The Health Education minor provides a great opportunity for students who are passionate about helping others live healthier lives. Health minors are willing to tackle universal health challenges and intend to have a real and lasting impact in their communities. Our graduates work in diverse positions such as:
- Elementary health education specialist
- High school health educator
- Junior high school health educator
- Prevention specialist in a school district or community
- District health education coordinator
- Public health educator
Students are taught a skills-based approach to teaching health education that is grounded in health standards. In turn, this framework facilitates instruction in schools for K-12 students. Youth are empowered to practice these skills in their everyday lives, making the connection from theory to practice relevant and applicable.
Students in the health education minor will participate in the following throughout their enrollment in the program:
- Coursework designed and developed around the health education teacher education standards to build the skills-based health education knowledge for teaching.
- Observation and practicum placements: undergraduate students will work alongside health education teachers and professionals in field-based settings, learning, observing practice, designing, and delivering health education content with the teaching professional.
- Community outreach projects: applying knowledge from minor courses to address specific health topics.
- Student teaching in school settings, K-12, in a health education classroom as a part of the culmination of the Health Education minor.
We are committed to providing quality health instruction to our students, and ultimately to developing health-literate students in schools. To that end, the Health Education minor also includes:
- Placements in urban/suburban/rural, inclusive, and multicultural settings
- Small class sizes and advising groups
- Instruction within the nationally ranked UW–Madison School of Education
Students in physical education teacher education or teachers already licensed to teach at an appropriate level in Wisconsin are eligible to complete the Health Education minor.
Graduates are eligible to apply for a Wisconsin teaching license in Health at the Kindergarten through Grade 12 level.
How to Get in
Upon admission into their teacher education degree program in the School of Education, students should meet immediately with the Health minor coordinator to develop a course completion schedule.
Students should meet with the Pre-Declaration Physical Education Advisor to declare the Health Education minor; see Contact Information for details.
Requirements
Complete a minimum of 23 credits to include all coursework below. A minimum 2.75 GPA is required, based on all UW–Madison coursework included in the minor requirements.
Students may wish to consult with the Health minor coordinator or advising staff in the School of Education Student Services office, 139 Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, 608-262-1651.
Upon acceptance into a major program in the School of Education, students should meet immediately with the Health minor coordinator to work out a schedule for required courses.
Core Requirements (23–24 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| KINES 116 | First Aid and Basic Life Support 1 | 2 |
| ANAT&PHY 235 | Human Physiology and Health | 4 |
| or ANAT&PHY 335 | Physiology | |
| KINES 501 | Theory-Based Health Education and Health Promotion Programs | 3 |
| KINES 547 | Skills for Health: Methods and Practicum of Teaching Health | 3 |
| SOC WORK 453 | Substance Use Disorders | 3 |
| Take one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Human Sexuality: Social and Psychological Issues | ||
| Human Sexuality | ||
| KINES 566 | Promoting Health in the Community | 3 |
| KINES 568 | Student Teaching in Health Education 2 | 2 |
| Total Credits | 23-24 | |
- 1
Students may exempt from KINES 116 First Aid and Basic Life Support by completing American Red Cross First Aid AND either American Red Cross Basic Life Support or American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers.
If a student wishes to request that a different course (or courses) be considered, contact the Department of Kinesiology undergraduate office PRIOR to enrolling.
Documentation of current First Aid certification must be presented to the Health Education program advisor. If the certification equivalent is used, the minor will require 21-22 credits.
- 2
Eligibility for student teaching requires the completion of all courses required for the minor with a minimum GPA of 2.75. Students must also meet the content knowledge requirements for Health Education. A meeting with the Health minor coordinator is required before submitting a student teaching application. Students should bring a current transcript to this meeting. Special arrangements can be made for teachers seeking add-on certification in Health Education.