Integrative Health and Wellness Coaching micro-Certificate | Rehabilitation and Movement Science

Type of Degree

mCGS

School or College

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Area of Study

Health and medicine

Program Format

On-campus, Part-time

Credit hours to graduate

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The Micro Graduate Certificate (mCGS) is a powerful add-on for UVM graduate students.

Program Overview

In just 9 credits, you can graduate with two qualifications—your graduate degree and a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) credential.

Want to connect more effectively with others at work, in leadership, or in daily life? Learn evidence-based strategies to inspire motivation, set goals, and support meaningful, lasting change.

Concentrations

Why Add the mCGS to Your Graduate Program?

Career-Ready Skills

Gain evidence-based coaching and communication techniques
Learn Motivational Interviewing to guide conversations that inspire meaningful action
Understand behavioral change theories and practices to explore how and why people make decisions

Built-In Flexibility

Seamlessly integrates into elective spaces within existing graduate programs
Interactive classes where you'll practice communication strategies that foster trust, empathy, and clarity

High Exam Success Rate

UVM students have a 98% first time pass rate on the National Certification Exam for Health and Wellness Coaches.

Who Is This For?

With thoughtful planning, students can graduate with two qualifications—without extending the length of their program. This certificate is ideal for:

Nursing graduate students (already integrated into UVM’s new master’s curriculum)
Graduate nutrition students (first course soon to be required)
Occupational therapy and other health professional students
Business students
Education students
Counseling and social work students
Ph.D. and Ed.D. students

We’re collaborating with programs across UVM to integrate this certificate into more graduate programs. If you're a current or prospective graduate student, this is your opportunity to gain a practical, nationally recognized skill set that enhances your career and your ability to support others.

Curriculum

Certificate Requirements

To earn the Micro-Certificate in Integrative Health & Wellness Coaching, students must complete 9 credits as outlined below:

Requirement Description	Credits
HLTH 5850 – Graduate Health & Wellness Coaching	4
HLTH 5860 – Advanced Health & Wellness Coaching	4
HLTH 5880 – Graduate Professional Preparation in Health & Wellness Coaching	1

Additional Requirements:

All courses must be completed at the University of Vermont (UVM) within three years.
Students must maintain good academic standing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Completion of the micro-certificate will be documented on the student record in accordance with University policy.

Have questions? Contact karen.westervelt@med.uvm.edu.

Admissions

Earn a national credential while advancing your degree.
Admission Requirements

Faculty

Our Faculty

Jeremy Sibold

Associate Professor Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Kelly Tourville

Clinical Professor

Karen Westervelt

Clinical Associate Professor Osher Center for Integrative Health Education Director

Susan Whitman

Lecturer

Leading Research in Integrative Health and Wellness Coaching

At UVM, integrative health is more than a curriculum—it’s a research priority. In partnership with the UVM Osher Center for Integrative Health, faculty leaders are building the evidence behind integrative health and wellness coaching, shaping national conversations around integrative whole person care, meaningful behavior change, and helping to transform the current health care system.

Selected Publications

The following publications highlight UVM’s leadership in integrative health and wellness coaching research.

Smith, A. M., Prelock, P. A., Pettineo, S., Daniels, S., Medeiros, S., & Westervelt, K. Refining the model: Coach‑informed adaptations to integrative health and wellness coaching for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.
Whitman, S., Westervelt, K., Weinand, R. L., Sibold, J., Thompson, T., O’Farrell, K., & Wolever, R. Health and wellness coaching in clinical care: A call to action. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine.
Rose, G. L., Smith, A. M., Mossburg, J., & Westervelt, K.
Impact of an employee health and wellness coaching program on self‑reported stress, physical health, and mental health in hospital and university employees. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health.
Parker, J., Westervelt, K., Sibold, J., & Kasser, S. Screen time, physical activity, and anxiety in Honors College students during the COVID‑19 pandemic. American Journal of Undergraduate Research. Volume _22_Issue 1. 135.
Westervelt, K., Smith, A., Sibold, J., Falconer, S., Huffert, K., Mossburg, J., Pelkey, A., Whitman, A., Woods, A., & Rose, G.
A win‑win opportunity? A model health and wellness coaching program to support employee health and student experience. American Journal of Health Promotion.
Smith, A., Adler, S., Prelock, P., Sibold, J., Westervelt, K., & Wolever, R. Integrative health and wellness coaching: A call to action to address a research gap for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine.
Sibold, J., Whitman, S., & Westervelt, K. An evidence‑based rationale for health and wellness coaching as a complementary certification in undergraduate health education. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.
Westervelt, K., Rose, G., Avery, S., Celley, A., Cho, J., Donoghue, R., & Goodrich, B. Employee group coaching program for university and hospital employees during COVID‑19: A feasibility study. Global Advances in Health and Medicine. 2023; Oct.18.

Outcomes

A Vision for Holistic Health

Beck Inglese sitting on a bench outdoors

Beck Inglese is shaping the future of holistic health through approaches that blend science, compassion, and community. Explore Beck’s vision.

Visualize Your Future

Nurse Health & Wellness Coach

A nurse Health & Wellness Coach empowers individuals to achieve their health goals through personalized coaching, lifestyle guidance, and holistic care.

Registered Dietitian Health & Wellness Coach

A registered dietitian Health & Wellness Coach guides individuals in making sustainable dietary and lifestyle changes through personalized coaching and evidence-based nutrition strategies.

Exercise Professional with Coaching Certification

An exercise professional with a Health and Wellness Coaching Certification integrates physical training with behavior change strategies to help clients achieve long-term health, fitness, and lifestyle goals.

Teacher

Teachers can use the mCGS to deepen their impact in the classroom and beyond. By learning motivational interviewing and behavior change strategies, educators gain tools to support students’ academic and personal development.

Business Professional

Business professionals can leverage the mCGS to enhance leadership capabilities, develop evidence-based communication skills, apply behavior change theories, foster stronger team dynamics, and promote employee well-being.