to become knowledgeable and skillful professionals, able to cultivate an understanding of critical health and wellness concepts that support healthy lifestyles and behavioral changes.

Why McKendree?

McKendree University provides you with interactive learning opportunities through our experienced and knowledgeable faculty, hands-on use of technology to enhance course concepts, and unique internship experiences that move you beyond the classroom. We are committed to your success in the degree programs we offer, the internships and extracurriculars that will set you apart, and the overall college experience you’ll get here.

A Health & Wellness Degree with Professional Concentrations

Health & Wellness Program

The Health and Wellness program is designed to provide you with a solid foundation for a career as a health professional. You’ll be prepared to assess individual and community health needs; plan and implement health and wellness education and promotion programs; coordinate and manage the delivery of health and wellness services; effectively communicate health-related information; and conduct program evaluations.

Clinical Wellness Program - 4-Year Plan

The Clinical track is for students who plan to work in hospitals, clinics, voluntary health agencies, or who plan to continue their education to become nurses, physical therapists, and dieticians.

Fitness Program - 4-Year Plan

The Fitness track prepares students who wish to work in a gym or training facility, YMCA, or skill development setting. Students in this track will be equipped to sit for a variety of certification exams, including CSCS, ISSNS, and wellness coach.

Government/Community Wellness Program - 4-Year Plan

The Government/Community Wellness track prepares students to work in the public health arena, including jobs in military facilities, local, state, or national health departments, or internationally.

Worksite/Corporate Wellness Program - 4-Year Plan

The Worksite/Corporate track prepares students to work within a business setting to establish a program that benefits employees and helps the company increase productivity and reduce health-related costs.

Health & Wellness Program Highlights

Internships & Employment

Our graduates intern and work for several companies such as the YMCA, Nestle Purina, County Health Departments, the American Cancer Society, and various fitness and training facilities.

Student Organizations

You’ll become a member of Wonders of Wellness which sponsors numerous health and wellness-related educational and service projects. You may also be interested in joining the Fitness Club, the Green Team, or our new American Cancer Society affiliated group, Colleges Against Cancer.

Asset Training

You are given the opportunity to receive training in the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets. For 50 years, the Search Institute has been identifying ways to support the development of healthy children through research, collaboration, and the creation of instructional materials.

Certifications

Upon completion of the program, you may be eligible to become certified as a practitioner in various areas:

Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)

This certification is a voluntary program that seeks to identify professionally competent and dedicated health and wellness professionals in the field.

Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist

The Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist is awarded by the National Strength and Conditioning Association to professionals who demonstrate competency in their ability to “design and implement strength and conditioning programs for athletes in a team setting”. (NSCA – www.nsca-cc.org/)

Related Minors

Health & Wellness

Designed to give you an understanding of the fundamentals of health and wellness practice while providing flexibility to focus on specific areas of interest.

Individually Designed Health & Wellness

Allows you to create a minor that includes courses unique to the set Health & Wellness minor due to the diversity of careers that might be pursued with a health and wellness background.

Coaching

Designed for majors who plan to include coaching in their career paths.

Sports Performance

Designed for students interested in working with athletes to improve skill and sports performance.

Sports Psychology

Designed to study the impact of physical activity and sport on psychological and mental factors in regard to participation and performance.

Employment Opportunities

Our graduates find internships and employment in schools, healthcare facilities, fitness centers, non-profit organizations, corporate worksites, and colleges and universities.
Some of the companies our health and wellness graduates work for include the YMCA, Nestle Purina, County Health Departments, the American Cancer Society, and a host of fitness and training facilities.

Interesting Courses