Health is a minor within the Department of Exercise Science. It meets the guidelines set forth by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), the Society for Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) for certification to teach health.

The Department of Exercise Science prepares, educates and empowers students in their individual journeys in the topic of sport and the broader issue of physical activity throughout life. Students are trained to become critical practitioners who are skilled at evaluating, deconstructing and addressing the problems and issues central to these areas. By blending scholarly study and professional practice, department faculty create learning opportunities and experiences that nurture students’ exploration of the physical, psychological, social-humanistic and professional aspects of physical activity, as well as their associated impact on health, society and quality of life.

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Faculty

Katie Astrauskas

Astrauskas, Catherine "Katie"

Professor of Exercise Science, Head Coach of Volleyball, Senior Women Administrator and Assistant Athletic Director - Compliance

Brian Azinger

Azinger, Brian

Head Athletic Trainer

Coles, Rick

Professor of Exercise Science, Associate Head Coach of Football

Followay, Brittany

Associate Professor of Exercise Science, Chair of Exercise Science, Graduate Program Director

Advising

Ripon College faculty and professional staff are dedicated to helping you reach your goals, whatever they may be and however often they may change along the way. It’s part of our value statement to you.

As a student at Ripon, you will be assigned a faculty adviser based on your area(s) of interest. You will meet with your faculty adviser throughout your time as a student to discuss your current aspirations, plan your course schedule and plot a future trajectory. We also work collaboratively with Ripon College Career and Professional Development to help match your interests and skills to concrete goals and construct a plan for professional success offering personalized career counseling, off-campus learning opportunities and an online job board with potential to connect with local, national and international employers.

Advising at Ripon

Requirements

Requirements for a Minor in Health
Total Credits 20 total credits including sixteen credits in the department
Core Courses EXS 232 Personal and Community Health Problems, 253 Teaching Lifetime Physical Activity and Fitness, 286 Nutrition for the Health Sciences, 342 School Health Curricula
Electives choose 4 elective credits with approval from the minor advisor. Potential courses include ANT 232 Medical Anthropology, EXS 211 Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries, 352 Psychological Aspects of Physical Activity, 353 Sociological Aspects of Physical Activity, MTH 120 Elementary Statistics, PSC 110 General Psychology, SOC 110 Introduction to Sociological Imagination, 302 Sociology of Health and Medicine, 304 Sociology of Inequalities.

Career Tracks

Beyond teaching health in schools, students of any major can use this minor after graduation to work with individuals with at any level in education, sports medicine, training and coaching. It often provides a background for further work in other disciplines, including government, business, law, medicine, marketing and other fields. This minor is primarily for students majoring in physical education so that they have the certification to also teach health.

Unique Opportunities

  • Through the Department of Educational Studies, certification in physical education and adapted physical education are available in early childhood/adolescence (birth-grade 12)..
  • Exercise science students have completed student teaching in all school districts within 50 miles of campus. Those from further away can and have done their student teaching at their home district.

Graduate Success

While earning his degree in sports management, Jake Marshall ’10 was Ripon’s record-setting quarterback. “The faculty in the exercise science department prepared me for basically any career I wanted," Jake says. "My major requires two internships. My experience interning for a minor league baseball team and the inspiration of Coach (Rick) Coles and Coach (Ron) Ernst made me realize I wanted to become a coach. I am now a graduate assistant and wide receivers coach at Coe College. I am thankful every day for the experiences Ripon offered me. Go Red Hawks!