Health Education: School Health Education (BS.HED.ESE)

BS in Health Education with a Concentration in School Health Education

The concentration in School Health Education prepares students for Vermont Agency of Education Level I Teacher Licensure in Health Education PreK-12.  The concentration offers field experiences in local schools that focus on the skill, knowledge, and understanding necessary to be successful in contemporary educational settings.  The department is strongly committed to a standards-based approach with high expectations for students' effort, achievement, and behavior. 

Students completing this program are expected to demonstrate skills, including, but not limited to:

1. The ability to organize, develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive health education program (pre K-12 curriculum) that includes the following Vermont health core concept areas: alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; family, social, and sexual health; mental and emotional health; nutrition and physical activity; personal health and wellness; and violence and injury prevention.
2. The ability to develop and implement an assessment plan consistent with national and state standards.
3. The ability to develop accommodations for a health education program to meet the needs of all individuals. This includes an understanding of applicable laws, policies, and procedures.

Complete these courses required of all Health Education majors (44 cr):

• AHS 1010 - Contemporary Health Issues 3 cr
• AHS 2030 - Drug and Alcohol Curriculum 3 cr
• AHS 2150 - Designs for Fitness 3 cr
• BIO 2011 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 cr
• BIO 2012 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 cr
• HED 3030 - Health Behavior Theory 3 cr
• PED 1015 - Introduction to Health and Physical Education 3 cr
• PED 2160 - Emergency Care and Personal Safety 3 cr
• PED 2370 - Community Health 3 cr
• PED 4020 - Applied Nutrition and Weight Control 3 cr
• SWK 2020 - Family Violence 3 cr
• SWK 2030 - Human Sexuality 3 cr

• And take one of the following:

• PED 2120 - Psycho-Social Aspects of Physical Activity 3 cr
• PED 3040 - Psychological Aspects of Exercise 3 cr

• And take one of the following:

• PSY 1050 - Human Growth and Development 3 cr
• PSY 3265 - Child and Adolescent Development 3 cr

and complete these courses for the School Health Education concentration (28 cr):

• EDU 2110 - Introduction to Exceptional Populations 3 cr
• HED 2310 - Health Education Methods 3 cr
• PED 2420 - Foundations of Teaching Health and Physical Education 3 cr
• HED 3010 - Elementary Health Education Curriculum & Assessment 3 cr
• HED 3020 - Secondary Health Education Curriculum & Assessment 3 cr
• HED 4510 - Seminar in Teaching Health Education 1 cr
• HED 4801 - Directed Student Teaching in Health Education I 6 cr
• HED 4802 - Directed Student Teaching in Health Education II 6 cr

And complete the university's Gen Ed requirements

Review  the Gen Ed requirements.

Students seeking licensure

Students seeking licensure are responsible for developing a portfolio throughout their undergraduate experience demonstrating individual learning and growth as well as the ways in which the individual course work and field experiences foster proficiency in meeting the Vermont standards for teacher preparation. Integral field experiences ensure that the student becomes part of a collaborative relationship in a school setting. Field experiences become more complex as students advance in the program, culminating in a semester-long student teaching experience. A minimum of 80 scheduled hours of field experience is required prior to student teaching.

Students seeking the BS.HED.ESE must pass through Gateways I and II in order to qualify for student teaching.

Requirements for Gateway I include:

• Receive a positive recommendation encouraging continuation in the program;
• Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.75;
• Earn a minimum within the major GPA of 2.75;
• Make progress towards completion of the General Education Program;
• Submit electronic portfolio evidence completed in PED 2420  and HED 2310  that demonstrates progress in the student's understanding of an effective teaching and learning environment and evidence of a commitment to one's personal development as a future professional;
• Pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills Test for Educators or meet the alternative SAT score requirements.

Following completion of Gateway I, emphasis will be on completing the requirements of the school health education major track as well as honing pedagogical expertise in the field and classroom. Prospective teacher candidates will also continue to build their electronic portfolios documenting an understanding of the central connections between content and pedagogy.

Requirements for Gateway II include:

• Complete the department's application to student teach the semester before enrolling in student teaching;
• Pass the first portion of their electronic portfolio, which includes evidence indicated by the Department of Health, Human Movement, & Sport;
• Have completed all health education major and general education coursework or obtain permission from the Teacher Education Program Coordinator
• Earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and earn a GPA of 3.0 within the health education major or written certification of intellectual competence by an Academic Dean;
• Receive a recommendation from members of the faculty to continue in the teacher education program.
• Through related coursework, complete a minimum of 80 hours of supervised field experience;
• Pass the ETS Praxis II examination in Health Education content knowledge.

Upon completion of Health Education Gateway II, students may be accepted into the student teaching practicum.

Teacher Licensure (preK-12):

To be recommended for licensure by the State of Vermont, a student must:

• Successfully complete and graduate from an approved program.
• Receive a grade of "B" or better in Student Teaching I and Student Teaching II and a "pass" in HED 4510 .
• Maintain a GPA of 3.0 and a B average (GPA of 3.0) in the field of major studies.
• Meet the required standard for the licensure portfolio.
• Exemplify in conduct and attitude the maturity, judgment, ethical standards, and dedication expected in the teaching profession.
• Pass the Praxis II examination in health education content knowledge.

Students wishing to work towards teacher licensure in preK-12 Health Education must apply and be accepted into Health Education Gateway II.