Health Promotion and Exercise Sciences

Dr. Emily Stevens, Chair
stevense@wcsu.edu
White Hall 107A, Midtown campus
(203) 837-3903
(203) 837-8638 (fax)

Professor. Krista Heybruck, Assoc. Chair
heybruckk@wcsu.edu
White Hall 107F, Midtown campus
(203) 837-3965
(203) 837-8638 (fax)

Katie Maxwell, Secretary
maxwellk@wcsu.edu
White Hall 107, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8612
(203) 837-8638 (fax)

Faculty

 

Adjunct Faculty

Overview

The Health Promotion and Exercise Sciences Department strives to educate all WCSU students about the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices to encourage life-long optimal health and well-being. The Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree is one of three undergraduate degree programs offered in the HPX Department. The other degree programs include a Bachelor of Science in Health Education, PreK – 12, and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Health and Wellness Management (available starting Spring 2024). All programs are 120 credits and include major requirements (including field-based experience), general education requirements, and free electives. Students can choose one of the following four options in the Public Health B.S. degree program: Allied Health Professions, Community Health, Holistic and Integrative Health, and Fitness and Wellness. Following the completion of a B.S. in Public Health, students are prepared to sit for the national Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination. After successful completion of the Health Education PreK-12 degree program and achieving a passing score on the PRAXIS II Health Education Exam, students receive a B.S. in Health Education and are eligible for the Initial Educator Certificate in Health Education (#043) in Connecticut.

HPX Department Vision

The HPX Department is the premier health promotion and health education program in the Northeast.

Mission

The mission of the HPX Department is to link education and research with service learning, student teaching, and internship experiences in Health Promotion and Health Education. In addition, the department educates about and provides opportunities for making healthy lifestyle choices on campus and in the greater community.

The strategies used to fulfill the mission include an experiential learning approach that incorporates team building, knowledge enhancement, skill building, volunteerism, and continuous quality improvement. Public Health degree students create health promotion programs for the university and surrounding community organizations, and the program culminates with a full semester professional internship. Fieldwork experience is intertwined throughout the curriculum for the Health Education PreK-12 candidates. Health and Wellness Management students complete a field-based experience as part of the capstone course for the major. This experiential approach provides WCSU students with an opportunity to gain “real‐life experience” and help the community at the same time. Mentoring, advising, and leading by example are key components of our student‐centered approach.

Program Objectives

The curriculum is driven by competency-based objectives derived from ongoing internal and external program evaluations. Our graduates’ performances in pre-professional activities and placements with schools, public and private health agencies, clinical sites, and fitness centers and corporations assist in the realization of the department’s mission. We strive to meet the educational needs of a diversified student body so that our degree candidates will be prepared to address health education and promotion in a global society.

Learning Outcomes – B.S. Health Education (PK-12)

Graduates of the B.S. Health Education (PK-12) Certification Program will be prepared to demonstrate the following outcomes:

1. Apply health content knowledge as competent health educators.
2. Assess individual and community needs for health education.
3. Plan effective health education programs.
4. Implement health education programs.
5. Evaluate effectiveness of health education programs.
6. Coordinate provisions of health education services.
7. Act as a resource person in health education.

Communicate health and health education needs, concerns, and resources (#2-8   responsibilities and competencies for school health educators have been established, as seen in The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

 

Learning Outcomes – B.S. Health and Wellness Management program

Graduates of the B.S. Health and Wellness Management program will be prepared to demonstrate the following outcomes:

1. Articulate an understanding of the multidimensional nature of health and wellness, including contemporary topics within each dimension.
2. Demonstrate the ability to design and implement wellness programs in community and industry settings.
3. Possess a knowledge of the fundamental concepts of management as an organizational process.
4. Display the communication skills, both written and oral, used in wellness, business, and organizational settings.
5. Demonstrate cultural competence when working with diverse populations.
6. Articulate a plan for achieving a career of their choice in the health and wellness industry.

Learning Outcomes – B.S. Public Health program

Graduates of the B.S. Public Health program will be prepared to demonstrate the following outcomes:

1. Use leadership, management, and collaborative skills as a member of a team to apply the health promotion program planning process to design, implement, and evaluate health promotion interventions. Specifically, students will demonstrate the ability to:
   1. Identify and assess health needs, resources and capacity for a health promotion intervention.
   2. Examine the relationship between behaviors and health issues using primary and secondary data.
   3. Plan a health promotion intervention incorporating health behavior theories and models.
   4. Design an evidence-based health promotion intervention including marketing and instructional materials.
   5. Integrate content knowledge into health promotion intervention program materials and lesson plans.
   6. Apply ethical principles and scientific inquiry processes to create an Institutional Review Board Protocol and conduct a pre-post assessment of a health promotion intervention.
   7. Market, implement, administer and manage a health promotion intervention.
   8. Develop and implement a comprehensive evaluation plan using sound research principles.
   9. Summarize the process and outcome evaluation results in a final report including all materials developed in health promotion program planning and evaluation process.
2. Serve as a health promotion professional in diverse communities and organizations using appropriate communication, promotion, and advocacy skills.

Degrees and Programs

B.S. in Health Education
B.S. Health Education (PK-12)
B.S. Health and Wellness Management
B.S. Public Health
Options:
Allied Health Professions (Pre-Physical and Pre-Occupational Therapy)
Community Health
Fitness and Wellness
Holistic and Integrative Health

Minors
Exercise Science Minor
Holistic and Integrative Health Minor
Public Health Minor

 

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH EDUCATION
Program Goals

1. Prepare students with the proficiencies to become life-long learners, provide the skills needed to contribute to a healthy lifestyle, and improve quality of life for themselves and the students they educate.
2. Provide a comprehensive and multidisciplinary academic curriculum that prepares graduates for careers in a variety of health education fields.
3. Prepare students to meet the standards set by the state of Connecticut and national credentialing organizations for school and community health educators.
4. Provide a comprehensive approach to health and fitness education emphasizing the connection and interdependency of individuals, school, family and community.

Requirements

Certification Program for PK-12
The teacher education preparation programs at Western Connecticut State University are rigorous and not all candidates applying for professional program admission are accepted. A GPA of 3.0 or higher must be maintained in order to be accepted into all professional education programs as candidates for initial teacher certification. While students may gain acceptance to the university, those interested in obtaining Connecticut teacher certification (elementary, secondary, music, and health education) must also file a separate application for professional program acceptance usually during the second semester of their junior year.

Course Restrictions

For a complete list of prerequisites, co-requisites and other restrictions for all courses, please consult the Course Description section of this catalog.

Application And Submission Process For Professional Program Acceptance

Applications for professional program acceptance can be obtained at the department of Health Promotion and Exercise Sciences (BR 230). Before the process of screening for professional program acceptance, applications must be filed with the School Health Coordinator of the Health Promotion and Exercise Sciences department.

Criteria For Professional Program Acceptance

Candidates seeking admission to any of Western Connecticut State University’s teacher education certification programs must have completed and met the following criteria. The following deadline dates must be met for candidates applying for professional teacher education program acceptance. The deadline date for fall semester admittance into a Professional Teacher Education Program is 12 noon on April 1. You must have all of your materials submitted to the Health Education program coordinator by the deadline date. After your materials have been submitted and reviewed, you will be contacted for an interview with faculty.

Candidates must:

1. The Praxis Core Academic Skills Test is no longer required for state certification. However, Western Connecticut State University must ensure that candidates take the Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading and Writing tests or one of the following State Board of Education approved equivalent assessments for diagnostic purposes to meet the state competency examination requirements for reading, writing and mathematics such as the SAT or ACT exams. This demonstrates candidates possess the mandated proficiency in those basic skills. Students may present a passing score on a similar test for another state with which Connecticut has certification reciprocity agreements. Information concerning the PRAXIS core exam and waiver information is available in the Office of the Dean of Professional Studies, Midtown campus, White Hall 123, (203-837-8575) or in the Education Office, Midtown campus, White Hall 321A, (203-837-3263).
2. Present at least a 3.0 cumulative average (subject to change based on state mandates) for undergraduate courses taken prior to professional program acceptance (approximately 90 credits and reflecting courses in progress). All work done both at WCSU and other colleges will be considered in the computation of the cumulative grade point average. Note: Candidates with less than a cumulative 3.0 GPA (subject to change based on state mandates) will not be admitted to or retained in the program.
3. Complete the university’s general education requirements.  Candidates should refer to their concentration area program sheet for a list of specific courses that meet individual degree program criteria and competencies.
4. The courses below, in addition to required HPX health education courses, must be completed with a minimum grade of “B.” If a candidate receives grades in these four courses that are lower than a “B,” the candidate will be blocked from student teaching, with likely suspension and possible dismissal from the Education program:
   -ED 206 Introduction to Education
   -HPX 215 Health Issues in the Schools (Grades PK-12)
   -ED 211 Educational Psychology: Children and Adolescents I
   -ED 212 Educational Psychology: Children and Adolescents II
5. Prepare and present two essays demonstrating a command of the English language responding to prompts provided in the application.
6. Present at least two letters of recommendation from persons outside the university who are able to testify to the candidate’s suitability as a prospective health teacher.
7. Participate in an interview with health education faculty members who will assess personal attributes that suggest potential performance as a teacher.
8. PRAXIS Health Education Subject Assessment
   – Although not a graduation requirement, passing scores on appropriate PRAXIS Health Education Subject Assessment exams are necessary for program completion and subsequent recommendation for certification. The exam tests the essential subject area knowledge unique to each certification teaching area.
   -Health Education candidates must pass PRAXIS Subject Assessment before being admitted to the Professional Development Semester (PDS).
   -Candidates will not be recommended by Western Connecticut State University for state teacher’s certification until passing scores are received and filed with the university’s teacher education certification officer, the Associate Dean of the School of Professional Studies, who is located in White Hall 121. Detailed information on PRAXIS Health Education Subject Assessment testing is available in the Office of E&EP in White Hall 321A. Additional information about the Praxis Health Education Subject Exam is available online from the Educational Testing Service.
   -Once a candidate has completed all of the B.S> Health Education degree teacher certification requirements and passed PRAXIS Health Education Subject Assessment, the university’s teacher certification officer will file with the Connecticut State Department of Education (CDE) the necessary documents for the student’s receipt of CDE teacher certification.

Note: Candidates may not register for the following courses until they have been formally admitted to the health education program: HPX 311, HPX 386, HPX 460, HPX 464, ED 340, ED 440, EPY 405.

To graduate, candidates must complete all general education requirements, the courses and credits listed below and general electives to total a minimum of 120 semester hours. A link to program requirements and 4-year plans can be found below.

To register for student teaching, Health Education majors must present at least a 3.0 overall GPA. Students are advised not to register for other courses, except for those listed in the program plan (ED 340, HPX 460 and HPX 464) or work other jobs during this semester. A student teaching application must be approved by the appropriate Health Education advisor and must be filed with the Chairperson of the Education Department during the semester before the student teaching semester. The student teaching requirement for Health Education majors is 70 days in the final semester of the degree program. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from their assigned schools.

Students earning other than a “P” grade in student teaching may be required to complete additional student teaching and/or course work before receiving a recommendation for graduation and certification. Students must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all courses to graduate as a Health Education major.

The Initial Educator Certificate will be issued by the State of Connecticut upon completion of program requirements and the passing of Health PRAXIS Subject Assessment (0550). All Subject Assessment exams are being offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). ETS utilizes the national teacher examination (PRAXIS) specialty area tests for CONNTENT requirements. Additionally, students are encouraged to sit for the national CHES exam.

BS Health Education PreK-12 

Description: The mission of the Health Education PreK-12 Certification program is to develop the skills and competencies for candidates seeking initial health education certification in Connecticut in grades Pre-K-12. This program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and is nationally recognized by the Society of Public Health Education (SOPHE). 

Degree Requirements
All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.   

Required Courses in the Major: Health Ed & Certification = 70 SH  

Health Education
BIO 105 Anatomy & Physiology I (SI) *	4 SH
BIO 106 Anatomy & Physiology II (SI) *	4 SH
CHE 102 Everyday Chemistry (SI) *	4 SH
HPX 100 Introduction to Health & Wellness (HW)	3 SH
HPX 160 First Aid & Safety	2 SH
HPX 205 Nutrition & Health	2 SH
HPX 215 Health Issues in Schools	3 SH
HPX 230 Drug Studies	3 SH
HPX 253 Concepts of Disease (HW)	3 SH
HPX 271 Health Education Programs in the Community	3 SH
HPX 352 Mental Health	3 SH
HPX 355 Human Sexuality	3 SH
HPX 371 Health Communication Methods & Materials	3 SH
Education Certification Requirements
ED 102 First Year Experience for Secondary Ed	1 SH
ED 206 Introduction to Education (IL, OC)	3 SH
ED 314 Social Justice and Diversity Education (IC)	3 SH
ED 340 Assessment of Teaching Strategies (W3)	1 SH
ED 440 Integrating Language	3 SH
HPX 311 School Health Programs	3 SH
HPX 386 Health Ed: Professional Development School Experiences	1 SH
EPY 405 Intro to Special Education	3 SH
HPX 460 Health Education Student Teaching Seminar	1 SH
HPX 464 Student Teaching (CE)	12 SH
Cognates
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology *	3 SH
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology (CT, IC) *	3 SH
ED 211 Ed Psych: Children & Adolescents I (W2)	3 SH
ED 212 Ed Psych: Children & Adolescents II (IL)	3 SH
HIS 148 or 149 American History (CT) *	3 SH
COM 161 Decision Making in Groups (OC) *	3 SH
Students must earn a B (3.0) or better in all major requirements except for the starred courses in which students must earn a C (2.0) or better.
Minimum GPA for the BS in Health Education = 3.0 overall.
Candidates must submit application for the Professional Development School (PDS) experience by April 1

General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad2324/academic-programs-degrees/ 

Cognates: In some programs, there are courses outside the major required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major.  

Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours.  Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.  

Sample Four Year Plan: B.S. Health Education PK-12
Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.  

Semester 1	SH	Semester 2	SH
ED 102 FY Experience Sec Ed (FY)	1	CHE 102 Everyday Chemistry (SI)	4
SOC 100 Intro to Sociology (CT, IC)	3	PSY 100 Intro to Psychology	3
WRT 101 Composition I (W1)	3	HPX 205 Nutrition and Health	2
COM 161 Decision Making in Groups (OC)	3	HPX 100 Intro to Health & Wellness (HW)	3
MAT 100 Intermediate Math OR Gen Ed: Quant. Reasoning (QR)	3	Gen Ed: Quant. Reasoning (QR) or Free Elective	3
HIS 148 or 149 Amer. Hist. (CT, RPT 1)	3
Semester 3	SH	Semester 4	SH
BIO 105 Anatomy & Phys I (SI, RPT 2)	4	BIO 106 Anat. & Phys II	4
ED 206 Intro to Ed. (IL, OC)	3	HPX 215 Health Issues in Schools	3
ED 211 Ed Psych: Children & Adolescents I (W2)	3	ED 212 Ed Psych: Children & Adolescents II (IL, RPT 3)	3
HPX 230 Drug Studies	3	HPX 271 Health Education Programs in the Community	3
HPX 253 Concepts of Disease (HW)	3	Gen Ed: Creative Process (CP)	3
Semester 5	SH	Semester 6	SH
ED 314 Social Justice and Diversity Education (IC, RPT 4)	3	HPX 352 Mental Health	3
HPX 371 Health Communication Methods & Materials	3	Gen Ed: Breadth	3
HPX 355 Human Sexuality	3	Free Electives	9
HPX 160 First Aid & Safety	2
HPX 177 Fitness for Life	2
Free Elective	3
Semester 7	SH	Semester 8	SH
HPX 311 School Health Programs	3	ED 340 Assess. of Teaching Strat. (W3)	1
HPX 386 Health Ed: Professional Development School Experiences	1	HPX 460 Health Education Student Teaching Seminar	1
EPY 405 Intro to Special Education	3	HPX 464 Student Teaching (CE)	12
ED 440 Integrating Language	3
Free Electives	2
Total Credits Required for the BS in Health Education = 120; Minimum GPA 3.0

 

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS MANAGEMENT (B.S.)

Program Goals

1. Prepare students with the proficiencies to become life-long learners, and provide the skills needed to contribute to a healthy lifestyle, and improved quality of life for themselves and the people they educate.
2. Provide a comprehensive and multidisciplinary academic curriculum that prepares its graduates for careers in a variety of health promotion and education fields.
3. Prepare students to meet the standards set by state and national credentialing organizations for careers in health promotion and education.
4. Provide a comprehensive and holistic approach to health promotion and education emphasizing the connection and interdependency of individuals, groups and organizations, and communities in promoting and maintain health.

The Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness Management will be offered starting in the Spring of 2024. The B.S. in Health and Wellness Management is an interdisciplinary degree with a dual focus in health/wellness and in business management/administration. It incorporates the development of skills in these areas with a strong foundation in psychology and communication methods. A health and wellness management degree puts students in a position to build a career as leaders in the health and wellness industry. Students will graduate prepared to pursue positions in healthcare facilities, group medical practices, parks and recreation, wellness centers and corporations, and other for profit and non-profit wellness settings. They may also be prepared to start their own health and wellness venture at some time in the future. Students will gain the skills necessary to plan, promote, direct, and coordinate the business activities of health and wellness events, programs, and organizations.

Degree Requirements

All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.

 

Required Courses in the Major: Health and Wellness Management = 57 SH

Health and Wellness Management Major
PSY 100 Intro to Psychology	3 SH
PSY 260 Health Psychology (HW)	3 SH
SOC 100 Intro to Sociology (CT)	3 SH
SW 220 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (IC)	3 SH
COM 203 Health Communication	3 SH
HPX 100 Intro to Health & Wellness (FY)	3 SH
HPX 271 Health Education Programs in the Community	3 SH
HPX 348 Principles of Wellness Coaching	3 SH
HPX 4XX Health and Wellness Entrepreneurship (W3)	3 SH
HPX 4XX Health and Wellness Management & Leadership pre-req HPX 4XX	3 SH
HPX Electives* (Choose from: HPX 150, 205, 212, 240, 241, 242, 244, 253, 254, 255, 343, 352, 369, 380)	9 SH
MIS 155 Information Technology	3 SH
MKT 200 Principles of Marketing	3 SH
ACC 201 Financial Accounting	3 SH
JLA 240 Commercial Law	3 SH
MGT 250 Organizational Behavior	3 SH
MGT 251 Total Management or MGT 340 Total Quality Management or MGT 350 Management Negotiations	3 SH
Cognates
WRT 210 Managerial Writing (W2)	3 SH
COM 163 Introduction to Human Communication (OC)	3 SH
CS 110 Website Production (QR)	3 SH
Minimum GPA for the B.S. in Health and Wellness Management = 2.0 overall.

 

General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad2324/academic-programs-degrees/ 

Cognates: In some programs there are courses outside of the major that are required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major. 

Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours.  Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.

Sample Four Year Plan: B.S. Health and Wellness Management
Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.

Semester 1	SH	Semester 2	SH
HPX 100 Intro to Health & Wellness (FY)	3	PSY 100 Intro to Psychology	3
WRT 101 (W1)	3	WRT 210 Managerial Writing (W2)	3
SOC 100 Intro to Sociology (CT)	3	MIS 155 Information Technology (IL)	3
COM 163 Intro to Communication Skills (OC)	3	Gen Ed: Creative Process (CP)	3
Quantitative Reasoning (QR) OR MAT 100	3	Gen Ed: Quantitative Reasoning (QR) OR Gen Ed: Breadth	3
Semester 3		Semester 4
PSY 260 Health Psychology (HW)	3	HPX 348 Principles of Wellness Coaching	3
COM 203 Health Communication (HW, Rpt. 1)	3	CS 110 Web Design (QR, Rpt. 2)	3
Gen Ed: Scientific Inquiry (SI)	4	MKT 200 Principles of Marketing	3
HPX Elective* (SH vary)	3	HPX Elective* (SH vary)	3
ACC 201 Financial Accounting	3	HPX 271 Health Ed Programs in the Community	3
Semester 5		Semester 6
SW 220 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (IC)	3	JLA 240 Commercial Law	3
MGT 250 Organizational Behavior (CT, Rpt. 3)	3	Gen Ed: Breadth	9
HPX Elective* (SH vary)	3	MGT 251 Total Management OR MGT 340 Total Quality Management OR MGT 350 Management Negotiations	3
Gen Ed: Breadth	6
Semester 7		Semester 8
HPX 4xx Health & Wellness Entrepreneurship (W3)	3	HPX 4XX Health & Wellness Management & Leadership (CE)	3
Free Electives (Internship Recommended)	12	Free Electives	11
Total Credits Required for B.S. in Health and Wellness Management = 120; Minimum GPA 2.0

BS Public Health: Allied Health  

Description: The mission of the Public Health program is to develop career professionals who are revolutionary leaders empowered to impact health promotion using an experiential, holistic and multi-disciplinary approach. This program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). 

Degree Requirements 

All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.   

Required Courses in the Major: 64 SH.  

Public Health Core
BIO 105 Anatomy & Physiology I (SI)	4 SH
BIO 106 Anatomy & Physiology II (SI)	4 SH
CHE 110 General Chemistry OR CHE 102 Everyday Chemistry (SI)	4 SH
PSY 260 Health Psychology (HW) pre-req PSY 100	3 SH
HPX 103 Introduction to Health Promotion & Practice	3 SH
HPX 200 Intro to Community Health Assessment (IL), pre-req HPX 103 C+ or better	3 SH
HPX 202 Epidemiology of Disease	3 SH
HPX 270 Health Education: Theory & Application pre-req HPX 200 C+ or better.	3 SH
HPX 370 Health Promotion Program Planning & Introduction to Evaluation (W3), pre-req HPX 270 C+ or better, Co-req HPX 371	3 SH
HPX 371 Health Communication Methods & Materials pre-req HPX 270 C+ or better	3 SH
HPX 470 Health Program Implementation & Evaluation Methods (CE) pre-req HPX 370 C+ or better	3 SH
HPX 490 Practicum for Health Promotion Studies, pre-req HPX 470 C+ or better, co-req HPX 490	12 SH
HPX 491 Health Promotion Studies Senior Seminar, pre-req HPX 470 C+ or better, co-req HPX 491	1 SH
Allied Health Option (C or better in all courses)
HPX 314 Exercise Physiology	3 SH
CHE 111 General Chemistry II (SI) pre-req CHE 110 General Chemistry I	4 SH
BIO 103 General Biology I	4 SH
PHY 120 General Physics I	4 SH
Cognates
PHI 223 Ethical Issues in Healthcare (CT, OC)	3 SH
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology (CT, IC)	3 SH
MAT 115 or 120 Biostatistics or Elementary Statistics (QR)	3 SH
SW 220 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (IC)	3 SH
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology	3 SH
PSY Elective (any)	3 SH
Students must earn a C (2.0) or better in BIO 105, 106, CHE 110/102, PSY260, HPX 202, and HPX 491.
Students must earn a C+ or better in HPX 103, 200, 270, 370, 371, 470
Minimum GPA for the B.S. in Public Health = 2.5 overall.

 

General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad2324/academic-programs-degrees/ 

Cognates: In some programs there are courses outside of the major that are required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major.  

Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours.  Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses. 

Sample Four Year Plan: B.S. Public Health: Allied Health
Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.  

Semester 1	SH	Semester 2	SH
HPX 100 Introduction to Health & Wellness (FY)	3	HPX 103 Introduction to Health Promotion & Practice	3
BIO 105 Anatomy & Phys I (SI)	4	BIO 106 Anat. & Phys II (SI, RPT 1)	4
WRT 101 Composition I (W1)	3	Writing Tier 2 (W2)	3
MAT 100 Intermediate Math OR MAT 115/120 Statistics (QR)	3	MAT 115/MAT 120 Biostatistics or Statistics (QR) OR Free Elective	3
PSY 100 Intro to Psychology	3	SOC 100 Intro to Sociology (CT, IC)	3
Semester 3	SH	Semester 4	SH
HPX 200 Intro to Community Health Assessment (IL)	3	HPX 270 Health Education Theory & Application	3
HPX 202 Epidemiology of Disease	3	SW 220 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (IC, RPT 3)	3
CHE 110 General Chemistry I	4	CHE 111 General Chemistry II	4
PHI 223 Ethical Issues in Healthcare (OC, CT, RPT 2)	3	Gen Ed: Breadth	3
Gen Ed: Creative Process (CP) OR Gen Ed: Breadth	3	Gen Ed: Creative Process (CP) OR Gen Ed: Breadth	3
Semester 5	SH	Semester 6	SH
HPX 370 Health Program Planning & Intro to Eval (W3)	3	HPX 470 Health Program Implementation & Evaluation Methods (CE)	3
HPX 371 Health Communication Methods & Materials	3	PSY Elective	3
PSY 260 Health Psychology (HW)	3	Gen Ed Breadth	3
PHY 120 General Physics I	4	Free Electives	6
HPX 314 Exercise Physiology	3
Semester 7	SH	Semester 8	SH
BIO 103 General Biology I	4	HPX 490 Practicum for Health Promotion Studies	12
Free Electives	9-12	HPX 491 Health Promotion Studies Senior Seminar	1
Total Credits Required for the B.S. in Public Health= 120; Minimum GPA 2.5

 

B.S. Public Health: Fitness & Wellness 

Description: The mission of the Public Health program is to develop career professionals who are revolutionary leaders empowered to impact health promotion using an experiential, holistic and multi-disciplinary approach. This program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). 

Degree Requirements
All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.   

Required Courses in the Major: 64 SH.  

Public Health Core
BIO 105 Anatomy & Physiology I (SI)	4 SH
BIO 106 Anatomy & Physiology II (SI)	4 SH
CHE 110 General Chemistry OR CHE 102 Everyday Chemistry (SI)	4 SH
PSY 260 Health Psychology (HW) pre-req PSY 100	3 SH
HPX 103 Introduction to Health Promotion & Practice	3 SH
HPX 200 Intro to Community Health Assessment (IL), pre-req HPX 103 C+ or better	3 SH
HPX 202 Epidemiology of Disease	3 SH
HPX 270 Health Education: Theory & Application pre-req HPX 200 C+ or better.	3 SH
HPX 370 Health Promotion Program Planning & Introduction to Evaluation (W3), pre-req HPX 270 C+ or better, Co-req HPX 371	3 SH
HPX 371 Health Communication Methods & Materials pre-req HPX 270 C+ or better	3 SH
HPX 470 Health Program Implementation & Evaluation Methods (CE) pre-req HPX 370 C+ or better	3 SH
HPX 490 Practicum for Health Promotion Studies, pre-req HPX 470 C+ or better, co-req HPX 490	12 SH
HPX 491 Health Promotion Studies Senior Seminar, pre-req HPX 470 C+ or better, co-req HPX 491	1 SH
Fitness & Wellness (C or better in all courses)
HPX 203 Introduction to Human Nutrition	3 SH
HPX 254 Exercise Testing and Prescription	3 SH
HPX 255 Group Activity Instruction OR HPX 313 Principles of Personal Training	3 SH
HPX 348 Principles of Wellness Coaching	3 SH
One HPX Elective from: HPX 255, 313, 314, 318, 369, or 380	3 SH
Cognates
PHI 223 Ethical Issues in Healthcare (CT, OC)	3 SH
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology (CT, IC)	3 SH
MAT 115 or 120 Biostatistics or Elementary Statistics (QR)	3 SH
SW 220 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (IC)	3 SH
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology	3 SH
PSY Elective (any)	3 SH
Students must earn a C (2.0) or better in BIO 105, 106, CHE 110/102, PSY260, HPX 202, and HPX 491.
Students must earn a C+ or better in HPX 103, 200, 270, 370, 371, 470
Minimum GPA for the B.S. in Public Health = 2.5 overall.

General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad2324/academic-programs-degrees/ 

Cognates: In some programs there are courses outside of the major that are required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major.  

Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours.  Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses. 

Sample Four Year Plan: B.S. Public Health: Fitness & Wellness
Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.  

Semester 1	SH	Semester 2	SH
HPX 100 Intro. to Health & Wellness (FY)	3	HPX 103 Intro. to Health Promotion & Practice	3
SOC 100 Intro to Sociology (CT, IC)	3	CHE 102 Everyday Chemistry (SI, CT RPT 1)	4
WRT 101 Composition I (W1)	3	Writing Tier 2 (W2)	3
MAT 100 Intermediate Math OR MAT 115/120 Statistics (QR)	3	MAT 115/MAT 120 Biostatistics or Statistics (QR) or Free Elective	3
PSY 100 Intro to Psychology	3	Gen Ed: Breadth	3
Semester 3	SH	Semester 4	SH
HPX 200 Intro to Community Health Assessment (IL)	3	HPX 270 Health Education Theory & Application	3
HPX 254 Exercise Testing and Prescription	3	HPX 202 Epidemiology of Disease	3
SW 220 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (IC, RPT 2)	3	HPX 203 Intro to Human Nutrition	3
BIO 105 Anatomy & Phys I (SI)	4	BIO 106 Anat. & Phys II (SI, RPT 3)	4
PHI 223 Ethical Issues in Healthcare (CT, OC)	3	Gen Ed: Creative Process (CP)	3
Semester 5	SH	Semester 6	SH
HPX 370 Health Program Planning & Intro to Evaluation (W3)	3	HPX 470 Health Program Implementation & Evaluation Methods (CE)	3
HPX 371 Health Communication Methods & Materials	3	HPX 255 Group Activity Instruction OR HPX 313 Principles of Personal Training	3
HPX 348 Principles of Wellness Coaching	3	PSY Elective	3
PSY 260 Health Psychology (HW)	3	Free Elective	6
Free Electives	3
Semester 7	SH	Semester 8	SH
HPX Fitness and Wellness Elective	3	HPX 490 Practicum for Health Promotion Studies	12
Free Electives	10-12	HPX 491 Health Promotion Studies Senior Seminar	1
Total Credits Required for the B.S. in Public Health= 120; Minimum GPA 2.5

 

 

B.S. Public Health: Holistic and Integrative Health  

Description: The mission of the Public Health program is to develop career professionals who are revolutionary leaders empowered to impact health promotion using an experiential, holistic and multi-disciplinary approach. This program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). 

Degree Requirements
All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.   

Required Courses in the Major: 64 SH.  

Public Health Core
BIO 105 Anatomy & Physiology I (SI)	4 SH
BIO 106 Anatomy & Physiology II (SI)	4 SH
CHE 110 General Chemistry OR CHE 102 Everyday Chemistry (SI)	4 SH
PSY 260 Health Psychology (HW) pre-req PSY 100	3 SH
HPX 103 Introduction to Health Promotion & Practice, pre-req HPX 103 C+ or better	3 SH
HPX 200 Intro to Community Health Assessment (IL)	3 SH
HPX 202 Epidemiology of Disease	3 SH
HPX 270 Health Education: Theory & Application pre-req HPX 200 C+ or better.	3 SH
HPX 370 Health Promotion Program Planning & Introduction to Evaluation (W3), pre-req HPX 270 C+ or better, Co-req HPX 371	3 SH
HPX 371 Health Communication Methods & Materials pre-req HPX 270 C+ or better	3 SH
HPX 470 Health Program Implementation & Evaluation Methods (CE) pre-req HPX 370 C+ or better	3 SH
HPX 490 Practicum for Health Promotion Studies, pre-req HPX 470 C+ or better, co-req HPX 490	12 SH
HPX 491 Health Promotion Studies Senior Seminar, pre-req HPX 470 C+ or better, co-req HPX 491	1 SH
Holistic & Integrative Health (C or better in all courses)
HPX 240 Intro to Principles of Holistic & Integrative Health	3 SH
HPX 241 Mind/Body Interventions for Health	3 SH
HPX 242 Cross-Cultural and Traditional Healing Methods	3 SH
HPX 343 Food, Herbs, Supplements and Other Products	3 SH
One Holistic & Integrative Elective from the following: ANT 233, COM 245, HPX 253, 281, 352, 353, 344, 348, PHI 241, 245, 265, 340	3 SH
Cognates
PHI 223 Ethical Issues in Healthcare (CT, OC)	3 SH
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology (CT, IC)	3 SH
MAT 115 or 120 Biostatistics or Elementary Statistics (QR)	3 SH
SW 220 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (IC)	3 SH
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology	3 SH
PSY Elective (any)	3 SH
Students must earn a C (2.0) or better in BIO 105, 106, CHE 110/102, PSY260, HPX 202, and HPX 491.
Students must earn a C+ or better in HPX 103, 200, 270, 370, 371, 470
Minimum GPA for the B.S. Public Health = 2.5 overall.

General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad2324/academic-programs-degrees/ 

Cognates: In some programs there are courses outside of the major that are required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major.  

Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours.  Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses. 

Sample Four Year Plan: B.S. Public Health: Holistic & Integrative
Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.  

Semester 1	SH	Semester 2	SH
HPX 100 Intro. to Health & Wellness (FY)	3	HPX 103 Introduction to Health Promotion & Practice	3
SOC 100 Intro to Sociology (CT, IC)	3	CHE 102 Everyday Chemistry (SI)	4
WRT 101 Composition I (W1)	3	Writing Tier 2 (W2)	3
MAT 100 Intermediate Math OR MAT 115/120 Statistics (QR)	3	MAT 115/MAT 120 Biostatistics or Statistics (QR) OR Free Elective	3
PSY 100 Intro to Psychology	3	Gen Ed: Breadth	3
Semester 3	SH	Semester 4	SH
HPX 200 Intro to Community Health Assessment (IL)	3	HPX 270 Health Education Theory & Application	3
HPX 241 Mind/Body Interventions for Health	3	HPX 240 Intro to Principles of Holistic & Integrative Health	3
SW 220 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (IC, RPT 1)	3	HPX 202 Epidemiology of Disease	3
BIO 105 Anatomy & Phys I (SI)	4	BIO 106 Anat. & Phys II (SI, RPT 3)	4
PHI 223 Ethical Issues in Healthcare (OC, CT RPT 2)	3	Gen Ed: Creative Process (CP)	3
Semester 5	SH	Semester 6	SH
HPX 370 Health Promotion Program Planning & Intro to Eval (W3)	3	HPX 470 Health Program Implementation & Evaluation Methods (CE)	3
HPX 371 Health Communication Methods & Materials	3	HPX 242 Cross-Cultural and Traditional Healing Methods	3
Holistic & Integrative Elective	3	PSY 260 Health Psychology (HW)	3
Gen Ed: Breadth	3	Free Electives	6
PSY Elective	3
Semester 7	SH	Semester 8	SH
HPX 343 Food, Herbs, Supplements and Other Products	3	HPX 490 Practicum for Health Promotion Studies	12
Free Electives	10-12	HPX 491 Health Promotion Studies Senior Seminar	1
Total Credits Required for the B.S. in HPX = 120; Minimum GPA 2.5

Minors

There are 3 minors in the Health Promotion and Exercise Sciences Department. All minor programs are 18 credits and are available to any WCSU student who has met the pre-requisites for the courses. The minors and links to minor requirements can be found below. Please see your advisor to review all program requirements.

Minor in Public Health (18 SH)

Required Courses (6 SH):
HPX 100 Introduction to Health & Wellness
HPX 271 Health Education Programs in the Community
12 credits (12 SH) in Health Promotion and Exercise Sciences (HPX)

Minor in Exercise Science (18 SH)

Required Courses (18 SH)
HPX 113 Introduction to Exercise Science
HPX 203 Nutrition and Health
PSY 262 Sport Psychology
HPX 313 Principles of Personal Training*
HPX 314 Exercise Physiology*
HPX 318 Exercise Kinesiology*

*Courses with prerequisite requirements of BIO 105 & BIO 106

Minor in Holistic and Integrative Health (18 SH)

Required Courses (6 SH):
HPX 100 Introduction to Health & Wellness
HPX 240 Principles of Holistic and Integrative Health
HPX 271 Health Education Programs in the Community

Select three (3) Approved HPX Electives from the list below (9 SH):
HPX 203 Introduction to Human Nutrition
HPX 205 Nutrition and Health
HPX 241 Mind/Body Interventions for Health
HPX 242 Cross Cultural & Traditional Healing Methods
HPX 343 Foods, Herbs, Supplements and Other Natural Products
HPX 344 Energy Healing Therapies
HPX 348 Principles of Wellness Coaching
ANT 233 Medical Anthropology
COM 245 Meditation, Self-Awareness, and Communication
PHI 241 Buddhist Philosophy
PHI 245 Philosophy of Death and Dying
PHI 265 Philosophy of Happiness

 

Physical Activity Requirement – 2 SH

The Health and Wellness competency (HW) may be fulfilled by taking HPX 177/177A Fitness for Life, a combination of one 1.0 credit lecture class and one 1.0 credit activity class. The lecture (HPX 177) and activity (177A) classes must be taken during the same semester.  Refer to physical activity courses (under course descriptions at the back of this catalog) for a list of activity courses available.

Splitting the course is possible and available in the following conditions:

1. Student receives a waiver for the activity from AccessAbility services. The student must make an appointment with AccessAbility Services and will be asked to provide documentation that indicates the student will not ever be able to participate in an activity class. The student is required to take the lecture to receive the Health and Wellness competency.
2. Student transfers in 1 credit for the activity or 1 credit for lecture. The student is required to complete the unmet portion of the course to receive the Health and Wellness Competency. The student should send a request to the HPX department chair and secretary and include their student ID in the request.
3. Varsity athletes who have successfully completed one semester of their sport will receive 1.0 semester hours of physical activity credit.  The student is required to take the lecture to receive the Health and Wellness competency. The student should send a request to the HPX department chair and secretary and include their student ID in the request.
4. Students majoring in Musical Theater may take the lecture portion of HPX 177 during the same semester as one of the Musical Theater dance classes. This will complete their Health and Wellness competency. The student should send a request to the HPX department chair and secretary and include their student ID in the request.
5. Students who served in the military can receive a waiver for the HPX 177 requirement. Please contact the Registrar for this waiver.  The DD-241 form is required.

Because of the physical demands of activity courses offered at Western, students are strongly urged to have a physical examination before registering for these courses. Since part-time students are not covered by university accident insurance, part-time students are strongly urged to carry accident insurance.

Student Independent Activity  (SIA)

This is an online activity course that requires permission from the course instructor prior to enrolling in the course. The course is run through Blackboard Learn, and students receiving permission to enroll in the SIA will be reserved a spot in the online Fitness for Life lecture course during the same semester. The permission request form should be downloaded from the HPX website (http://wcsu.edu/hpx/fitforlifegen.asp), completed electronically, and emailed to the instructor of the course in which the student plans to enroll.

This course is designed specifically for students who engage in a regular physical activity program within their community. Students may not use the WCSU Recreation Department facility or classes to meet this requirement.  Students are expected to accumulate 30 hours of independent exercise, under the supervision of a licensed/certified fitness coach, instructor, or trainer. Supervisors will be contacted throughout the course to verify physical activity participation. The student will track all activity in a physical activity log. While the supervisor does not need to have direct, constant supervision of the activity, the supervisor should sign the activity log and verify all of the activity participation.

 

Examples of Agencies Used for Health Promotion & Exercise Sciences Internship & Student Teaching Field Placements

Regional
Abilities Beyond Disabilities, Brookfield
AIDS Project, New Haven
Alternative Incarceration Center, Danbury
American Cancer Society, Wilton
American Red Cross, Danbury
American Red Cross, Waterbury
Avery Heights, Hartford
BAYADA Home Health Care, Norwalk
Benchmark Assisted Living – Ridgefield Crossings’
Bethel Health Care, Bethel
Bethel Health Dept., Bethel
Bluestreak Sports Training, Stamford
Boehringer Ingelheim, Fairfield
Boys and Girls Club of Ridgefield
Brewster Athletic Club, Brewster, NY
Birth Partners Labor Assistants, Naugatuck
Cardinal Hayes Home for Children, Millbrook, NY
Chapter 126, Bristol
Chelsea Piers, Stamford
Cheshire High School, Cheshire
Connecticut Institute for Communities, Danbury
Connecticut State Dept. of Health
Covenant Village of Cromwell, Cromwell
Danbury Children First Initiative, Danbury
Danbury Health Care Affiliates, DHCA, Danbury
Danbury Hospital, Danbury
Danbury Dept. of Health and Housing, Danbury
Danbury Orthopedics, Danbury
Danbury PAL, Danbury
Danbury School System, Danbury
Danbury High School, Roberts Avenue School, Hayestown Avenue School, Danbury
Danbury Senior Center, Danbury
Danbury Youth Services, Danbury
Danbury Visiting Nurses Assoc., Danbury
Diageo, Norwalk
Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen, Danbury
Duracell Fitness Center, Bethel
Dow Chemical Corporation, Fitness Center
Devereux Glenhome School, Washington
Earth Fit, New Fairfield
Elim Park Health Care and Rehab Center, Cheshire
Even Start, Danbury
Filosa Nursing Home, Danbury
Gartner, Stamford
Girl Scouts of Southwest Connecticut
Green Chimneys School, Brewster, NY
Good Friends, Danbury
Habitat for Humanity
Hancock Hall, Danbury
Harambee Center, Danbury
Heal the Children, New Milford
Healing Hearts (Danbury Hospice)
HealthQuest, Danbury
Health South, Danbury
Hispanos Unidos Contra El Sida, New Haven
Human Resource Development Agency, Naugatuck
ICES, Waterbury
Interfaith AIDS Ministry of Danbury, Danbury
Just for Women, Waterbury
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Norwalk
Laurel Ridge Nursing Home, Ridgefield
Main Street Rehab – Danbury Hospital
Maplewood, Bethel, Danbury and Newtown
Masonicare of Newtown
MasterCard Pro-Fit Center, Purchase, NY
MCCA, Ridgefield
Meadow Ridge, Redding
National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD), New Fairfield
Nestle Waters. Stamford
New Fairfield High School, New Fairfield
New Milford High School, New Milford
New Milford Senior Center, New Milford
Newtown Youth Academy Sports and Fitness Center, Newtown
Norwalk Department of Health, Norwalk
Northeast Natural Medicine, Newtown
Northwest CT AIDS Project, Torrington
Pepsico Bottling Group, Somers/Purchase, N.Y.
Planned Parenthood, Danbury, New Haven and Waterbury
Pitney Bowes Corporate Fitness Center, Danbury
Rebound Medical, Danbury
Region #15, Pomperaug High School, Southbury
Ridgefield Boys and Girls Club, Ridgefield
Ridgefield High School, Ridgefield
Ridgefield Physical Therapy
Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association
Rockland County Dept. of Health, New City, NY
Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, Danbury
Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut
St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury
Salvation Army, Danbury
StayWell Health Care, Inc., Waterbury
Stratford Recreation Department
Sterling House Community Center, Stratford
Summit Rehab
Sun Family Outreach Program, Meriden
Tauck, Norwalk
The Hills Physical Therapy, Litchfield Hills
The Nat’l Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine, Brewster, NY
The Village at Brookfield Common, Brookfield
The Village at Mariner’s Point, East Haven
Town of Kent, Environmental Protection, Kent
Turning Point Healing Arts, Ridgefield
United Way of Western Connecticut, Danbury
Until Violence Stops, Danbury
Visiting Nurses of Oxford
War Memorial, Danbury
Waterbury Health Dept., Waterbury
Western CT Medical Group, New Milford
Western Connecticut Senior Exercise Program, Danbury
Western Connecticut State University, ChildCare Center, Danbury
Western Connecticut State University, CHOICES, Danbury
Western Connecticut State University, Housing & Residence Life, Danbury
Western Connecticut State University, V-DAY Project, Danbury
Wilton Meadows Rehabilitation and Health Care, Wilton
Women’s Center of Greater Danbury, Danbury
Women, Infant and Children (WIC), Danbury
Youth Action Programs & Homes, Inc., NY
YMCA, Waterbury

National
Health Fitness Corporation, Minneapolis, MN
MediFit, Florsham Park, NJ
ProFitness Health Solutions, Shelton