Certificate in Health Behavior Coaching

Learn to facilitate positive and lasting behavior change in your clients in our 100% online program. 

Our post-baccalaureate graduate certificate in health behavior coaching prepares you to serve a critical role on the interdisciplinary healthcare delivery team in the emerging preventive health care model in the U.S.

Whether a clinical professional or health promotion professional, you will develop and enhance your professional competencies and skills that facilitate a client/patient-centered approach, which assists patients in determining their own personal health goals and action plans.

This online program can be completed as a full-time or part-time student. Successful completion of the program requires a minimum of 21 graduate credit hours beyond the baccalaureate level. The coursework consists of 17 core credit hours plus four credit hours in a selected focus area.

Program Highlights

Health behavior coaches complement the work of other health and medical professionals by functioning as supportive mentors that motivate, facilitate and empower clients or patients to:

  • Adopt positive and lasting health behavior changes
  • Become accountable for their own health
  • Comply with health/medical recommendations that promote health and wellness and enhance overall well-being

How to Apply

All applications to the graduate certificate program must be submitted via the VCU admissions portal.

In addition to the general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School and the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences, applicants must have:

  • An undergraduate degree in a health science, social science, behavioral science or other health-related discipline
  • A minimum of one year of health-related work experience
  • Completed a minimum of four prerequisite course credits in medical terminology and personal health