Shape Healthier Futures: Education Meets Coaching
offered online only (combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning)
The MPH degree in Health Education/Wellness Coaching equips students with the skills and knowledge to promote health and wellness for individuals and communities. This program integrates health education and wellness coaching courses, providing students with cutting-edge expertise in health and wellness, health education, health coaching, and whole-person care.
Connect with Dr. Anna Nelson, Program Director, at anelson@llu.edu.
Key Program Highlights:
- Individual Health Focus: Gain in-depth knowledge of lifestyle-related diseases, health, nutrition, and fitness. Develop the motivational and behavioral skills needed to help individuals achieve optimal wellness.
- Community Health Emphasis: Learn about the educational, interpersonal, community, and legislative factors that encourage positive health behaviors. The curriculum emphasizes interventions grounded in scientific data and established behavioral and learning theories.
- Real-World Application: Professional practice is a core component, with laboratory and field experiences in community agencies, healthcare settings, schools, and workplaces. This hands-on approach ensures students can effectively assess community needs, design and implement health education interventions, and organize health promotion efforts.
Career Opportunities:
Graduates are well-prepared to become workplace wellness coordinators, health educators, and health coaches in various public and private settings. They are equipped to:
- Conduct community health assessments
- Design, implement, and evaluate health education programs
- Organize and lead health promotion initiatives
- Assist individuals and communities in adopting healthier behaviors
Professional Certifications:
Graduates are eligible to sit for several prestigious certifications, including:
- CPH – offered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners, https://www.nbphe.org
- Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or MCHES— offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc., http://www.nchec.org/
- Physical Activity in Public Health Specialist (PAPHS), offered by American College of Sports Medicine, https://www.acsm.org/get-stay-certified
- National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach – offered by National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching, https://nbhwc.org/
Program Details
Learner Objectives
Graduates of the program with a major in health education and wellness coaching will have the skills necessary to:
- Accurately assess individual lifestyle-related risk factors for chronic diseases in culturally diverse populations
- Administer and manage health education
- Plan, implement and evaluate health intervention programs
- Demonstrate empathetic coaching skills when delivering wellness counseling to clients
- Conduct culturally competent wellness coaching assessment, counseling and evaluation for individuals and groups
Educational Effectiveness Indicators
Achievement of program learner outcomes will be evidenced by:
- Signature assignments linked to course and non-course requirements
- Applied Practice Experience
- Comprehensive Examination
Public Health Core (PCOR)
| PCOR 502 | Public Health for Community Resilience | 5 |
| PCOR 502 | Public Health for a Healthy Lifestyle | 5 |
| PCOR 503 | Public Health and Health Systems | 5 |
Major Courses
| HPRO 526 | Lifestyle Diseases and Risk Reduction | 3 | |
| HPRO 568* | Wellness Coaching I | 3 | |
| HPRO 569* | Wellness Coaching II | 3 | |
| HPRO 573 | Exercise Physiology | 3 | |
| NUTR 529 | Health Aspects of Vegetarian Eating | 3 | |
| HPRO 530* | Fundamentals of Research in Health Education | 3 | |
| HPRO 535 | Health Education Administration and Leadership | 3 | |
| HPRO 696 | Directed Study1 | 4 | |
| HPRO 538* | Health Education Program Development & Eval.1 | 3 | |
| HPRO 589* | Qualitative Research Methods | 3 | |
| STAT 515 | Grant- and Contract-Proposal Writing | 3 | |
| HPRO 539 | Policy & Issues in Health Promotion & Education | 3 | |
| RELR 540 | Wholeness and Health | 3 | |
| HPRO 570 | Wellness Coaching Laboratory | 1 | |
1 HPRO 696 and HPRO 538 to be started concurrently.
* Synchronous courses requiring online attendance
Total Units
- 56 units
You can view details about the list of units and courses here.
Application Deadlines
Domestic and International
| Quarter | SOPHAS: All Applicants Deadline | Secondary: All Applicants Deadline |
| Spring 2025 | February 1, 2025 | February 15, 2025 |
| Summer 2025 | May 1, 2025 | May 15, 2025 |
| Fall 2025 | August 1, 2025 | August 15, 2025 |
get started on your application
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Transcripts from all universities attended
- Three letters of reference
- Official GRE scores (note: if your cumulative undergraduate GPA is a 3.2 or higher, the GRE requirement can be waived)
Required Prerequisites
Social science (two courses, which may include psychology, sociology, or cultural anthropology)
Financial Aid, Scholarships, & Assistance
- Information on financial aid can be accessed through student services.
- Scholarships: Information on scholarships is available through the Loma Linda University Financial Aid office, and also through the School of Public Health Finance office.
Program Cost
Get details on the standard cost of attendance on the LLU website.
