Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Mission Statement
The Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences major prepares individuals for careers in health and wellness, movement and performance training, education or management within the field of kinesiology. Individuals in our program gain knowledge and skills through evidence-based learning, serving diverse populations, researching relevant topics and engaging in leadership while maintaining high ethical standards.
Student Learning Outcomes of the Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Program
Upon completion of the Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences major, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of foundational knowledge, theoretical perspectives and empirical findings;
- Apply conceptual knowledge that reflects best practice in a variety of settings;
- Apply leadership skills (reflection, management, critical thinking, ethics & collaboration) to career preparation in practical settings;
- Utilize technology effectively;
- Exhibit professional dispositions as future leaders in the field of health, exercise, and sport science;
- Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research;
- Acquire the broad base of knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to pursue lifelong learning.
The Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences major is designed for students who wish to pursue careers in the health and kinesiological sciences, or who wish to seek further specialization through graduate school. Students are provided with opportunities to integrate, reflect, and apply disciplinary concepts and principles in the field of health, exercise, and sport sciences. Graduates may seek entry-level positions in college, community, or corporate wellness centers, health informatics, medical technology, community recreation programs, strength and conditioning performance centers, hospitals and rehabilitation centers or schools. With additional education students may seek careers in cardiac rehabilitation, exercise physiology, exercise or sports psychology, occupational therapy, physician assistant, physical therapy, sports medicine or health and physical education teacher education, as well as many other areas of specialization.
The Health and Wellness Concentration program of study is designed for students who wish to promote quality of life through prescribing and promoting healthy lifestyles and pursue careers in areas of clinical based rehabilitation, fitness and wellness, health and medical research or who wish to seek further specialization through graduate study. In addition to the Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences core curriculum of 36 credit hours, the student will complete 27-36 credit hours including clinical laboratory and professional practicum experience.
The Health and Physical Education Concentration program of study prepares students as health and physical educators in school settings. Students may prepare as candidates for North Carolina K-12 licensure; see specific requirements in the teacher education section of this catalogue. In addition to the core curriculum of 36 credit hours, the student will complete 22-29 credit hours, including skill acquisition, physical education methods, and professional education classes. Additional coursework is required to obtain licensure.
Policies Related to the Health and Physical Education Learning Component
In meeting their general education requirements, a student may choose from any of the activities offered. Some activity classes are taken automatically pass/fail and some are taken automatically for a letter grade. A student may elect to change how a course is graded for them according to the following policy. Grade change requests of this nature must be received in the Office of the Registrar according to pass/fail election policies.
All PED activity classes and DAN activity classes at the 100 level are taken pass/fail. Students who have fulfilled the Health and Physical Learning component of General Education may elect to take them for a letter grade.
Students who have fulfilled the Health and Physical Learning component of General Education and who need these courses to fulfill major requirements must take them for a grade.
The PED/DAN for a grade option must be checked on the Drop/Add form, signed, and submitted to the Office of the Registrar.
DAN activity courses at the 200, 300, and 400 level are taken for a grade. Students may take these courses as pass/fail to fulfill the Health and Physical Learning Component of General Education.
No more than eight credits may be counted in the 124 hours required for graduation except for students majoring/minoring in dance or exercise and sports science.
Students may receive a maximum of two credits for Intercollegiate Athletics (PED-470) or performance groups (DAN-456) toward their health and physical learning requirement. An additional two hours of physical education/dance activity credits remain to fulfill their requirements for General Education. The course related to sports team participation (PED-470) is eligible for Pass/Fall grading only.
Pre-approved permission granted by the department head is required for students to repeat a physical education course for credit.
Health, Exercise, and Sports Science majors are required to take all activity courses (note PED prefix) which fulfill the requirements for the Health, Exercise, and Sports Science major for a grade. Dance majors/minors are required to take all dance activity courses which fulfill the requirements for the Dance major for a grade. All dance and physical education activity courses taken to fulfill requirements for the Dance and Health, Exercise, and Sports Science majors may count toward Graduation.
