Wellness programs are an evolving sector of the health care industry developed to meet the unique needs of individuals. They cover a variety of disciplines, from spiritual to physical and mental health. Wellness programs can include smoking cessation, nutrition education and stress management services. While more businesses are incorporating wellness agendas in their benefits, colleges are developing on-campus wellness programs and diplomas to improve quality of life for students and to produce experts in the field.
Definition
College wellness programs are developed to help students make decisions and take actions to positively impact their health from a variety of angles. The wellness program at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York, offers spiritual, mental and physical guidance through the athletic department, which helps individuals develop physical and social skills; campus ministries, which conducts religious services and coordinates community service opportunities; the campus counseling center, which addresses mental health needs; and the health services department, offering nutrition counseling, blood drives, smoking cessation, STD workshops and more. Beacon College in Leesburg, Florida, encourages students to take responsibility for their health and offers assistance through wellness workshops. Mandatory programs such as Action Planning for Personal Wellness and Living with Roommates helps students develop coping skills, offers tips for developing a wellness action plan and communication strategies.
Studying Wellness
There's no one college major that addresses the entire wellness field. Columbia College in South Carolina has a public health science and delivery degree, a science-based curriculum that applies knowledge from multiple disciplines. Students learn to develop advocacy programs that incorporate current health data on critical areas of health behavior and concerns. Brown Mackie College, a school with more than a dozen campuses all over the United States, offers associates degrees and diplomas in several health care and wellness majors including occupational therapy assistant, health care management and administration, dietetics technology and medical assisting.
Finding the Right School
There are more than 4,300 colleges and universities in the United States, according to TucsonCitizen.com. That includes two- and four-year programs. The College Board offers some tips for students interested in food, nutrition and wellness studies. Choose a school accredited by the American Dietetic Association, a national organization for food and nutrition professionals. Choose a school that has a broad curriculum that covers many aspects of your field of interest including management, administration and hands-on study. Schools that offer internships or allow you to assist with research projects will help you join the workforce and kick start your career.
Benefits
Arizona State University's College of Nursing & Health Information indicates that there is a growing need for professionals qualified in the areas of exercise and healthy lifestyles. College graduates with a degree in wellness go on to work in public health, academia, business and other agency settings. The programs prepare graduates for jobs as health and wellness specialists as exercise physiologists to spa directors. You can get a degree at the bachelors, masters and doctorate levels.
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