UW-River Falls Academic Plan

The mission . . .

of the department of health and human performance is to prepare quality teachers, coaches, fitness and recreation leaders who
will enrich and support the health and wellbeing of others; help all individuals live healthy, satisfying, and energetic lives; and cultivate a commitment to physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices.

Department of Health and Human Performance
111 Karges Center
(715) 425-3705

Goals and Objectives

The department is committed to promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles throughout the lifespan, whether it be through providing opportunities for exceptional performance in athletics; for a holistic teaching approach in our physical education, health, dance, outdoor education and coaching curricula; for creative expression in dance theatre; or for recreational and leisure opportunities through activity courses and the life fitness program.

Major

The health and human performance major provides students with three options:

Option I – K-12 Physical Education: A 53-credit comprehensive program (no minor required) that qualifies graduates to teach K-12 Physical Education in the public school setting.

Option II – Exercise and Sport Science: A 34-credit program, plus minor, designed for students who seek careers in health promotion, cardiac rehabilitation, personal training, or sport management. Students who plan to continue their education at the graduate level in areas such as exercise physiology, athletic training, sport psychology, or biomechanics, may also wish to choose this option.

Option III – Health Education: A 34-credit program, plus minor, designed to prepare students to teach health education in the public school setting.

Minors

The department of health and human performance provides minors in health education, coaching, dance education and outdoor education. An Adapted Physical Education minor is also available for students seeking K-12 physical education certification or for teachers who are already certified in K-12 physical education. Students from all disciplines are encouraged to enjoy the opportunities provided through these minors.

Academics

In 1993 the department of health and human performance was the first Wisconsin program to pass the rigorous standards of the National Association of Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). The department met or exceeded the national requirements for every standard, in a time when nationally less than 25 percent of the physical education programs evaluated passed. In 2003, the department once again passed NASPE standards and is one of the few NASPE accredited physical education programs in the Midwest and the only NASPE accredited program in Wisconsin.

Faculty

The department of health and human performance has a unique blend of faculty and academic staff who place the overall education of students as their first priority. A genuine concern for the well-being of our students, both physically and mentally, provides an encouraging
atmosphere for the growth and development of tomorrow’s teachers and leaders. Students and faculty interact on a one-to-one basis and form life-long connections.

Bachelor of Science Degree. Exercise and Sport Science. HHP Option II.
Academic Advising Plan.

Semester 1 (Fall)

General Education CW (ENGL 100) ~ 3
General Education CS ~ 3
General Education HF (DANC 100) ~ 3
General Education HW
-- P ED 108 Health and Fitness for Life ~ 1
-- Physical education activity course ~ .5
General Education M or test out ~ 3
General Education SL (BIOL 100 or 150) ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 16.5

Semester 5 (Fall)

P ED 300 Adapted Physical Education ~ 3
HEAL 366 Exercise Physiology ~ 3
P ED 375 Physical Activity Behavior ~ 3
Minor course requirements ~ 6
Total semester credits ~ 15

Semester 2 (Spring)

General Education SB (POLS 114, PSYC 101) ~ 6
General Education HW
--Physical education activity course ~ .5
DANC 120 Fund. of Movement through Dance ~ 1
P ED 161 Intro. to Health and Human Performance ~ 3
P ED 196 Individual Sports ~ 2
SFED 200 First Aid and Basic Life ~ 2
TED 120 Introduction to Education and
Instructional Technology ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 17.5

Semester 6 (Spring)

General Education EC ~ 3
PSYC 336 Developmental Psychology: Adult and Aging ~ 3
General elective courses ~ 4
Minor course requirements ~ 5
Total semester credits ~ 15

Semester 3 (Fall)

General Education CA (ENGL 200) ~ 3
Directed elective course (A) ~ 2
Minor course requirements ~ 8
PSYC 236 Developmental Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 16

Semester 7 (Fall)

HEAL 315 Nutrition ~ 3
P ED 354 Biomechanics ~ 3
P ED 450 Sport, Fitness & Recreation Mngt. ~ 3
P ED 465 Scientific Principles of Conditioning ~ 2
General elective courses ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 15

Semester 4 (Spring)

HEAL 263 Human Anatomy ~ 3
P ED 245 Motor Development Across Lifespan ~ 3
P ED 271 Practicum I ~ 1
P ED 466 Exercise Leadership ~ 1
General Education EC ~ 3
General Education HF (ENGL 243) ~ 3
History/contemporary culture course ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 16

Semester 8 (Spring)

P ED 461 Senior Seminar ~ 3
P ED 471 Physical Education Practicum ~ 4
General Education MD ~ 3
Diversity course ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 13

Summary of Accounting
Degree Requirements

General Education ~ 38 cr.
Major Requirements ~ 53 cr.
Professional Requirements ~ 35 cr.
Credits to Degree/Certification ~ 126 cr.

This academic plan is an example of how students might choose to fulfill program requirements within a period of four years. After consulting with their advisers, students may make other course choices which would meet the program requirements and be more suitable for them.

PDF version

Updated September 2007

Directed Electives (2 or more credits) may be chosen from:
P ED 109 Recreational Climbing ~ 1
P ED 196 Individual Sports ~ 2
P ED 198 Team Sports 2
P ED 201 Outdoor Education Concepts and Skills ~ 3
P ED 202 Outdoor Education Concepts and Skills ~ 3
P ED 213 Care and Prevention ~ 2
P ED 251 Field Sports 2
P ED 252 Racquet Sports ~ 2
P ED 253 Lifetime Sports ~ 2
HEAL 269 Wellness ~ 3
P ED/ESM 301 Foundations of Outdoor Leadership ~ 3
P ED 351 Coaching Young Athletes ~ 2
P ED 363 Psychology of Coaching ~ 3
SOCI 230 Sociology of Sport and Leisure ~ 3