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Houghton College Offers Dual Certification In Physical Education And Health Education
HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Houghton College is one of a limited number of New York State colleges to offer a dual certification degree in Physical Education and Health Education. This newest educational offering opens doors to students who wish to have the benefit of health certification in addition to the physical education degree. Houghton continues to offer the physical education bachelor’s degree.
With continuously changing requirements for teachers in various school systems throughout New York State and nationwide, Houghton graduates holding the dual certification will have an education that meets the shifting criteria. Additionally, the dual certification will showcase Houghton students as prepared professionals with the ability to offer expertise in school districts needing strong physical education and health programs.
The dual certification degree is a combination of the already established physical education course of study and the addition of necessary health courses. “The beauty of adding this dual certification is that we are able to highlight courses that we currently teach on campus. We did not have to change an entire curriculum,” said Physical Education Department Chair Trini Rangel.
In addition to on-campus science courses, like Nutrition and Drugs and Behavior, being added to the dual certification course load, two new courses being taught within the new certification are Epidemiology and Organization of School Health. The Organization of School Health course will be designed to instruct students how to teach health content in schools. Intercultural studies majors and students interested in nursing may also find the Epidemiology course of use for them.
“The addition of the dual certification allows us to use the expertise of our fine faculty, specifically in the biology, psychology and chemistry departments, while also producing graduates that are strong teaching professionals,” said Rangel.
Houghton College provides an academically challenging, Christ-centered liberal arts education to students from diverse traditions and economic backgrounds, and equips them to lead and labor effectively in the changing world of the 21st century.
