Experiential Course Learning, Wellness, and Higher Education: Qualitative Descriptive Study

Background: Undergraduate students, including those preparing for health professions, report high rates of psychological distress and underuse of traditional counseling services. Credit-bearing wellness courses that combine psychoeducation with experiential learning may offer a scalable, curriculum-based approach to supporting student well-being. Objective: This qualitative study explored how undergraduate students described personal growth, coping, and lifestyle changes following participation in experiential wellness courses. Methods: An anonymous postcourse online survey captured open-ended responses from students enrolled across 6 wellness course sections. The courses emphasized stress physiology, evidence-based coping strategies, and weekly experiential assignments. Narrative responses from 110 participants were analyzed inductively using the reflexive thematic analysis developed by Braun and Clarke within a constructivist-interpretivist paradigm. Results: A total of six themes were identified: (1) healthy habits and practical lifestyle change; (2) stress management skills and mental health techniques; (3) self-reflection, awareness, and personal growth; (4) relevance and immediate applicability; (5) peer connection and discussion-based learning; and (6) course structure and opportunities for improvement. Students described adopting new coping strategies, developing greater self-awareness, and perceiving course content as relevant and applicable to their daily lives. Conclusions: Students described experiential wellness courses as supportive of coping, self-awareness, and behavior change. These findings provide insight into how students engage with and interpret course-based wellness education. Curriculum-integrated approaches may represent a complementary strategy to support student well-being. Future research should examine these approaches across diverse populations and over time.