This degree program in the Health Department  focuses on school health education and the preparation of health education specialists to work within school settings. Students complete a full semester of student teaching.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills of a health literate health educator as currently defined by the field.
2. Assess needs, resources and capacity to determine priorities for school health education.
3. Plan effective, culturally and developmentally appropriate school health education curricula and programs.
4. Develop and deliver health education based on current best practices in the field.
5. Implement health education instruction so learners meet state and national standards in health education.
6. Assess learner performance to improve instruction and learner outcomes.
7. Plan and coordinate a school health education program based on current state and national frameworks.
8. Serve as a resource person in health education.
9. Communicate and advocate for health and school health education.

Career Potential

• Elementary health education specialist
• High school health educator
• Junior high school health educator
• Prevention specialist in school district or community
• District health education coordinator
• Public health educator

Special Features

• Health Science honorary chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma
• Study abroad in London, Belize, Australia, Africa
• Student teaching in Australia
• Concentrations available in
  • College Health Promotion and Prevention Services
  • Health Communication
  • International Health
  • Wellness and Health Promotion

Changing Your Major to a Health Department Program

Students meeting the criteria listed below who wish to change majors to the community health or the health education program must submit an application for consideration no later than the end of the third week in the semester prior to when they would like to enter the health department program. Decisions will be made by mid-semester each semester for entry the following semester.

Those students meeting the criteria listed below wishing to change to the human service studies major must have completed an associate's degree in human services or chemical dependency counseling to be eligible for consideration.

Criteria

• Minimum overall GPA:
  • 2.5 for 46 or more credit hours completed
  • 2.35 for 0-45 credit hours completed
• Ability to clearly articulate why you want to be a health major
• A high level of interest, indicated by volunteer/work/educational experience
• Ability to articulate a connection between a health major and career interests

Meeting minimum overall GPA does not guarantee admittance to the health major.