Minor in School Health Education

The Program

A one-of-a-kind program in Wisconsin, the school health education major is nationally recognized for excellence in preparing certified school health education professionals. Eight faculty, all with doctorates in the field, lead students in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating school health education programs through classroom and field experiences. Graduates are certified to teach kindergarten through high school, prepared to coordinate school health education curricula, and experienced in developing health promotion activities for students and faculty. Courses in curriculum development, effective teaching behaviors, stress management, nutrition, physical fitness, human sexuality, alcohol and other drugs, and health promotion are offered. Graduates become professionals who assist others in developing a healthy, active lifestyle primarily within the school setting.

Career Opportunities

Public schools in Wisconsin and surrounding states provide most of the positions for our graduates. A certifiable minor, or a second major combined with school health education, increases a graduate's career options. Current interest in healthy living has created a greater demand for quality health educators at all grade levels.

Placement Due to its solid reputation, 80 to 85 percent of majors are placed within six months of graduation. Many school districts throughout the state, Midwest, and nation recruit our graduates because of the extensive background and hands-on experience they receive at UW-La Crosse.

Student Teaching Internship

As part of their preparation, school health education majors and minors are involved in school-based experiences from beginning to end of their college career. They spend more than 100 hours in schools prior to their culminating student teaching or internship experience in a quality school health education program in Wisconsin.

Program of Study

Requirements in Health Education (34 credits)

Level 1 Professional Prep (9 Credits) - Prerequisite for HED/SHE Level 1 Courses: HPR 105

  • HED 205 Introduction to Health Education & Health Promotion (3 credits)
  • SHE 210 Introduction to Coordinated School Health Programs (4 credits)
  • SHE 252 Introductory Content in Health Education (2 credits)

Level 2 Professional Prep (15 Credits) - Prerequisites for Level 2 Courses: HED 205 & SHE 210

  • SHE 310 Introduction to Curricular Processes & Instructional Techniques (3 credits)
  • HED 474 Nutrition Education (3 credits)
  • HED 469 Drugs, Society and Human Behavior (3 credits)
  • HED 345 - Issues in Mental and Emotional Health (3 credits)
  • HED 472 - Sexual Health Promotion (3 credits)

Level 3 Professional Prep (5 credits) - Prerequisites for HED Level 3 Courses: SHE 310,  6 credits of Level 2 Content Courses

  • SHE 410 Application of Curriculum Processes & Instructional Techniques (4)LSOC
  • SHE 402 Senior Clinical (1) LSOC

Level Four Professional Prep (5 credits) - Prerequisites: Admission to Teacher Education, completion of all requirements student teaching

  • SHE 403 Student Teaching (5 credits)

Additional Requirements

  • BIO 103 or 105- Introduction to Biological Sciences (4 credits)
  • RDG 328 - Reading in the Content Areas (3 credits)
  • RDG 432 - Middle Level Reading (3 credits)
  • EFN 205 - Understanding Human Differences (3 credits)

Admission to Teacher Education is required. Apply in 125 Mitchell Hall. Requirements for admission are listed in the UW-L catalog. Minimum 2.50 Cumulative GPA is required. See Assistant to the Dean, Room 125 Mitchell Hall for information.

To successfully complete this course of study in four to four and one half years, Level 1 should be completed during the freshmen year; Level 2 during the sophomore and junior years; Levels 3 and 4 during the senior year.

Admission to Student Teaching requires a 2.75 GPA in the cumulative, major/minor and education sequences. All clinical/field experiences and EFN 205, RDG 328, and RDG 432 must be completed prior to Student Teaching. Students apply for student teaching during the spring semester prior to the year they plan to student teach regardless of the semester (fall or spring) in which they plan to student teach.

* SHE 402 must be taken the semester prior to student teaching. If you are student teaching in the fall semester, it is taken as along with HED 410. If you are student teaching in the spring semester, it is taken during the fall semester.