Department of Health Development and Community Health

The Department of Health and Human Development prepares students for careers that are dedicated to the enrichment of human well-being. Consequently, rewarding career opportunities are available to graduates within education and human service professions in private and public settings. Specific areas of study include child development or human development and family science, community health, dietetics or nutrition science, exercise science or health and fitness, hospitality management (food enterprise, lodging and facilities management, or restaurant management: farm-to-table options), and sustainable food systems. Students interested in teaching can pursue programs in early childhood education P-3, family and consumer sciences education 5-12, or health enhancement K-12 (health and physical education).

Health and Human Development offers master's degrees with options in community health; counseling including clinical mental health counseling, marriage, couples, and family counseling, and school counseling; exercise and nutrition sciences, including exercise physiology and nutrition and sport and coaching sciences; family and consumer sciences, including early childhood education/child development and family science; family financial planning; and sustainable food systems. The department also offers doctorates in exercise and nutrition sciences, and indigenous and rural health.  See the graduate catalog for additional information on graduate Health and Human Development programs.

In addition to the career options, the department also offers recreational activity courses with an academic component for university credit. Physical activity courses under the ACT designated rubric are offered as an educational opportunity and as a service to the general student population. User fees vary depending on the activity. Each student enrolling in an activity course will be asked to sign an activity course waiver and release form.

Mission Statement

The Department of Health and Human Development strives to enrich human well-being through teaching, research, and outreach.

Academic Advisors

The Health and Human Development academic advising office, staffed with academic advisors to serve the needs of undergraduate students, is located in 219 Herrick Hall. Students are expected to meet with an advisor each semester to discuss their plan of study, academic progress, and course registration.  In addition, students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor to discuss issues and questions regarding professional programs, career opportunities, and academic concerns. Academic advisors can assist students to appropriate referrals when necessary.

To receive advising or to inquire about programs in the Department of Health and Human Development, contact the Health and Human Development Advising Center by phone at (406) 994-4001, or by e-mail at hhdadvising@montana.edu.

Degrees and Options

The department offers eight Bachelor of Science degrees. They include a B.S. in Community Health; a B.S. in Early Childhood Education Preschool-Grade 3 Teaching; a B.S. in Food and Nutrition with options in Dietetics or Nutrition Science; a B.S. in Health Enhancement K-12 (health and physical education teaching); a B.S. in Kinesiology with options in Exercise Science or Health and Fitness; a B.S. in Hospitality Management with options in Food Enterprise, Lodging and Facilities Management, and Restaurant Management: Farm-to-Table; and a B.S. in Human Development and Family Science with options in Child Development, Family and Consumer Sciences Education (5-12), or Human Development and Family Science. For students who wish to pursue an interdisciplinary B.S. in Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems, the department offers an option in Sustainable Food Systems.

The department offers a Master of Science in the following areas:  community health; counseling (including clinical mental health counseling and marriage, couples, and family counseling) dietetics (combined with the dietetic internship); exercise and nutrition sciences (including exercise physiology and nutrition and sport and coaching sciences); family and consumer sciences (including early childhood education/child development and human development and family science); family financial planning; and sustainable food systems).  The department offers a Master of Education in school counseling, and a Doctor of Philosophy in exercise and nutrition sciences and indigenous and rural health.

Minor Fields of Study

Minors provide a concentration of courses outside the student's major and are intended to complement major course work. The minor is posted on the student's transcript. Non-teaching minors are available in coaching, human development, and personal and family finance. A teaching minor is available in family and consumer sciences 5-12. For additional information on minor fields of study and requirements, please see the minors section of this catalog.

Certificates

Three certificate programs are offered through the department.  An online graduate certificate in addiction counseling and an online graduate certificate in mental health support are offered as well as an online undergraduate certificate in gerontology.

Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Science degrees in community health, early childhood education P-3, food and nutrition, kinesiology, and human development and family science (child development option and human development and family science option), shall be conferred upon the successful completion of specified requirements and a minimum of 120 credits. The Bachelor of Science in human development and family science option in family and consumer sciences education 5-12 and the Bachelor of Science degree in health enhancement K-12 (health and physical education), shall be conferred upon the successful completion of specified requirements and a minimum of 121 and 128 credits, respectively. All undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 42 upper division credits.

A Master of Science degree shall be conferred upon completion of specified requirements and a minimum of 30 credits for the majors of family and consumer sciences, exercise and nutrition sciences, and sustainable food systems.  A minimum of 36 credits is required for the community health and family financial planning programs. A minimum of 60 credits is required in the graduate counseling programs. The Master of Education in school counseling carries a minimum of 48 credits.  The Doctor of Philosophy in exercise and nutrition sciences and indigenous and rural health require 60 credits. Please see the graduate catalog for further information.


Certifications and Licensures

Certifications and licensures are dependent on the student's eligibility to sit for certification and licensing examinations and on passing those examinations. Several fields of study in the Department of Health and Human Development prepare students to sit for certification and licensing examinations. Many, but not all, certifications and licensures are offered as post-baccalaureate opportunities. See an advisor for additional information.

The following certifications are related to Health and Human Development disciplines:

Accredited Family Financial Counselor

The Department of Health and Human Development offers a three-course series that can aid students in becoming credentialed as an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC). The AFC credential is offered nationally through the Institute for Personal Finance. The credential requires two tests, an internship, and a year of work experience in helping consumers and families with financial matters. The three-course series prepares students to take the two tests. The department then helps students find placement for an internship involving helping consumers and families with finances. The AFC credential allows students to credibly indicate their expertise in personal and family finance to potential employers.

Certified in Family and Consumer Sciences

Students completing the human development and family science major (with options in human development and family science and family and consumer sciences education) will be eligible to sit for the Certification in Family and Consumer Sciences (CFCS) exam set by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. The CFCS credential communicates to others within and outside of the profession that the individual certified in family and consumer sciences possesses a broad professional knowledge base in the field.

Certified Family Life Educator

Students completing the human development and family science major will be eligible to apply for the CFLE granted by the National Council on Family Relations. Interested community health students may also complete additional courses and apply for provisional certification. Certified Family Life Educators serve as consultants, directors, educators, and coordinators in settings such as social services, child care, health and welfare, recreation, youth programs, community action, drug/alcohol rehabilitation centers, senior citizen programs, parent education, family service agencies, extension, and retirement/convalescent care centers.

Certified Health Education Specialist

Completion of the community health major establishes eligibility to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist examination (CHES). The CHES exam measures the possession, application, and interpretation of knowledge essential to the practice of community health/health education. The CHES certification is a national standard for health education practice and assists employers in identifying qualified health education practitioners.

Certified Personal Trainer/Certified Strength Coach

The National Strength and Conditioning Association provides opportunities to become a certified personal trainer or a certified strength coach.

Coaching Certification

Faculty in Health and Human Development partner with the Montana High School Association (MHSA) in the development and implementation of a coaching certification program. Although MHSA awards the certification, successful completion of the coaching minor offered in the department will prepare the future coach for the profession.

Early Childhood Education Preschool-Grade 3 Teacher

The early childhood education P-3 major is designed for students who wish to become licensed to teach preschool through grade 3.  Upon completion of the degree, students are recommended for licensure through the State of Montana in teaching preschool-grade 3.

Family and Consumer Sciences 5-12 Teacher

The family and consumer sciences teacher preparation program is designed for students who want to become teachers of family and consumer sciences in public or private schools. Upon completion of the degree, students are recommended for licensure through the State of Montana in teaching grades 5-12.

Health Enhancement K-12 (Health and Physical Education) Teacher

The health enhancement K-12 teacher preparation program is designed for students who want to become teachers of health enhancement (health and physical education) in public or private schools. Upon completion of the degree, students are recommended for licensure though the State of Montana in teaching grades K-12.

Health Fitness Instructor and Exercise Test Technologist

The American College of Sports Medicine, the premier organization for health/fitness professionals and clinicians, offers the health/fitness instructor and exercise test technologist certifications at sanctioned test locations throughout the Pacific Northwest. The certification exams include written and practical components that emphasize the application of knowledge and hands-on skills typically acquired in an undergraduate exercise science or kinesiology program.

Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

Graduate counseling programs in Health and Human Development lead to the opportunity to become licensed in Montana as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). Following completion of a master's degree, the student must complete a minimum of 1500 hours of supervised counseling practice prior to sitting for and passing the LPC examination.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Upon completion of all Didactic Program in Dietetics classes in the dietetics option of the food and nutrition major with a C or better in each required program course, students will be eligible to apply to an ACEND accredited combined master's and internship program to satisfy the necessary requirements. Upon successful completion of the master's and internship program, the student may sit for the RDN examination given by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The RDN status enables a person to become licensed in Montana as a Licensed Nutritionist by the Board of Medical Examiners.

Graduate Programs
 

Doctor of Philosophy degrees in:


Master of Science degrees in:


Master of Education in:


Certificate programs in:


Graduate programs in the Department of Health and Human Development lead to a Master of Science degree in community health; counseling (clinical mental health or marriage, couples, and family), dietetics (combined with the dietetic internship); exercise and nutrition sciences (exercise physiology and nutrition; sport and coaching sciences), family and consumer sciences (early childhood education/child development; human development and family science), and sustainable food systems.  The Master of Education degree is awarded to those completing the school counseling degree.  A Doctor of Philosophy is available in exercise and nutrition sciences or indigenous and rural health.

A minimum of 30 credits is required for the Master of Science degree in exercise and nutrition sciences and the sustainable food systems programs.  A minimum of 36 credits is required in community health and family and consumer sciences.  Both thesis and non-thesis plans are available. Because of professional licensure requirements, a minimum of 60 credits is required for both marriage, couples, and family counseling and mental health counseling.  The school counseling program requires a minimum of 48 credits. The PhD in exercise and nutrition sciences and indigenous and rural health are both 60-credit programs.  Transfer credits may not exceed the limit of nine set by The Graduate School and must be assessed by the respective faculty advisor before acceptance to the program.

More detailed information regarding curricula and requirements may be obtained on the Department of Health and Human Development website.