Earn Your Master of Professional Studies in Health and Wellness Management

Students applying to the MPS in Health & Wellness Management program must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Applications to the program must include the following:

• A statement of 250-500 words discussing how graduate education in the Kinesiology program at Tulane University can assist with the achievement of their professional objectives.
• Official college transcripts from each college attended. Typically, successful applicants will have at least a “B” (3.00) average in all coursework taken.

Applicants may be conditionally admitted and allowed to take one class in their first semester, in which a B or better must be earned to be fully admitted to the program. Students who do not meet the 3.00-grade point average in their undergraduate coursework but who possess sufficient professional experience in the health and wellness field may be admitted provisionally into the program.

Completed applications are reviewed by the Program Director, Lanie Dornier, and Admissions Committee throughout the year.

To begin the admissions process, complete the online application.

The School of Professional Advancement awards the MPS in Health & Wellness Management degree following the successful completion of 10 graduate courses comprised of five core 600-level courses and four 700-level courses, and an internship. No thesis is required. In order to earn the MPS, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00. Students must also submit an application for degree, available from the School of Professional Advancement Dean’s office, at the beginning of the semester in which the student plans to complete all required coursework.

Students in good standing may petition to transfer a maximum of nine credit hours (three courses) of graduate coursework from other colleges or universities to the MPS degree. However, only courses with grades of B or better, completed within five years of enrolling in the MPS program, may be considered for transfer credit.

Click here for listing of MPS in Health & Wellness Management required courses and course descriptions.

The MPS in Health & Wellness Management consists of five core graduate courses that cover a range of academic disciplines, including leadership, ethics and legal issues, exercise, health, and nutrition.

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KINE 6100 Cross-Disciplinary Aspects of Health and Wellness Management
This course examines overall management of wellness programs and facilities with an emphasis on human resource management. Future wellness professionals will enhance their knowledge of how these elements can be applied to wellness management settings. Topics include organizational structure, training and managing staff, financial management, legal and ethical concerns and customer service relations.

KINE 6250 Leadership in Health & Wellness Professions
This course surveys major concepts, examples, practices, and theories of organizational leadership with a special emphasis on analyzing and developing one’s own personal leadership skills. It is designed to build upon fundamental leadership theories, e.g. situational, charismatic, servant, transactional/transformational, path-goal, trait leadership, skill-based, and the life cycle theory. Participants will study the theoretical and applied nature of administration and leadership with an organizational context in efforts to develop their personal and philosophical framework, e.g. understanding individuals as followers and leaders, decision-making, promoting diversity and respect for all individuals.

KINE 6450 Legal and Ethical Principles of Wellness Management
This course provides students with the opportunity to gain insight and understanding about the law and its implications on professionals in the fields of health, wellness, sport, education, leisure, and fitness. This course will examine federal, state, and local health care regulations impacting ethical decision-making; the rapidly expanding Codes of Professional Ethics for health care service providers in the fields of health, wellness, sports, education, leisure, insurance, and management; the legal aspects of health information management; and the HIPAA Privacy Standards and rules concerning the use and disclosure of medical and health information.

KINE 6650 Research Methods in Kinesiology
In this course, students will investigate research methodology, experimental design and scientific writing, research literature and conduct research. Students will also be introduced to concepts in probability, basic statistical inference procedures of estimation, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing directed toward applications in science.

KINE 7100 Exercise and Nutrition in Health Disease
This course addresses the key health concerns and core differences in programming needs of various populations throughout one’s life cycle. An examination of nutritional concerns, requirements and metabolism from psychosocial, physical, and economic factors affecting nutritional status through the life span. Preparation of the health professional in assessing and providing services to clients and populations will be addressed. Students will also learn the roles that physical activity and nutritional practices play in the prevention, management, and treatment of chronic diseases and conditions, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, COPD, arthritis, depression, and anxiety. Populations of focus include children, adolescents, adults, and senior citizens. Methods of physical activity and nutritional assessment for each stage of the life cycle will be examined.

KINE 7150 Programming Approaches in Health and Wellness
This course provides an overview of leading health program planning theories including PRECEDE/PROCEDE and intervention mapping. Organizational and administrative approaches utilized in the conduct of health/wellness promotion programs will be described. Emphasis will be placed upon the selection, development, promotion, conduct, and evaluation of the various components of health/wellness promotion programs.

KINE 7200 Health and Wellness Intervention Strategies
This course will provide students with an understanding of the process involved in planning health interventions in health education and health promotion environments. Practical applications of the needs assessment process, program development and implementation will be executed including the skills, theory and practice involved in assessing clients to develop health related life skills.

KINE 7250 Motivational Interviewing for Health Managers
This course will include content of exploration into the attitudes and motivations of personal health behavior and an in-depth exploration of motivational interviewing principles and applications.

KINE 7300 Employee Health & Worksite Wellness
The relationship of employee health to healthcare costs and productivity will be discussed as a return on investment (ROI) and an investment in human capital. Strategic and product management planning are developed in relationship to disease management versus population wellness theory. Assessments of employer needs, organizational culture, environmental policy, and procedures supportive to desired outcomes are practiced. Professionals learn about aligning client needs and wants with best practice programs design, implementation, and evaluation for successful results. Age, gender, race, and issues that affect participation in wellness programs are reviewed.

KINE 7350 Integrating Health Promotion and Wellness into the School Setting
This course addresses the growing demand for wellness initiatives for students, their families, and school staff. The coordination of teachers, school nurses, school administrators, and community health promotion professionals will set the stage for a comprehensive approach to building wellness programming within the school community.

KINE 7400 Health Systems and Policy for Wellness Managers
This course provides information pertaining to the U.S. healthcare system with emphasis on health and wellness. It provides an overview of the major public and private stakeholders including public health, insurance, and healthcare providers. Participants will examine how health policy impacts the design and financing of wellness programs.

KINE 7450 Health Equity and Determinants
This course is designed to examine the impact of social, economic, and environmental determinants of health on various populations. Health inequities found among marginalized groups due to socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, disability status, geographic location, or some combination of these factors will be highlighted. This course will explore health outcomes found among these populations and will address health promotion policies required to attend to these issues.

KINE 7800 Internship
The goal of this experience is to provide graduate students in Health Promotion and Wellness Management with an opportunity to apply the professional knowledge they have gained in their coursework to a professional setting. In addition to participating in the daily operation of the site, the student will complete a major project on site and submit a document that describes the learning experience.

Information about SoPA tuition and fees may be found here.