B.S. Health, Wellness & Fitness

Shaping Wellness Leaders

UW-Stout Polytechnic’s Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Health, Wellness & Fitness (HWF) offers the hands-on skills and knowledge to launch a rewarding career in the growing health and fitness field. With two concentrations to choose from, you’ll graduate prepared for careers in health promotion, personal training, performance coaching, community health, corporate wellness, and health research. This degree also provides a strong pathway into pre-professional occupations in athletic training, exercise physiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic, and other healthcare fields.

Career-Defining Curriculum

According to U.S. News & World Report, there is a growing demand for fitness and wellness coordinators with the knowledge and skills to help people develop and sustain healthier lifestyles. Capitalizing on the expertise of UW-Stout Polytechnic's Kinesiology, Health, Food & Nutritional Sciences Department, our unique program offers undergraduate courses and supporting programs based on curriculums developed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), and American Council on Exercise (ACE). We prepare you for careers helping people implement their health goals, sustain life-changing behaviors, and manage healthy progress.

Pursue the Concentration That Meet Your Career Goals

Our multidisciplinary approach includes two field experiences and allows you to focus your studies in a particular area of interest. Both concentrations offer hands-on experiences and business management skills that will give you a competitive edge when entering the profession or pursuing a masters degree.

Health & Wellness Promotions

• Establish health education and nutrition programs within businesses, fitness organizations and community organizations.
• Consult within the health insurance industry on corporate health and wellness programs.
• Effectively address public healthcare issues, disease prevention and health issues related to the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol.
• Prepare for Health Promotion Specialist certifications.

Fitness Professional 

• Understand the psychological dimensions of fitness and wellness and help individuals cope with stress and other common life adjustments throughout their lifespan.
• Manage a health and fitness organization and inspire people to make a health-generating change.
• Develop a career as a head athletic trainer, resident athletic trainer or sports medicine coordinator for fitness programs, health clubs and community recreation programs.
• Become eligible for certification as a strength and conditioning professional or as an individual and group fitness instructor.

“The program is designed to lead you to success, not only in your career but in everyday life. My four years as a student-athlete were extremely rewarding in more ways than one."

Vanessa Wrobel ('15)
Patient Care Supervisor
University of Minnesota Physicians

Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Wellness and Fitness.

Preventative Healthcare

The B.S. Health, Wellness & Fitness program will prepare you to enter the healthcare arena as a preventative healthcare worker. You'll become knowledgeable about the causes of the major controllable health care issues in society today as well as those we face in the future. You'll gain the skills needed to help others develop healthier lifestyles to combat major controllable health issues such as obesity and diabetes, as well as various coronary diseases and conditions.

While you learn about these preventable problems, you'll also learn business management skills that will give you a competitive edge when entering the profession. The program integrates the professional areas of nutrition, fitness, health education, business procedures, management and community health to prepare you to become a prevention specialist.

"Walking into my health, wellness, and fitness classes to a friendly hello and goodbye not only eased the stress level but showcased the culture of the program. I will never forget the experiences I had in the program nor the people I connected with over my four years at this amazing University."

Derrick T. Schmidt ('19)
Director, Operations
ETS Performance

Industry-Experienced Faculty Instruction

Forget TA-taught classes and 200-person lectures. Building close relationships with our industry-experienced and academically accomplished health, wellness, and fitness faculty will play a key role in your polytechnic education. Learn more about your future instructors!

Meet the Health, Wellness & Fitness Faculty

Professional Internships in Health, Wellness & Fitness

Take your education into industry and earn while you learn through UW-Stout Polytechnic’s award-winning Cooperative Education & Internship Program (CEIP) and other placements. Unlike traditional internships, our professional paid and unpaid credit-earning experiences connect you with leaders in your field, including national sports academies, wellness institutes, and fitness corporations, to ensure you’re set up for success long before you graduate. More than a third of Stout students accept positions after graduation with their internship employer.

“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 I needed to serve elite athletes from all over the nation.”

Trevor Morning ('15)
Senior Director of Operations; Lead Performance Coach
ETS Metro South

Graduate Ready to Tackle Tomorrow’s Challenges

The health, wellness, and fitness industry needs qualified professionals that can assess fitness and nutrition, manage clubs, and tailor fitness programs to the personalized needs of an increasingly diverse population. Employers need staff with knowledge of fitness, nutrition, motivational strategies, management of injuries, legalities of injured worker systems, and even risk management. Stout graduates are exactly who they're looking for. Join the ranks of our success alumni!

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