We are proud to announce that USC Lancaster is the first nationally recognized health coach training program in the state of South Carolina designed for academic credit.
Funded in partnership by the SC Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare, this four-course pathway has both 10 credit-hour and 12 credit-hour options and is designed to assist future healthcare professionals who are interested in learning valuable coaching skills to actively empower their clients and patients in their health and well-being goals.
Lifestyle medicine can address up to 80% of chronic diseases. Certified health coaches are becoming more recognized within the healthcare system, sought after by interdisciplinary clinical teams, and reimbursed by many health insurance companies.
Our Health Coach Training Pathway is 100% online and can be completed in 2 academic semesters (9 months). With rolling admissions, this academic pathway is a flexible learning environment for a variety of academic disciplines interested in strengthening their skillsets in lifestyle medicine (ex. nursing, public health, psychology, social work, organizational leadership, and exercise science).
Concepts learned through the Health Coach Training Pathway include: Behavior change theory, chronic disease management, lifestyle medicine pillars, health communication strategies, coaching presence, positive psychology principles, and ethic/legal considerations. Depending on your major, courses within the pathway may count towards your general electives.
- HPEB 300 - Planning Health Promotion Programs (3 credits, online, asynchronous)
- HPEB 321 - Personal & Community Health / EXSC 191 Physical Activity & Health (3 credits, online, asynchronous)
- HPEB 550 - Behavioral Concepts & Processes for the Health Professionals (3 credits, online, synchronous)
- PCAM 299A & 299B* - Independent Study (1 credit + an optional 2 credits, hybrid)
The Health Coach Training Pathway includes 75+ hours of online synchronous and asynchronous instruction over the course of two academic semesters. Students are expected to attend all scheduled class sessions and complete approximately 3 hours of homework assignments each week to reinforce concepts learned in the coursework. Textbooks will be required and are necessary master course content.
Students who pass the first three courses with a B/80% or higher and attend all class sessions will be eligible to participate in the final course, the Independent Study. In this course, students will complete modules on legal/ethical considerations and a practical skills assessment. The additional 2-credit option allows students to log their required 50 coaching sessions for academic credit.
Whether students are degree-seeking or non-degree seeking, they can receive an NBHWC Graduate Letter of Exam Eligibility for successfully completing the training pathway, serving as a recognition of their academic achievement.
Watch this video for more information on the Health Coach Training Pathway.
There is a scholarship application process through the Office of Financial Aid for eligible students who seek to apply for tuition reimbursement. However, there is no need for a student to "apply" to begin participating in this Health Coach Training Pathway. Admitted USC Lancaster students can simply enroll in the following courses listed, and they are in the Training Pathway. For information on the CRPH tuition reimbursement scholarship opportunity, please visit USCL Financial Aid Office.
Health Coach Training Pathway Interest Form
The Health Coach Training Pathway at the University of South Carolina Lancaster is an Approved Health & Wellness Coach Training & Education Program by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). Graduates of this program are eligible to apply for the HWC Certifying Examination to become a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC).