Rutgers University-New Brunswick has introduced a new undergraduate minor in Holistic Wellness, a multidisciplinary program designed to equip students with practical skills for promoting comprehensive well-being in themselves and the workplace. Launched this fall, the 18-credit minor is housed in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS).
Unlike similar programs at other universities, the Rutgers minor embraces a broad, eight-dimensional framework of wellness—covering emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, social, physical and spiritual health.
The coursework is intentionally interdisciplinary and experiential, drawing from departments across the university with classes ranging from personal finance and wellness communication to nature journaling and horticulture therapy.
“Minors elsewhere are mostly theoretical,” Joshua Langberg, professor of psychology and the university’s Chief Wellness Officer said. “Our courses focus more on skills and strategies for deliberately fostering wellness in all areas of our lives.”
One of the required courses, “Wellness Learning Community,” examines the eight dimensions developed by Peggy Swarbrick, director of the ScarletWell wellness initiative.
Organizers emphasize that a defining feature of the minor is its focus on preparing students to cultivate a culture of wellness, particularly in professional environments. Students learn how to design and implement programs that support both individuals and communities.
This focus is timely, coinciding with a surging demand for well-being expertise following the COVID-19 pandemic and a national mental health crisis.
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The global wellness industry was estimated at $480 billion in 2024 and is expanding up to 10% annually.
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A January 2025 report from the McKinsey Health Institute estimated that enhanced employee health and well-being could generate up to $11.7 trillion in global economic value.
“These skills will make Rutgers students more attractive for jobs, regardless of their career or discipline of focus,” the program summary noted, as employers increasingly link employee well-being to productivity and retention.
The program offers highly engaging electives, such as “Horticulture Therapy: Concepts and Skills,” taught by Gary Altman. This course explores how the predictability and stability of nature, like a garden space, can be used to promote grounding and presence.
The new minor is part of a wider commitment by Rutgers-New Brunswick Chancellor Francine Conway to advance mental and behavioral health resources across the university.
“It’s no longer enough to simply give employees a discount at the gym. Wellness needs to be more,” Amy Spagnolo, ScarletWell’s Senior Program Coordinator said. Spagnolo added that the minor will serve as both a valuable career credential and a catalyst for necessary culture change.
