Mar 29, 2024  
2003-2004 Springfield College Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2003-2004 Springfield College Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Health Studies Major / Teacher Preparation Program


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(132 semester hours) Requirements are subject to change.

The mission of Springfield College’s health studies major is to advance the quality of life in our society by providing students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills needed to plan, implement, and evaluate health programs in schools, community organizations, healthcare organizations, and worksites. The program promotes the growth and development of students in health classes by fostering decision making, critical thinking, and communication skills that lead to personal and social responsibilities.

Positions are available in the professional field for health educators in government and social agencies, public and private schools, and clinical settings such as hospitals and medical facilities (some of these positions may require preparation beyond the bachelor’s degree). Specialists in this field also serve in public health departments; in social service agencies such as the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and the American Lung Association; and in the allied areas of research, medicine, patient education, schools, and health maintenance organizations. With increasing attention and concern focused on the state of health and health practices in all segments of American society, the future employment opportunities for qualified health educators are increasing and expanding.

The College offers an excellent curriculum for students interested in health studies. Students interested in seeking licensure as a teacher of health/family and consumer sciences select the health studies major and complete the teacher preparation program.

For more information about the health studies major, contact the Physical Education Teaching and Administration Department at (413) 748-3029 or the Admissions Office at (800) 343-1257.

General Education Program - 30 s.h. in addition to courses taken for the major.

I. General Education Program


To integrate the humanics philosophy into their lives, Springfield College students engage in the search for knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of values through a variety of courses in the sciences and humanities. In addition to those General Education courses, students must complete 6 s.h. of Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) courses. For more information see the General Education Program and WAC courses. In the major requirements listed below, selected courses which fulfill General Education categories are marked with an asterisk; selected WAC courses are marked with a “W”.

In addition, select 2 s.h. from the following skills courses:


  • PEAC 204 - Lifeguard Training (1 s.h.)

IV. Health Education and Teacher Licensure Requirements


Health studies majors should begin their program requirements upon their admission to the College, but in order to be considered teacher candidates and to complete the professional preparation requirement, they must apply for official admission to the teacher preparation program and be accepted. More information about requirements for admittance to the teacher preparation program can be found in Section VI below.

V. Electives (6 s.h.)


VI. Admission to the Teacher Preparation Program


Once admitted to Springfield College, the student must meet the following requirements for admission to undergraduate teacher preparation programs:

  1. Follow the appropriate course of study based on the field the student is interested in teaching. This includes majoring in an acceptable major for that licensure area and taking the required teacher preparation courses. This enables the student to fulfill the prerequisites needed to gain admission to a teacher preparation program. Examples of acceptable majors and licensure areas are psychology for early childhood; American studies, English, or mathematics and computer technology for elementary; biology, English, history or mathematics for secondary; movement and sports studies for physical education; art/studio art concentration or art therapy for art; and health studies.
  2. Complete all prerequisites identified for the specific program. [For application to the health/family and consumer sciences licensure program, the prerequisite is PEPC 100.]
  3. Earn a minimum 2.750 cumulative grade point average for all designated licensure courses. See teacher preparation handbook for a list of these courses for each licensure program. [For application to the health/family and consumer sciences licensure program, the designated licensure courses include SOCI 101, SOCI 220, and all courses taken with the following prefixes: EDUC, HLTH, MOSK, MOST, PEAC, and PEPC.]
  4. Earn a minimum 2.500 cumulative grade point average.
  5. Receive a score of 70 or higher on the Communication and Literacy Skills Tests (reading and writing) of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL).
  6. Earn minimum grades specified for designated courses.
  7. Demonstrate the personal characteristics needed to become a teacher (for example, responsible, dependable, hard working, professional, committed to the teaching profession, etc.). [For application to the health/family and consumer sciences licensure program, this standard is demonstrated by:
    1. having no more than one negative evaluation on file or having met the prescription requirements of the PETA department’s Appraisal and Retention Committee.
    2. meeting the technical standards for the department (available from the PETA department office).]
  8. Be recommended for admission into a teacher licensure program by the appropriate major department and the Education Department. (For students in physical Education and health, the only recommendation required is from the Physical Education Teaching and Administration Department.)

Note:Students who have been admitted to a teacher preparation program must maintain all the admissions requirements listed above through the semester preceding the practicum (student teaching) in order to be eligible to begin the practicum experience. Once all admissions requirements have been met, the student must:

  1. Fill out the top portion of the application for admission into a teacher licensure program. Applications are available from advisors, departments, or the Educator Preparation Office. Bring the application to the appropriate department(s) for recommendation(s)/signature(s) and attachment of required documents.
  2. Hand-deliver a completed application to the Office of Educator Preparation & Licensure (Administration Building, room 209). Applications are complete once they have all necessary signatures and have required documentation attached. This typically occurs prior to the student’ s junior year (or the equivalent for transfer students).

The Director of Educator Preparation & Licensure will review the completed application and notify the candidate of the admission decision. If a student wishes to appeal this decision, a written appeal must be submitted to the Educator Preparation Council.

VI. Sample Program by Year


The program listed below is a sample—courses are not guaranteed to be offered during the semester or year listed. It is the student’s responsibility to insure that all requirements are met on a timely basis and that needed prerequisite courses are completed before taking upper-level requirements; therefore, they should consult carefully with an advisor when planning their program. Students must average a minimum of 16.25 s.h. a semester to complete this program in four years.

In addition to the courses identified below, the following General Education categories need to be fulfilled for this major: Mathematics, Computer Science, Physical Education skills courses, Literature, Second Language/Culture, Visual and Performing Arts, History, Philosophy, and Religion. 6 s.h. of electives will be required to complete 130 s.h.

Courses marked with an * fulfill or partially fulfill a General Education category. Courses marked with a w may fulfill a WAC requirement, depending on the year taken.

A. First Year - Fall Semester


First Year - Spring or Fall Semesters


  • General Education courses to total 33 s.h.

B. Second Year - Fall Semester


Second Year - Fall or Spring Semesters


  • 10–13 s.h. of General Education courses Second Year - Spring Semester

D. Fourth Year - Fall Semester


  • Any uncompleted program requirements, General Education courses, or electives to total 132 s.h.

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