Spa and Wellness Management

• Average Cost
  ^$2,665
• Certificate Program
• Format
  Online
  
  Duration
  12 months
  
   Course Schedule
  
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“The instructors are all well-known industry professional and innovators – the right people to teach me. The well-rounded variety of courses prepared me for job searching, interviewing and selling myself. During my final interview with Hilton…I was able to reference the UCI program and [the] response was, ‘That’s what I wanted to hear,’ and that's how I was hired!” Michael Samawi
Program Graduate

Advisory Committee

• Kristi Dickinson, Spa Director, Anara Spa at Grand Hyatt Kauai
• Ann Emich-Patton, Owner, Savvy Spas Consulting, LLC
• Janice Gronvold, Principal, Spectrec, Spa Business & Marketing Development
• Shawn Hallum, Founder, Splash Coaching & Consulting
• Jeremy McCarthy, Group Director of Spa, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
• Jessica Shea, Vice President, Wellness, Retail & Leisure Operations, Hilton
• Diane Trieste, Under a Tree Consultancy

Career Advancement Network (CAN)

We are proud to provide our certificate students and alumni with newly enhanced career services that include one-on-one coaching, technology tools, webinars and workshops, networking events, mentorship/internship opportunities, and a rich collection of free online career resources. Learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much does the program cost?
• Each course costs $635 USD due at the time of enrollment (pricing subject to change). There is also a one-time candidacy declaration fee of $125, to be paid prior to your third class. Therefore, the entire program costs approximately $2,665. Please keep in mind that this cost does not include textbooks, which some of our instructors do require. Textbook information for specific courses can be found on our website on the enrollment page. You may order books from a third party vendor such as Amazon.com. If you are an international student, be sure to order your textbooks well in advance of the start date of your online course to allow time for international shipping.
• How long will it take me to complete the entire program?
• Most students complete one course per quarter and are finished in 12 months.
• Do I have to apply and be accepted before I start?
• No. Since UCI Division of Continuing Education (DCE) is the continuing education unit of the university, there are no academic requirements needed to apply for the certificate program, however, the coursework is at a post-baccalaureate level.
• What is the “declaration of candidacy”? When do I have to complete it?
• The declaration of candidacy can be thought of as declaring your major for the certificate program. This lets our student services know that you intend to complete the entire program, and puts you on track for the certificate when you have completed all requirements. We strongly recommend that you complete the declaration of candidacy and pay the applicable fee prior to enrolling into your third class.
• Where can I find the course schedule? Do I have to take the classes in order?
• The course schedule can be found here. The listed sequence of courses you will find on our website acts more as a recommendation for students with no experience in the spa industry.
• Can I complete the entire program online?
• Yes, this is a fully online program.
• I’ve never taken an online class. How does it work?
• All of our classes run asynchronously, meaning classes are not in “real time” and you can access the content 24 hours a day. Still, each course has a specific start and end date and students must complete assignments by the deadlines listed in the course syllabus in order to earn credit. The courses are structured week-to-week, from Monday to Sunday, and you are expected to log in multiple times during the week to keep up with class discussions and assignments.
• I am an international student / I am located overseas – am I able to enroll?
• Yes. As an open-enrollment program, international students are welcome in the program. As listed on our website, all certificate programs at UCI DCE (classroom and online formats) require professional-level English language proficiency in listening and note-taking, reading comprehension and vocabulary, written expression, and oral presentation. We find that students cannot truly benefit from the online program without a strong command of verbal and written English skills. More specifically, non-native English speakers interested in our certificate program should score a minimum TOEFL score of 600 (100 for the Internet-based test). You are not required to have a student visa while taking online courses from your home county.
• Do you offer job placement at the end of the program?
• No. While UCI DCE does not offer placement services, our certificate certainly puts you in a good position to find employment. Additionally, the networking to be done in the class can also be invaluable. Our advisors, instructors, and a good number of our students, are current professionals in the spa industry, and are an excellent resource for hiring trends and opportunities.
• Is UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education an accredited institution?
• Yes. We are affiliated with the University of California system of schools, and are accredited through WASC. DCE programs are all approved by the respective school within UCI. For more information, please see UCI Accreditation.
• I can’t find the answer to my question.
• If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact Education and Business Programs at edu-bus@ce.uci.edu.

English Proficiency Requirement
All certificate programs at UCI Division of Continuing Education (classroom and online formats) require professional-level English language proficiency in listening and note-taking, reading comprehension and vocabulary, written expression, and oral presentation.