Health Studies is designed primarily as a teacher preparation program for graduates who have earned undergraduate degrees in fields other than health education and who wish to complete the Massachusetts teacher licensure requirements in health/family and consumer sciences. Completion of this program will therefore allow graduate students to qualify for initial Massachusetts teacher licensure in Health/Family and Consumer Sciences (all levels).

Students in this program may choose to earn either a M.Ed. (PLAN A) or a M.S. (PLAN B). Students in this program must complete a minimum of thirty two credit hours, depending on the research option selected. Additional undergraduate courses may need to be taken to satisfy prerequisites listed below.

Requirements for Admission

1. A bachelor’s degree with satisfactory record from an accredited college or university
2. Submission of Graduate Record Examination score taken within five years of the date of the application
3. An undergraduate major in health studies equivalent to that offered at Springfield College. If this preparation is incomplete, it must be made up by study in addition to master’s degree requirements. Please refer to the prerequisites listed below. 

Standards for Practicum/Clinical Teaching Placement

All Health/Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Licensure students must meet the following specific requirements along with those identified for Teacher Preparation Program Admission.

1. Meet or exceed a 3.0 professional cumulative index, consisting of any courses taken with the following prefixes: EDUC, HLTH, and PSYC.
2. Earn a grade of B or better in either HLTH 502 or HLTH 603.
3. Students must also receive a grade of B or better in pre-practicum in order to be eligible to begin the practicum experience.
4. Demonstrate the personal characteristics needed to become a teacher by:
   1. having no more than one negative evaluation on file or have met the prescription requirements of the Appraisal and Retention Committee.
   2. meeting the technical standards for the department (available form the PETA department office).
5. Earn a passing score (70 or better) on the Massachusetts Tests for Education Licensure - Communications and Literacy Skills Test and the Health Subject Test.

Contact Person
Dr. Stephen C. Coulon
Telephone: (413) 748-3029
E-Mail: Steven_C_Coulon@spfldcol.edu

Prerequisites

• Anatomy and Physiology I and II Credits: 8
• Growth and Development Credits: 3
• Families in Society Credits: 3
• Consumer Health Credits: 3
• Human Sexuality Credits: 3
• Substance Use and Abuse Credits: 3
• First Aid and Safety Credits: 3
• Basic Nutrition Credits: 3
• Multicultural Course (may substitute a graduate-level Course) Credits: 3
• Pre-practicum Credits: 2

This program of study is subject to change due to changes being made to the Massachusetts Department of Education licensure regulations.