Virginia Verhoff, Coordinator of Health Education Program
BH 230C, Berkshire Hall, Midtown Campus
(203) 837-8883
(203) 837-8638 (fax)
opens in a new windowHealth Promotion and Exercise Sciences Department
Students accepted into the Professional Health Education Program must successfully meet the following criteria.
- Submit an application to the Health Education Coordinator;
- Evidence of passing PRAXIS I (or obtain a waiver from Connecticut State Department of Education by presenting a combined SAT score of 1,100 or more with no less than 450 on either the Verbal or Mathematics Subtest);
- A copy of WCSU transcript (and any other college transcript) demonstrating at least a 2.8 cumulative grade point average (GPA) for all undergraduate courses taken prior to Professional Teacher Education Program Acceptance (approximately 90 credits and reflecting courses in progress);
- A copy of WCSU transcript demonstrating evidence of completion (or courses in progress during the current semester) of the University’s General Education requirements (42 semester hour minimum) in Communications, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics/Computer Sciences, and Physical Education, as well as completion of a Writing Intensive course;
- Submission of a written essay demonstrating command of the English language, and explaining the reason for enrolling in the Health Teacher Education Program, emphasizing experiences relevant to teaching health;\
- Submission of at least two (2) letters of recommendation from persons outside the University who are able to testify to the candidate’s suitability as a prospective health educator;
- Participate in an interview and demonstrate personal attributes that are indicative of potential as a teacher;.
- A copy of your WCSU transcript demonstrating evidence of completion of the following courses with a minimum grade of “C” or better:
Writing Intensive Course - PSY 100; Introduction to Psychology
- COM 161 Decision Making in Groups
- HIS 101 American Perspectives
- HPX 280 Principles of Health Education
- BIO 105 & 106 Anatomy and Physiology 1 & 11
- SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology
- and successful completing of all other pre-program course requirements.
- A copy of your WCSU transcript demonstrating evidence of completion of the following courses with a minimum grade of “B” or better:
- ED 206; Introduction to Education
- EPY 204; Adolescent Development in the School
- HPX 215; Health Issues in the Schools (Grades 1-12)
Pre-Professional Education Requirements
*EPY 204 Adolescent Development in the Schools – 3 SH
*ED 206 Introduction to Education – 3 SH
*HPX 215 Health Issues in the Schools – 3 SH
*HPX 280 Principles of Health Education – 2 SH
*HPX 310 Methods and Materials in Health Education – 3 SH
Professional Semester
ED 400 Educational Technology – 3 SH
*EPY 405 Introduction to Special Education – 3 SH
*HPX 311 School Health Programs – 3 SH
Student Teaching Semester
*HPX 460 Health Education Student Teaching Seminar – 1 SH
HPX 464 Student Teaching – 12 SH
ED 340 Assessment of Teaching Strategies – 1 SH
Health Education Major Requirements
HPX 100 Health Maintenance and Promotion – 3 SH
HPX 160 First Aid & Safety – 2 SH
**HPX 215 Health Issues in the Schools – 3 SH
HPX 230 Drug Studies – 3 SH
*HPX 280 Principles of Health Education – 2 SH
*HPX 310 Methods and Materials in Health Education – 3 SH
*HPX 311 School Health Programs – 3 SH
HPX 460 Health Education Student Teaching Seminar – 1 SH
HPX 464 Student Teaching – 12 SH
HPX ____ Electives, lecture course – 6 SH
*Minimum of “C” grade required.
**Minimum grade of “B” required. A GPA of 2.67 is required to register for these courses.
Student Teaching Semester Requirements
- The deadline date for Fall semester admittance into the Professional Teacher Education Program is April 15th, and the deadline date for Spring semester admittance is November 1st.
- Students must successfully complete 70 contact hours of student teaching (HPX 464: Student Teaching – 12 SH) over a 15-week semester, with a passing (P) grade.
- Students who do not receive a passing grade in student teaching may be recommended to complete additional student teaching and/or coursework before being approved for graduation and teaching certification.
- Students are required to register for the following courses concomitant to registering for HPX 464 Student Teaching:
HPX 460, Student Teaching Seminar – 1 SH
ED 340, Assessment of Teaching Strategies – 1 SH
During the student teaching semester, students are advised not to work.
Additional Course Degree Requirements
During Senior year, students must complete any remaining health, general education and/or elective courses. Students may not have more than 13 semester hours of required general education courses or 8 semester hours of approved, academic major courses remaining.
Final Degree Requirements for Graduation
- Students must have completed 125 SH for a B.S. degree in Health Education, including the coursework previously specified.
- Students must have an overall GPA of 2.8.
Final Degree Requirements for Teacher Certification
Students must have completed all the B.S. Health Education degree requirements and passed the PRAXIS II exam in the health content area, to be approved for a Connecticut State Initial Educator Certificate. At this time, Students are strongly encouraged to register and sit for the National Certified Health Specialists (CHES) exam.
Performance standards, responsibilities and competencies of the Health Course work offered by the Health Promotion and Exercise Sciences Department meet all the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) standards and is sited in individual course syllabi. Classroom discussions and application of these standards to course work occur throughout the semester.
Additional Course Degree Requirements
During Senior year, students must complete any remaining health, general education and/or elective courses. Students may not have more than 13 semester hours of required .general education courses or 8 semester hours of approved, academic major courses remaining.
Required Course Sequence
B.S. Health Education Certification (PreK-12)
FRESHMAN YEAR SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall Semester S.H. Fall Semester S.H.
CHE 120 (placement test required, fall only) 4
HPX 100 3**SOC 100 3
**PSY 100 3 Gen ED Requirement 3 Semester Total 16
**BIO 105 (fall only) 4 **ED 206 (prereq. PSY 100) 3
**EPY 204 3 ENG 101 (placement waived or Free Elective) 3
Gen ED Requirement 3
Semester Total 16
SPRING SEMESTER SPRING SEMESTER
CHE 121 (spring only) 4
**CTA 161 3
**HIS 101 3 MAT or CS 3
Gen ED Requirement 3 Semester Total 16
**BIO 106 (spring only) 4
**HPX 215 3 HPX 230 (spring only) 3
**HPX 280 (spring only) 2
**ENG Writing Intense (see req.) 3
HPX 177 2
Semester Total 17
Freshman Year Total 32 Sophomore Year Total 33
JUNIOR YEAR SENIOR YEAR
Fall Semester Fall Semester (Professional Semester)
HPX 160 2
**HPX 310 (fall only) 3
HPX Elective 3 Gen ED Requirements 6 Free Elective 3
Semester Total 17
**HPX 311 3
**ED 400 (fall only) 3
**EPY 405 (prereq. EPY 204) 3
Free Electives 4
Semester Total 13
SPRING SEMESTER
BIO 215 (spring only) 4
HPX Elective 3
Gen ED. Requirements 3
Free Electives 6
Semester Total 16
**HPX 460 1 HPX 464 12 **ED 340 1
Semester Total 14
Junior Year Total 33 Senior Year Total 27
Total SH 125 Hours
** minimum ‘C’ grade required
2.8 QPA for a B.S. Degree
Select one of the following disciplines to satisfy Writing Intense requirement.
SW 270W Writing for the Human Service and Health Care Professions:
ENG 245 Technical Writing
ENG 270 Basic News Writing
ENG 271 Human Interest
ENG 339 Creative Writing
