Health Promotion & Exercise Sciences
Bachelor of SCIENCE
HEALTH EDUCATION (PK-12)
This program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and is nationally recognized by the Society of Public Health Education (SOPHE).
Certification program
The Health Education PreK-12 Certification program develops the skills and competencies for candidates seeking initial health education certification in Connecticut in grades Pre-K-12.
Program Goals:
- Prepare students with the proficiencies to become lifelong learners, provide the skills needed to contribute to a healthy lifestyle, and improve quality of life for themselves and the students they educate.
- Provide a comprehensive and multidisciplinary academic curriculum that prepares graduates for careers in a variety of health education fields.
- Prepare students to meet the standards set by the state of Connecticut and national credentialing organizations for school and community health educators.
- Provide a comprehensive approach to health and fitness education emphasizing the connection and interdependency of individuals, school, family and community.
Degree Requirements:
All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.
General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link.
Cognates: In some programs, there are courses outside the major required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major.
Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours. Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.
Sample Four Year Plan: B.S. Health Education PK-12
Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
Total Credits Required for the BS in Health Education = 120; Minimum GPA 3.0
Note: Students should not be registered for any other courses during the student teaching semester; Field experience components require that students provide their own transportation to and from their assigned schools.
Semester 1
| Course | SH |
|---|---|
| ED 102 FY Experience Sec Ed (FY) | 1 |
| SOC 100 Intro to Sociology (CT, IC) | 3 |
| WRT 101 Composition I (W1) | 3 |
| COM 161 Decision Making in Groups (OC) | 3 |
| MAT 100 Intermediate Math OR Gen Ed: Quant. Reasoning (QR) | 3 |
| HIS 148 or 149 Amer. Hist. (CT, RPT 1) | 3 |
Semester 2
| Course | SH |
|---|---|
| CHE 102 Everyday Chemistry (SI) | 4 |
| PSY 100 Intro to Psychology | 3 |
| HPX 205 Nutrition and Health | 2 |
| HPX 100 Intro to Health & Wellness (HW) | 3 |
| Gen Ed: Quant. Reasoning (QR) or Free Elective | 3 |
Semester 3
| Course | SH |
|---|---|
| BIO 105 Anatomy & Phys I (SI, RPT 2) | 4 |
| ED 206 Intro to Ed. (IL, OC) | 3 |
| ED 211 Ed Psych: Children & Adolescents I (W2) | 3 |
| HPX 230 Drug Studies | 3 |
| HPX 253 Concepts of Disease (HW) | 3 |
Semester 4
| Course | SH |
|---|---|
| BIO 106 Anat. & Phys II | 4 |
| HPX 215 Health Issues in Schools | 3 |
| ED 212 Ed Psych: Children & Adolescents II (IL, RPT 3) | 3 |
| HPX 271 Health Education Programs in the Community | 3 |
| Gen Ed: Creative Process (CP) | 3 |
Semester 5
| Course | SH |
|---|---|
| ED 314 Social Justice and Diversity Education (IC) | 3 |
| HPX 371 Health Communication Methods & Materials | 3 |
| HPX 355 Human Sexuality | 3 |
| HPX 160 First Aid & Safety | 2 |
| HPX 177 Fitness for Life | 2 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
Semester 6
| Course | SH |
|---|---|
| HPX 352 Mental Health | 3 |
| Gen Ed: Breadth | 3 |
| Free Electives | 9 |
Semester 7
| Course | SH |
|---|---|
| HPX 311 School Health Programs | 3 |
| HPX 386 Health Ed: Professional Development School Experiences | 1 |
| EPY 405 Intro to Special Education | 3 |
| ED 440 Integrating Language | 3 |
| Free Electives | 2 |
Semester 8
| Course | SH |
|---|---|
| ED 340 Assess. of Teaching Strat. (W3) | 1 |
| HPX 460 Health Education Student Teaching Seminar | 1 |
| HPX 464 Student Teaching (CE) | 12 |
PRAXIS Information
To complete the health education degree program, the student must pass the Health PRAXIS II examination. The PRAXIS II exam tests health subject area knowledge. The Initial Educator Certificate will be issued by the State of Connecticut upon completion of program requirements and the passing of PRAXIS II (0550). All CONTENT exams are being offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). ETS utilizes the national teacher examination (PRAXIS) specialty area tests for CONTENT requirements. Additionally, students are encouraged to sit for the national CHES exam.
The Professional Development School (PDS) Experience
Candidates for teacher certification who are enrolled in the health, music and secondary education professional programs at WestConn are placed in public school classrooms for two weeks in conjunction with their educational methods courses in the areas of: instruction, assessments, integrating language, and content practices. Student candidates work with students under the direction of public school classroom teachers and are also supervised by university faculty. During the fall semester, health and music education candidates spend one week in an elementary/middle school placement and one week in a secondary school placement. (Danbury or area schools) Secondary education candidates spend one week in a middle school placement and one week in a high school placement.
Professional Certifications
The first level of certification is the three-year initial educator certificate. This certificate is issued to applicants who meet all eligibility requirements, and who have fewer than three full school years of appropriate successful teaching experience in the past 10 years.
Career Options
K-12 Health Education teacher (Minor PE for dual certification)
Internship Opportunities/Field Placements
Teacher Observations:
- Danbury Public Schools: (Rogers Park Middle School, Broadview Middle School, Danbury High School)
- Ridgefield Public Schools – Ridgefield High School
- Easton/Redding Region – John Read Middle School, Joel Barlow High School
Student Teaching:
- Typically, Danbury High School
- And in the past, Brookfield Middle School (Wisconier)/Brookfield Public Schools