Health Enhancement is the name for the Health and Physical Education teaching field in the public schools of the state of Montana. It is also the name of the option in the Health and Human Performance Department that student's choose who wish to complete a program that allows them to teach Health and Physical Education in Montana. The Health Enhancement option is an option, when accompanied by the curriculum and Instruction requirements of the School of Education, that allows for the granting of a teaching license at its' completion.
The Health Enhancement option has three main focus areas. First, the Health Enhancement option prepares students to use a variety of educational strategies designed to facilitate the adoption of healthy behaviors in students in the public schools. Second, the Health Enhancement option prepares students to effectively teach physical education (k-12) by introducing them to specific instructional strategies appropriate to the educational grade or level in school. Third, the Health Enhancement option prepares students to use a variety of teaching methods and strategies to conduct content based health lessons at their appropriate public school educational level.
Health Enhancement is an option in the Health and Human Performance department (HHP). The degree granted will be in HHP but the option will be Health Enhancement k-12. Health Enhancement is not an open enrollment option, however. Students must apply and receive acceptance to the Teacher Education Program to continue and complete the Health Enhancement option. In order to enter the Teacher Education Program; application must be made, acceptance must be gained, and all the requirements must completed. It is then, and only then, a teaching license is granted that allows candidates to teach Health and Physical Education in the state of Montana grades k-12. See Admission under the HHP website for further information on admission to the Teacher Education Program. It is necessary to point out that application to the Teacher Education Program must be made and a candidate must be accepted into the option in order to complete the degree program. Prior to their application and admission to the professional Teacher Education Program, students are considered pre Health Enhancement.
