The Health Enhancement concentration of the Integrative Physiology and Athletic Training major is for students who will instruct physical education and health classes within a K-12 primary/secondary education system. Comprehensive training includes coursework in education and pedagogy in addition to specific work related to exercise, physical education, and health related content knowledge. Foundational teaching concepts are provided through primary and secondary health enhancement coursework and theory and practice in community health education. Topical knowledge is provided by the courses, motor control/learning, and exercise physiology. This curriculum is thematically related to lifestyle medicine and Exercise is Medicine, including basic nutrition, personal health and wellness, promotion of wellbeing in K-12 classrooms, program planning in community health, and foundations of health and human performance. Aspects of coaching, exercise programing, and professional development are provided through coursework in strength training and conditioning, basic exercise prescription, prevention and care of athletic injuries, and legal and ethical issues in health and exercise professions.

Individuals seeking licensure to teach must apply for admission to the professional Teacher Education Program. Deadlines for application are September 15 and February 15. Individuals are eligible for consideration for admission if they have:

• been admitted to the University of Montana;
• completed at least 30 semester credits;
• earned a minimum cumulative GPA (including all transfer credits) of 2.75;
• completed an English writing course (WRIT 101) with a grade of C- or better;
• demonstrated evidence of writing ability in an application essay;
• documented appropriate experience working with children or youth;
• secured supportive recommendations from two faculty members;
• presented results of a national fingerprint-based background check; and
• demonstrated appropriate professional behaviors and dispositions associated with success in the profession

Once admitted, licensure candidates must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 each semester to continue in the program. Candidates who interrupt their studies for more than two years are placed on inactive status and must apply for readmission to both the University and the Teacher Education Program.

Candidates seeking a K-12 endorsement in library, reading, or special education must have full admission to the Teacher Education Program or be a licensed teacher before applying to one of these specialized programs.

Degree-holding individuals are invited to submit transcripts for review to determine how previous course work applies. They may earn a second baccalaureate degree and/or a teaching license or they may combine elementary, secondary, or K-12 licensure with a master's degree. 

General Degree Requirements

To earn a baccalaureate degree, all students must complete successfully, in addition to any other requirements, the University of Montana General Education Requirements. Please refer to the General Education Requirements page for more information. 

Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page. 

Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.

Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.

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It is strongly recommended that students take either BIOH 112 OR BIOH 113 OR BIOB 160 prior to taking Anatomy and Physiology.

Four Year Plan

Last updated Autumn 2024