B.S. Health, Wellness & Fitness

“I couldn’t be more pleased with my choice to attend UW Stout in 2011. The programs are designed to lead you to success, not only in your career but in the life skills needed to pursue your dreams and everyday life. My four years as a student-athlete were extremely rewarding in more ways than one."

“My time at Stout as a student-athlete was one of the best chapters of my life. The coaches and professors provide a family atmosphere, they understand what it takes to set you up for success in your future. The HWF program provided me with the tools needed to serve elite athletes from all over the nation.”

“I attended UW-Stout for 4 years and LOVED it. My major was HWF which is something I had always been passionate about. After graduation, I moved to Minnesota in June & I was able to find a job within a great corporate wellness company in about 2.5 months after I graduated."

Program Objectives

At the completion of the Health, Wellness and Fitness program, graduates will be able to:

1. Distinguish common motivation and barriers to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
2. Use health, wellness and fitness assessments or technologies to inform professionals and clienteles in the development of healthy lifestyles.
3. Evaluate factors associated with health risks and disease.
4. Prescribe management concepts to health and wellness-related programs.

Concentration Objectives

Health and Wellness Promotions Concentration objectives include:

1. Develop knowledge of public health issues and disease prevention.
2. Create awareness of health issues related to the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol.
3. Recognize the development of individual and common influences across the lifespan and be prepared to address issues of aging.
4. Develop knowledge of common health care issues and how these issues are dealt with by individuals and families.
5. Recognize the impact of leisure activities on families, culture and society.
6. Recognize the individual and cultural implications of nutrition and patterns of nutrition within communities.
7. Develop knowledge and skill to establish health education with fitness organizations and communities.

Fitness Professional Concentration objectives include:

1. Understand the health and fitness industry.
2. Develop knowledge and skills to manage a health and fitness organization.
3. Develop knowledge of group and individual fitness techniques.
4. Recognize the need for specific nutrition and hydration strategies for athletes and those wishing to become more athletic.
5. Understand the psychological dimensions of fitness and wellness and develop the skills to help individuals cope with stress and other common life adjustments.
6. Develop knowledge and skills to assist individuals with health and fitness throughout the lifespan.

Fitness workers, personal trainers, group exercise instructors and fitness directors are increasingly called upon to serve more complex sets of the American population. The professional arena is demanding more highly trained and knowledgeable staff than ever before. Fitness centers, medical centers and corporate health and fitness programs require staff that have knowledge of fitness, nutrition, motivational strategies, management of injuries, legalities of injured worker systems, and risk management. The world of health, wellness and fitness is changing and is requiring greater skill sets with fitness assessments, club management, nutrition assessments and fitness programs tailored to the needs of an increasingly diverse population.

Advisory Committee Members