The public health and health education programs at Northern Illinois University offer several options at the undergraduate level for students interested in teaching health education in Illinois public schools.
In addition to training prospective teachers, the public health and health education programs at NIU prepare majors to be eligible to sit for certification as a Certified Health Education Specialist (C.H.E.S.). C.H.E.S. status is administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) for the purpose of evaluating prospective health educators in the competencies expected of an entry-level health educator. These include the ability to assess health needs of diverse populations, and plan, implement, and evaluate health education programs.
Northern Illinois is the fastest growing population base in the state, comprising 65% of the school-aged population and 40% of the public schools.
Prepared for C.H.E.S. certification, students are suited to work in community health agencies and medical and fitness facilities in need of health educators to plan and carry out health education programs for diverse clientele.
A student planning to major in health education should take a college preparatory curriculum in high school. Good communication and computer skills, combined with a strong foundation in biological and social sciences, will best prepare a student for success in college coursework.
Andrea Hein
(815) 753-5653
ahein@niu.edu