Health Education B.A.Sc.

The bachelor of applied science (B.A.Sc.) in health education prepares graduates to practice in sites such as schools, voluntary health agencies, public health departments, hospitals, corporate work sites, and businesses. Upper division students select an area of concentration in either community health education or school health education. All health educators, regardless of work site, must possess a number of general competencies. The curriculum, prepares students to assess, plan, implement, deliver, administer, and evaluate health education programs that promote health and prevent disease.

Admission Requirements

A GPA above 2.00 is preferred for the following:
   2.5 for students already admitted to the degree-granting college.
   2.5 for students transferring from another University of Minnesota college.

Students are admitted to UMD as pre-health education majors. After completing lower division course requirements with an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher, students should apply for admission to degree candidacy and access to required upper division courses. Health education advisers assist students in the application process.

Students in the school health option must apply to the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP). Health education advisers assist students in this application process.

Students transferring from outside of UMD or from other UMD academic units must have a minimum GPA of 2.00, and must meet with the health education program coordinator before transfer to the major can be approved.

For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the   Office of Admissions Web site.

General Requirements

Program Requirements

Requirements for the B.A.Sc. in health education include:

¿ Completion of courses to total at least 120 credits.

¿ Completion of at least 35 credits in liberal education coursework as prescribed in the Liberal Education Program and the advanced writing requirement: WRIT 3140 - Advanced Writing: Human Services (3 cr).

¿ Community health or school health emphasis.

¿ Completion of all courses specified for the major, including the emphasis, with a minimum 2.50 GPA (including transfer work).

¿ A minimum University of Minnesota and overall (including transfer credits) 2.00 GPA in any elected minor.

¿ A minimum University of Minnesota and overall (including transfer credits) 2.50 GPA.

¿ Compliance with general regulations governing granting of degrees. Students are required to review their degree status in the CEHSP Advising & Academic Services Office early in their senior year.

¿ Degree candidates must complete at least 30 degree credits at UMD. At least 20 of the last 30 degree credits immediately before graduation must be taken at UMD.

¿ Students majoring in health education are expected to maintain a 2.50 GPA overall and in the major. Students whose GPA is below the minimum for two consecutive semesters may be dismissed from the major, as it is unlikely they will meet the standard for graduation from the program. Health education students must demonstrate acceptable professional performance in their courses and field experiences.

Program Sub-plans

Students are required to complete one of the following sub-plans. (Note for the Twin Cities and
Morris campuses: The honors sub-plan does not meet this requirement. Honors students are required to
complete one sub-plan plus the honors sub-plan. Please see an adviser if no honors sub-plan is listed
for the program.)
                 

This emphasis addresses seven entry-level competencies identified by various national health education organizations: assess individual and community need for health education; plan effective health education programs; implement health education programs; evaluate health education programs; administer health education programs; serve as a health education resource person; and communicate and advocate for health and health education. Students completing this concentration are prepared to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam (entry level).

Exit Standards: The internship experience introduces undergraduate students to the people and situations they may encounter as a beginning health education professional. Students test classroom theories and techniques and are given responsibilities that help them assess their individual strengths and weaknesses in order to ascertain the most appropriate and desirable entry-level position(s).

The internship experience permits the prospective health educator the opportunity to associate with experienced professional health colleagues in a field situation. The resulting dialogue should enable the future health educator to study firsthand the needs and trends of the field. The internship generally is completed during the senior year after completion of most, if not all, required coursework. The internship may be taken full- or part-time over one or more semesters, to equal 9 or more credits.

This emphasis prepares graduates for teaching at the middle and secondary level (grades 5-12) and meets the Minnesota Board of Teaching licensure requirements as well as program standards of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Because this concentration is offered in conjunction with the Department of Education, students must meet requirements from that department.

Personal Liability Insurance: All student teachers are required to have professional liability insurance. Application forms are available in the Office of Field Experiences, Department of Education, 120 Montague Hall.

Exit Standards: Candidate proficiencies are assessed throughout the teacher preparation courses by UMD faculty, university supervisors, and the cooperating teachers in all field experiences. The field experience assessment forms include knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are aligned to institutional, state and national standards for all field experiences.

Candidates must complete a semester of full-time student teaching in a public school setting at the middle or secondary level. Double majors (such as physical education and health education) are required to student teach in both content areas. The final standards-based portfolio is due at the end of student teaching. Candidates must pass all required licensure tests before they can be recommended for teacher licensure in Minnesota.