Health Promotion: Teacher Certification Program, B.S.E.

Requirements for Program

The Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion offers undergraduate courses and degree programs in kinesiology (physical education) and health promotion. These programs support the UK educator preparation unit’s theme of Research and Reflection for Learning and Leading. The process of reflective decision-making is imbedded in the departmental philosophy that students learn best through experiencing. The Health Promotion Program is guided by the standards of the American Association of Health Education (AAHE) and the Kentucky Teacher Performance Standards.

The health promotion program ensures an understanding of and knowledge about the structure of the health promotion discipline through the content and methodology courses in sexuality education, drug education, human health and wellness, nutrition, and program planning in health education. The purpose of health promotion is to promote quality of life for all people. This area of study is interdisciplinary, extending into biology, psychology, sociology, and medicine. Health promotion generally focuses on the whole individual, including social and emotional dimensions, not just the physical.

The B.S. in Health Promotion requires completion of the following: (1) the UK Core requirements; (2) specified course work in Program Related Studies and Professional Education; (3) the health promotion major; and 4) completion of a university-approved minor. Students wishing to pursue certification both in health and kinesiology must follow the kinesiology program description.

Continuous Assessment

1. All students in the health promotion program are expected to meet the standards and rules for Admission, Retention, and Exit from Teacher Education Programs as set forth in the section “Admission, Retention and Completion from Teacher Education Programs”.
2. The health promotion program stimulates higher performance goals for high-performing students by offering several modes of performance. Examples are: (a) skills in performing physical activities; (b) skills in writing and oral presentations in theory courses; (c) computer technological skills in some courses; and (d) leadership skills demonstrated by high-performing students who serve as class leaders, peer tutors, and/or assistant instructors.
3. After admittance to the program, students not only must maintain a 2.75 GPA, they must continue to exhibit desirable professional characteristics to remain in the program. Students who demonstrate a lack of commitment, effort, professional behavior, knowledge, or teaching skills may be removed from the program until these characteristics are demonstrated.