Health Promotion and Education Majors
In response to national trends, 1976 marked the blossoming of health education programs at the University of Northern Iowa. Prior to that, health education instruction was provided by two health educators teaching a limited number of courses in the Liberal Arts Core and for pre-service teachers. In 1982, the only graduate degree in health education in Iowa was added to UNI’s offerings. Today, UNI’s health promotion and education faculty has grown to nine diversely educated professionals from universities across the country who prepare health educators and health promotion professionals for schools and other settings.
In addition to preparing school teachers to address health education needs in Iowa, the Division of Health Promotion and Education offers a major in health promotion with emphases in wellness, gerontology, women’s health, worksite health promotion and global health. Certificates in a variety of areas are also available, including global health and environmental health. Students who graduate with a degree in health promotion find employment in hospitals, government, public health departments, non-profit agencies, worksite health promotion programs, YMCAs, YWCAs, and commercially operated health clubs.
Majors:
Health Promotion, B.A.
Health Promotion: Global Health, B.A.
Health Promotion: Women’s Health, B.A.
Health Promotion: Health Disparities, B.A.
Health Promotion: Science Intensive-Environmental Health, B.A.
Health Education-Teaching, B.A.
Minors:
Health Education-Teaching, (K-6) or (7-12)
Health Promotion
Certificates:
Global Health & Health Disparities
Environmental Health
(Click major/minor/certificate title to see typical courses for the program)
Because the job market is very limited for health teachers in public schools in Iowa, students who major in health education-teaching are encouraged to additionally become endorsed to teach in other areas. Mathematics, science, foreign language and special education are all areas that complement a health education-teaching major. There are ample opportunities for health promotion specialists interested in working in community settings. Students enhance their employability by establishing a good academic record, generating a portfolio of health-related volunteer and paid work experiences, acquiring health-related certifications, projecting a healthful and fit image, and being willing to relocate for purposes of employment. To increase opportunities for employment in the profession, health promotion majors culminate their undergraduate careers with a full-time internship in a setting that is closely matched to the ultimate employment setting desired by the student.
Customary entry-level employment sites for health promotion specialists
include:
Voluntary health agencies (American Heart Association,
American Cancer Society)
Hospitals
Corporate wellness centers
Federal, state and county government health departments
YMCAs, YWCAs
Commercial fitness centers
Women’s health centers
University wellness centers
Recent graduates have found employment with a variety of agencies, including:
National Council on Alcoholism, Des Moines
Principal Financial Group, Des Moines
Dubuque Family YMCA
Motorola Corporate Wellness, Phoenix, Arizona
Northern Trust Savings Fitness Center, Chicago
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Outstanding teaching faculty who have won many teaching awards and are known nationally and internationally for contributions to the field
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Development of a student portfolio
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More than 100 hours of field experience prior to student teaching, including a full-day, week-long participation experience while studying teaching methods
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A variety of student teaching sites including 10 centers in Iowa, plus Omaha, San Antonio and international student teaching opportunities
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Nationally recognized Minorities in Teaching program, designed to encourage minority students as young sixth grade to pursue teaching as a career
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A teacher education induction convocation to honor students admitted to teacher education
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Kappa Delta Pi education honorary for students with cumulative grade point averages above 3.25
The Wellness/Recreation Center (WRC) serves as the primary instructional and research center of the School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services. In addition, the WRC provides a focus for the recreation/wellness needs of students, faculty and staff members of the university. The WRC integrates these two functions in a way that allows the simultaneous use of the facility, without compromising the integrity of either function.This bold new facility provides state-of-the-art space for classrooms, laboratories, and faculty and staff offices. Space designed for research, teaching and public service includes the exercise physiology laboratory, biomechanics laboratory, biostatistics laboratory, psychomotor behavior laboratory, teaching laboratory, athletic training laboratory, and the wellness resources laboratory. Activity areas include five aerobic/dance studios, six handball/racquetball courts, two multi-purpose courts, a one-tenth-mile jogging track, fitness/conditioning areas, a nearly 40-foot high climbing wall, leisure pool, instructional pool with seating for 300, and an outdoor pursuits center.
Full tuition College of Education scholarships
available to incoming freshmen include the Teacher Education Scholarship
for Iowa residents; nearly 20 other scholarships are available in varying
amounts.
More information on department scholarships can found at Financial Aid.