Bachelor of Science in Education

Health Studies

Description of theProgram

     The Health Studies curriculum is cross-disciplinary in nature, focusing on the sociology, history, psychology, physiology, and biology of health. In this program, health refers to optimal functioning, a process of achieving mental, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual potential. Students completing this major will not only be able to facilitate individual health behavior maintenance and/or change, but will also have an understanding of how individual, social, and environmental forces interact in shaping health practices. The intent of this program is to prepare students to be direct providers of health information, informed health advocates, and planners and coordinators of health programs. Specifically, the Health Studies major prepares students to be health educators in community, work-site, school and university, and/or clinical settings. The Health Studies degree can also serve as a prelude to post-undergraduate work in a number of health-related fields.

     Because people’s health practices, resources, and opportunities vary across the life span, students in the Health Studies program are required to choose a specialization in one of three modules that emphasize a particular segment of the population. These specialized modules include: (a) Child and Adolescent Health; (b) Young and Middle Adult Health; and (c) Older Adult Health. The modules are not setting-specific. That is, if students would like to work in work-site, community, or clinical settings, the modules prepare them to work in health education/promotion in any of these settings with children and adolescents, young and middle-aged adults, or older adults. Students should consult with their advisors on academic plans that will best prepare them to pursue their professional goals.

Admission Requirements for the Health Studies Major:

Beginning in Fall, 2004 students must enroll in the Department of Kinesiology and Health (KNH) to take KNH courses as pre-majors. Students are eligible to apply to become a major after fulfilling the following requirements.
a. Enroll as a Health Studies pre-major
b. Complete 24 credit hour
c. Complete 12 credit hours in the Miami Plan
d. Complete KNH 102, KNH 188/188.L, KNH 242
e. Achieve a 2.5 GPA in the courses listed in c and d.

There is a target enrollment for each major so the students with the highest GPA will receive preference in admittance into each major if there are more applicants than there are positions available. Admission to the major will be determined each spring. Students will be notified of their admission into the major by May 20th. Students must indicate acceptance by June 20th.

Program Requirements:

1. Miami Plan for Liberal Education Courses (48 hours) :

     Courses required in the Miami Plan for Liberal Education provide a broadened context for exploring personal and career choices and complement more specialized major studies. All students must completed the requirements of the Miami Plan including (A) Foundation courses (MPF), (B) Thematic Sequence (MPT), and (C) a Capstone experience (MPC). All students must also take at least one Foundation course that presents a historical perspective (H) and at least one Foundation course that presents a perspective different from the dominant cultural heritage of the United States (ND). The same course may meet the H and ND requirements.

Foundation Course Requirements:

I. English Composition (6 hours)
II. Fine Arts, Humanities (9 hours)
     A. Fine Arts (3 hours minimum)
     B. Humanities (6 hours minimum)
III. Social Science, World Cultures (9 hours)
     A. Social Science (3 hours minimum)
     B. World Cultures (3 hours minimum)
IV. Natural Science (9 hours, must include one laboratory course)
     A. Biological Science (3 hours minimum)
     B. Physical Science (3 hours minimum)
V. Mathematics, Formal Reasoning, Technology (3 hours)

Thematic Sequence (9 hours minimum)

Capstone Experience (3 hours minimum)

Program Requirements – KNH Core:
KNH 102 Fundamentals of Nutrition (3)
KNH 184 Motor Skill Learning and Performance (3)
KNH 184.L Motor Skill Learning and Performance Lab (1)
KNH 202 Knowledge Development in Health and Physical Culture (3)
KNH 276 The Meaning of Leisure (3) MP IIC, H, or
KNH 274 Critical Perspectives on the Body (3)
KNH 188 + KNH 188.L Exercise and Health + Lab (3, 1) (MP II C) or
KNH 242 Personal Health (3) (MPF II C) or
KNH 245 Personal Health and Pedagogy for Early Childhood Teachers (3)
KNH 402 Critical Reflection on Practices in Health & Physical Culture (3) capstone course MPC

Major Requirements (26-31 hours) take all of these:
ZOO 161 Human Physiology (4) (MPF IVA)
KNH 188 Exercise and Health (3)0 (MPF IIC)
KNH 188.L Exercise and Health Laboratory (1) (MPF IIC)
KNH 242 Personal Health (3) (MPF IIC)
KNH 362 Health Education Pedagogy (4)
KNH 462 Health Program Planning and Evaluation (3)

Choose two (2) of the following three (3) courses:
KNH 205 Drugs: A Health Perspective (3
KNH 206 AIDS: Etiology, Prevalence and Prevention (2) (MPF IIC)
KNH 450 Special problems (1-4) (must be approved by advisor)

Choose two (2) of the following five (5) courses:
MBI 131 Community Health Perspectives (2) (MPF IVA)
SOC 221 Human Sexuality (3)
SOC 357 Medical Sociology (3)
KNH 329 Psychological Perspectives on Health (3)
EDP 201 Human Development and Learning in Social and Educational Contexts (3) (MPF IIC) or
PSY 231 Psychology (3) (MPT PSY2, PSY 4)

Health Studies Specialized Modules (10-15 hours) :
Choose one of these three areas of specialization. Health Education students who elect a secondary major in Health Studies must elect (b) or (c) under specialization modules.

(a) Child and Adolescent Health (at least 4 of the following):
KNH 190 Professional Perspectives in Health and Physical Education (2)
KNH 207 Serving and Supporting children, Youth & Families I (4) (MPF IIC, MPT FSW 1)
KNH 208 Serving and Supporting Children, Youth & Families II (5) (MPT FSW 1)
KNH 232 Health Issues of Children and Youth (2)
KNH 245 Personal Health and Pedagogy for Early Childhood Teachers (3)
KNH 247 Pedagogy Foundations in Health & Physical Education (3)
KNH 408 Perinatal and Childhood Nutrition (3)
KNH 415 Wellness Perspectives for Adolescents (3)

(b) Young and Middle Adult Health (at least 4 of the following):
KNH 243 Women’s Health Care: Problems and Practices (3)
KNH 471 Sport, Leisure, and Aging (4) (MPT PSY 4)
FSW 160 Family Relations: Historical & Comparative Analysis (3) (MP IIC, H)
FSW 261 Diverse Family Systems Across the Life Cycle (3) (MP IIC, MPT FSW 3, FSW 4)
PSY 334 Adulthood and Aging (3) (MPT PSY 2, PSY 4)
REL 360.C Homosexual and Lesbian Experience (4)
KNH 385 Contemporary Issues in Men’s Health (3)

(c) Older Adult Health (at least 4 of the following courses):
KNH 243 Women’s Health Care: Problems and Practices (3)
KNH 407 Nutrition and Aging (3) KNH 471 Sport, Leisure, and Aging (4) (MPT PSY 4)
KNH 385 Contemporary Issues in Men’s Health (3)
NSG 441 Health & Aging: Concurrent Perspectives & Issues (3)
GTY 154 Aging in American Society (3) (MPF IIC)(MPF GTY( 1)
GTY 455 Mental Health and Aging (3)
GTY 464 Sociology of Retirement (3)
GTY 465 Social Policy and Programs in Gerontology (3)
GTY 468 The Aging Individual in a Changing Society (3) (MPC)