Health Education Teaching Endorsement Certificate

Boost your Professional Educator License (PEL) or Educator License

If you're interested in teaching in the field of health education, this certificate makes you a stronger candidate and expands your teaching opportunities.

If you already have your PEL, this coursework can be applied to your current license as an add on endorsement in the field of health education. If you're currently working on your AA or AS degree, you can take the Health Education endorsement courses at Harper College and earn the state endorsement after you complete an undergraduate degree and earn a teaching license.

Prepare for ISBE Health Education (142/211) test and earn a Harper College certificate credential
Online, on-campus and blended formats
Complete with 6 courses, 18-semester hours, in 3 semesters
Accredited by Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Meets Illinois State Board of Education requirements
Led by highly qualified faculty holding master's and doctoral degrees
Applicable to any grade level, even if underlying teaching endorsement on the PEL is different grade range
Tuition is a fraction of the cost of other colleges
This program offers an entirely 8-Week Course format option. Learn more.

The coursework proposed satisfies the requirements of the Illinois State Board of Education for an endorsement in health education. After completing the required coursework, students must submit an application and take an exam with the state to receive the health education teaching endorsement.

Certificate program requirements

Program Overview

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This 18-hour certificate provides students with the skills and knowledge to teach health education. Upon completion of the certificate program, students who already have a Professional Educator License (PEL) can apply for an endorsement in the field of health education.

Students pursuing a Health Education Endorsement certificate must have at minimum a bachelor’s degree and a valid Illinois teacher license. Applicants must take the Illinois Licensure Test Field 211: Health Education and complete an application to have this endorsement added to their teaching certificate.

All courses are offered online.

F = Fall only course S = Spring only course U = Summer only course

Required:

KIN 202 (Standard First Aid and CPR) can be substituted for any of these courses.

Hours Required:

Number	Course Title	Credits
HED 200	Health	3
Description: Provides an in-depth look at the physical, psychological, emotional, social, spiritual and environmental factors which contribute to the overall quality of a person’s life. An investigation of how our lifestyle compares with other people in the world and the role and impact of the World Health Organization is emphasized. Mental health, nutrition, fitness, communicable and non-communicable diseases, killer diseases, drugs, human sexuality, family living (marriage, divorce, parenting), middle and old age issues and death and dying are some of the topics covered. Physical and psychological assessments are included in this class. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
HED 201	Drugs in Our Culture	3
Description: Presents materials that examine the physiological, psychological and sociological aspects of drug use and abuse. Provides a potpourri of the facts, attitudes and opinions necessary to understand what drugs do, how they do it, who uses them and why. Discusses treatment modalities as well as legal and ethical issues in drug abuse. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
HED 202	Human Sexuality	3
Description: Introduces students to the sociological, psychological, biological and emotional implications of human sexuality. Includes sexual orientation, gender identity, sexually transmitted infections, contraception, and reproductive anatomy as well as other topics related to the field of human sexuality. Emphasizes exploring attitudes regarding sexual issues, clarifications of personal beliefs and development of healthy sexual behavior. IAI S9 903 Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
HED 204	Women's Health F	3
Description: This course is only offered in the fall term. Focuses on health issues as they pertain to women and the barriers unique to women in gaining a higher status. Includes physical, mental and spiritual aspects of health; women's anatomy and physiology; pregnancy, childbirth and infertility; violence against women; body image and eating disorders; and societal, historical and political influences of the global woman. Discusses the detection, treatment and prevention of illnesses in women. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
HED 206	Introduction to Community and Public Health S	3
Description: This course is only offered in the spring term. Focuses on the functions of community health organizations and the way they relate to individual health needs. Helps students to analyze and evaluate health promotion practices at the community level. Examines the historical and contemporary public health stories to begin to understand the contexts, systems, professions, tools and skills associated with the public health enterprise. Students will learn basic public health principles and will recognize an array of factors that shape both the health of individuals and populations. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
HED 207	Stress and Stress Management F	3
Description: This course is only offered in the fall term. Analyzes the impact stress has on the dimensions of wellness. This course examines the physiological and psychological responses to stress and discusses ways stress contributes to morbidity and mortality. You will learn how to better recognize your own stressors and identify ways to manage stress. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025

Sample Plan

3 Semester Plan

Fall Semester

HED 204 Women’s Health – W70 (first 8 weeks)
HED 207 Stress and Stress Management- W80 (second 8 weeks)

Spring Semester

HED 202 Human Sexuality- W70 (first 8 weeks)
HED 206 Introduction to Community and Public Health- W80 (2nd 8 weeks)

Summer

HED 200 Health- W01
HED 201 Drugs in our Culture- W01

2 Semester Plan

Fall Semester

HED 200 Health-W70 (first 8 weeks)
HED 204 Women’s Health – W70 (first 8 weeks)
HED 207 Stress and Stress Management- W80 (second 8 weeks)

Spring Semester

HED 202 Human Sexuality- W70 (first 8 weeks)
HED 206 Introduction to Community and Public Health- W80 (2nd 8 weeks)
HED 201 Drugs in our Culture- W80 (second 8 weeks)

Program outcomes

Taken from Illinois Licensure Testing System Health Education Framework:

Understand theories, principles, models, and processes of health promotion, disease prevention, and health education
Understand prevention, types, causes, effects, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious, noninfectious, and chronic diseases
Understand the health consequences of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and strategies for reducing risks related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use
Understand principles and strategies for promoting and maintaining mental and emotional health, including managing stress
Understand interpersonal and family relationships, social support systems, and how to foster positive interpersonal communication to promote family and social health
Understand principles of bullying prevention, conflict resolution, and violence prevention; and strategies for reducing health risks related to bullying, conflict, and violence.
Understand human body systems and physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and environmental health factors that affect health, growth, and human development
Understand nutritional principles and the role of nutrition in promoting and maintaining health
Understand the role of health-related physical fitness in promoting and maintaining health
Understand sexual and reproductive health and well as concepts and principles for protecting sexual and reproductive health
Understand principles, methods, and techniques for enhancing safety, preventing unintentional injuries, and providing care in medical emergency situations
Understand how to use risk-assessment, goal-setting, decision-making, and problem-solving skills to enhance personal, family, and community health
Understand the influence of social norms, family, culture, media, and technology on health, and strategies and skills for resisting unhealthy influences
Understand the role of the health education teacher as a resource person and methods for obtaining, analyzing, and disseminating health-related information
Understand health-related initiatives, agencies, issues, and trends and how to advocate effectively for personal, family, community, and environmental health
Understand principles and procedures for planning, implementing, and evaluating a school health education program
Understand instructional and assessment strategies that adhere to best practices as well as state, national, and professional standards, and that facilitate student skill development and application of functional health knowledge
Understand the process of reading, and apply knowledge of strategies for promoting students’ literacy development in the health education classroom
Understand professional and ethical issues in health education, including processes and skills for communicating and collaborating effectively within the school community

Related programs

Physical Education Teacher Endorsement Certificate
Additional teacher endorsement programs offered by Harper College.

Next steps

For more information about starting your college education at Harper, please contact Admissions Outreach at 847.925.6700 or fill out our request information form.