The Health/Social Emotional Education for School and Community Certificate program trains students how to effectively teach skills-based health education/social emotional learning. The courses are grounded in state and national standards. This program provides training for educators who are being asked to teach health education and would like additional training.
Modality
Health/Social Emotional Education for School and Community Certificate Program Overview
This post-baccalaureate certificate is for physical educators, community and public health educators and wellness and fitness center employees who want to increase their health content knowledge and skills and be able to use both in the classroom.
This program provides the skills and training to implement health and SEL education, and course assessments are aligned with Massachusetts performance indicators and the National Health Education Standards.
Based in Boston, all courses are taught remotely via scheduled Zoom meetings.
Health/Social Emotional Education for School and Community Certificate Program Highlights
Health education encompasses a broad range of programs and learning experiences designed to improve the health of individuals and communities.
You will learn how to design and implement skills-based health education which includes skills, SEL competencies, and a variety of content areas such as sexuality, violence prevention, mental health, etc.
After earning this certificate, you will gain the knowledge and skills to teach and implement:
- Skills-based health/SEL education
- Human sexuality
- Choice of two other courses: public health, promoting wellness, injury prevention, mental health, coordinating school health, and skills for risk reduction.
Advantages of Cambridge College's Certificate Program
Take the next step in your education and career. If you’re interested in increasing or updating your pedagogical skills in health education/SEL, join us.
- Experienced faculty: Our faculty are health education specialists who bring extensive research and real-world experience to the classroom.
- Flexible class options: Balance work, family and education with the help of flexible course schedules designed for working professionals that include remote courses via Zoom.
- Diverse students: Cambridge College welcomes 300+ students from 50+ countries and was recently ranked as one of the most ethnically diverse colleges in America, giving you the opportunity to work with other students from all over the world.
Health/Social Emotional Education for School and Community Certificate Tuition Information
*See curriculum sheet for a breakdown of credits and credit ranges.
Course List
In addition to two required courses, this post-baccalaureate certificate features elective course options selected from the initial licensure courses of the Skills-Based Health/Social Emotional Learning Master’s program, such as:
- Promoting Wellness: Building Positive Health/Social Emotional Behavior
- Preventing Unintentional Injury and Violence
- Promoting Mental/SEL Health Through School-Based Intervention
Prospective graduate degree students for programs in the School of Education & Counseling must satisfy the following requirements plus any program-specific requirements your program may have.
- Complete and sign the online application.
- Pay the application fee. Pay your $50 ($100 for international students) application fee by the term start date.
- Send official transcripts. Maildirectly to Cambridge College in a sealed, unopened envelope. Learn How to Send Transcripts. Required degrees must be from accredited colleges or universities.
- Master's and most graduate certificate programs require an earned bachelor's degree.
- Post-master's certificates and CAGS require an earned master's degree.
- International transcripts must be translated and evaluated by an approved agency. See all international student requirements
- Send your résumé and work experience. Send your resume that details your education and work experience, including how they pertain to your career goals. If your SEC program has a work experience requirement, it will be listed in the Program-Specific Requirements section below.
- Submit your personal statement. Write a 500-word, typed, double-spaced essay describing your professional experience, goals and objectives for graduate study. How do you expect your graduate studies to enhance your future career?
- Include two professional recommendations (not required for fully online programs). These should address your professional character and ability to perform graduate work. Download Applicant Recommendation Form
- Interview (required for some programs). If your program requires an interview, it will be listed in the Program-Specific Requirements section below.
- Satisfy Health Insurance & Immunization requirements. (Massachusetts only). These are required only for graduate students taking six or more credits per term in Massachusetts through on-campus or hybrid classes. Health insurance may be waived.
Teacher Licensure Program Requirements
In addition to the requirements listed above, our Teacher Licensure Programs have these additional requirements:
- Earned bachelor's degree with 3.0 or higher GPA.
- MA Educator Documentation from the Massachusetts Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website. Keep copies of all documents submitted and, upon admission, post in your electronic portfolio:
- Massachusetts Educator Personnel ID (MEPID number)
- MTEL Communication & Literacy Test, successfully completed.
Required if completed:
- Massachusetts preliminary license, if held
- Sheltered English Instruction requirement
- Fingerprinting and Criminal Offender Record Information
Applicants who do not initially meet all requirements (e.g. GPA of 3.0 or MTEL) for admission into their chosen licensure program must enroll in the corresponding non-licensure degree option. Students who achieve a 3.0 GPA upon completion of the first three SEC courses, pass the MTELs, and now meet all requirements, may request a change of program.
Disclosures: For all Licensure Programs
- Licensure requirements are subject to change per Massachusetts regulations. All Cambridge College licensure programs are based on current regulations.
- All candidates admitted for licensure programs must successfully complete the program in its entirety.
- All requirements at the time of program completion must be finalized prior to seeking Massachusetts endorsement for licensure purposes.
- If you have any licensure questions, please speak to your program chair.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
A master's degree is required.
Students completing the certificate do not need to complete pre-practicum field experiences. However, students who matriculate at a later time must complete all pre-practicum field experiences associated with these courses.
Successully completed courses may be accepted in the Skills-Based Health/Social Emotional Learning (SEL) initial licensure program if taken within 5-7 years of matriculation (subject to change.)
Health/Social Emotional Education Careers and Salaries
According to May 2022 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the projected change in employment from 2022 to 2032 for health education specialists is above average at 7 percent. The mean annual wage for health educators in the United States is $59,990. Health educator salaries will vary based on your experience, where you live and your workplace setting.*
In Massachusetts, the mean yearly salary is $72,680. In fact, the Boston and Cambridge region is one the top 10 metropolitan areas with a high level of employment for health education specialists.**
$59,990
Median nationwide salary for health education specialists, May 2022*
$72,680
Mean annual salary for health education specialists in Massachusetts, May 2022**
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Health Education Specialists, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/health-educators.htm (visited November 22, 2023).
**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Health Education Specialists, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211091.htm#st (visited November 21, 2023).
Health/Social Emotional Education Jobs
Health educators work in schools, community organizations, government agencies, healthcare facilities and businesses. A few examples of potential career pathways for certified health education specialists include:
- Community health educator
- School health educator
- Youth outreach coordinator
- Health counselor
- Health coach
- Corporate trainer
- Health program analyst
- Health education specialist
- Health and wellness coordinator
Faculty Spotlight
Mary C. Connolly
MEd, CAGS, CHES
Program Chair, Skills-Based Health/SEL and Senior Instructor
Mary is the Program Chair of the Skills-Based Health/Social Emotional program at Cambridge College. At the college, Mary is responsible for delivering quality programs for students seeking a Master of Education Degree, online health and physical education certificates, and a certificate for additional training in health education. She is also a health education consultant and helps many districts transform their curriculum from content-based to skills-based. She is the author of Skills-Based...