Health Education B.S. - Concentration: School Health (Teacher Certification)
About the Program
Through teaching, research and service the Department of Health Studies is dedicated to preparing exemplary practitioners who will function as leaders in our global society affecting changes to eliminate health disparities and improve societal health.
The coursework as well as the hands-on experiences built into the curriculum provide a solid foundation for students wishing to either start a career after graduating in any state or going on to complete a graduate degree.
Degree Options
Bachelor of Science in Health Education - A 120 credit degree program with 42 credits that prepares candidates for a health education career as a teacher in elementary or secondary schools.
Are you interested in ...
- Implementing standard-based units of instruction that assist children and youth to engage in positive healthy behaviors
- Engaging in the opportunity to promote and implement a coordinated school health program
- A program that is part of the dual degree and dual certification for Health and Physical Education
Choose Health Education at ESU
- Qualified, experienced faculty
- Clinical experiences/student teaching
Is Health Education a career path for me?
Career Potential and Settings
- The School Health Program is designed to provide training for a health education career as a teacher in the elementary or secondary schools. The program is also advisable for careers as health coordinators for elementary or secondary schools or as health instructors in school related health centers.
- The Health Education Teacher Certification program has been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as an approved K-12 certification. Also the program has attained National Accreditation approval at the exemplary level from The American Association for Health Education (AAHE) and the Council for the Accreditor of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation as part of the Teacher Education Unit at ESU.
More detailed career information is available from the department.
Program Features
44 credits
For the Health and Physical Education certification requiring a dual major see Physical Education Teacher Education. (p. 309)
The School Health Program is designed to provide training for a health education career as a teacher in the elementary or secondary schools. The program is also advisable for careers as health coordinators for elementary or secondary schools or as health instructors in school related health centers.
Required courses:
| HLTH 210 | Foundations of Health Science | 3 credits |
| HLTH 215 | Skills Based Health Education | 3 credits |
| HLTH 230 | Community Health | 3 credits |
| HLTH 240 | Health Emergencies | 3 credits |
| HLTH 310 | Family Health Education | 3 credits |
| HLTH 341 | Nutrition Education | 1.5 credits |
| HLTH 350 | Promoting Emotional Well-Being | 3 credits |
| HLTH 356 | Drug and Alcohol Teacher Preparation | 1.5 credits |
| HLTH 365 | School Health Programs | 3 credits |
| HLTH 461 | Methods in Health Education | 3 credits |
| HLTH 462 | Assessment in School Health Education | 3 credits |
| HLTH 486 | Field Experience and Internship | 1 - 15 credits |
| | 12 credits of HLTH electives | 12 credits |
Co-requisite courses:
| MATH 110/MATH 111 | GN: General Statistics | 3 credits |
| MATH 129/MATH 130 | GN: Applied Algebraic Methods with Foundation Mathematics | 3 credits |
| PSY 100 | GN: General Psychology | 3 credits |
| SOC 111 | GN: Introduction to Sociology | 3 credits |
| ENGL 103 | English Composition | 3 credits |
| PSED 150 | Introduction to Teaching All Students | 6 credits |
| PSED 250 | The Psychology of Learners In Diverse Communities | 3 credits |
| REED 350 | Teaching Reading to Communities of Diverse Learners | 3 credits |
| CMST 111 | GN: Introduction to Communication | 3 credits |
| BIOL 116 | GE: Human Anatomy and Physiology I for the Health Sciences | 3 credits |
| BIOL 117 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory for the Health Sciences | 1 credit |
Additional Requirements:
Admission Requirements
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has established new requirements for all candidates in teacher preparation programs. Please refer to the section The College of Education (p. 57) in this catalog for specific requirements for admission into teacher education programs.
All teacher education students should be in frequent consultation with their academic advisers to make sure they are meeting the appropriate program and certification requirements which will vary depending on a variety of circumstances.
The student must complete the following requirements for admission into the health education teacher certification program:
- Initial Requirements - Pass 60 credits including: 1) BIOL 111, BIOL 112, HLTH 210, HLTH 220, HLTH 230, HLTH 240. 2) Complete 6 credits MATH and 6 credits ENGL. 3) Pass Praxis Level I: Reading, Writing, and Math. 4) Demonstrate successful clearance of Act 34 Act 114 and Act 151. 5) Obtain membership to a health education professional organization.
- Interview Process for Admission - Between 45-60 Credits: 1) All Initial Requirements must be complete. 2) Participate in an interview with School Health Teacher Education faculty and present the admission criteria portfolio (including: Praxis I results, Act 34, Act 114 and Act 151, HLTH 240 certification cards, current transcript, Eligibility Checklist, Membership from professional organization).
- Continued Enrollment - 1) Pass Praxis II: Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge prior to HLTH 431. 2) Eligibility for Student Teaching (2.8 QPA, complete all GE, HLTH and PSED courses, and successful Act 34 and 151 Act 114 TB Test clearances).
- Certification and Graduation Standards - 1) Pass HLTH 431 (with a grade of “C” or better). 2) Satisfy degree and program requirements including a 3.0 QPA in HLTH and overall. 3) Pass Praxis II: Health Content Knowledge. 4) Complete certification application and immigration form. 5) Complete Act 34, Act 114, and Act 151 Clearances for employment.
4 Year Curriculum Program Plan
(Subject to change by university without notice)
Freshman Year
Fall
| ENGL 103 | English Composition | 3 credits |
| BIOL 111 | GE: Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 credits |
| HLTH 210 | Foundations of Health Science | 3 credits |
| | | |
| MATH 100 | GN: Numbers, Sets and Structures | 3 credits |
| OR | | |
| MATH 101 | GN: Excursions in Mathematics | 3 credits |
| | | |
| HPLW 105 | Health Promotion and Lifetime Wellness | 3 credits |
| OR | | |
| FYE 100 | University Studies | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring
| ENGL 1XX | English Literature | 3 credits |
| HLTH 215 | Skills Based Health Education | 3 credits |
| HLTH 415 | Determinants of Disease | 3 credits |
| PSED 150 | Introduction to Teaching All Students | 6 credits |
| GenEd ___ | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Sophomore Year
Fall
| HLTH 230 | Community Health | 3 credits |
| PSED 250 | The Psychology of Learners In Diverse Communities | 3 credits |
| PSY 100 | GN: General Psychology | 3 credits |
| MATH 110/MATH 111 | GN: General Statistics | 3 credits |
| GenEd ____ | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring
| HLTH 240 | Health Emergencies | 3 credits |
| SOC 111 | GN: Introduction to Sociology | 3 credits |
| CMST 111 | GN: Introduction to Communication | 3 credits |
| GenEd ___ | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| XXXX ___ | Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Junior Year
Fall
| HLTH 341 | Nutrition Education | 1.5 credits |
| HLTH 356 | Drug and Alcohol Teacher Preparation | 1.5 credits |
| HLTH 310 | Family Health Education | 3 credits |
| REED 350 | Teaching Reading to Communities of Diverse Learners | 3 credits |
| GenEd ____ | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| GenEd ___ | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring
| HLTH 350 | Promoting Emotional Well-Being | 3 credits |
| HLTH 365 | School Health Programs | 3 credits |
| GenEd ____ | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| HLTH ____ | Health Electives | 5 credits |
| XXXX ___ | Electives | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Senior Year
Fall
| HLTH 461 | Methods in Health Education | 3 credits |
| HLTH 462 | Assessment in School Health Education | 3 credits |
| XXXX ___ | Elective | 3 credits |
| GenEd ____ | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Spring
| HLTH 431 | Student Teaching in Health Education | 2 - 12 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Total Credit Hours: 120
For more information, contact the department at 570-422-3702 or visit www.esu.edu/hlth.