UW-River Falls

Academics

Accredited by the National Association of Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)

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 again passed NASPE standards and is one of the few NASPE accredited physical education programs in the Midwest and the only NASPE accredited program inWisconsin.

Transfer Students ~ READ THIS FIRST!

Major Options

The UW-RF Health & Human Performance department offers a major in Health and Human Performance with 3 Options

Comprehensive Physical Education with K-12 teacher certification (teacher certification; no minor required). A comprehensive program (plus professional preparation classes) that qualifies graduates to teach K-12 Physical Education in the public school setting.

Exercise and Sport Science (non-certifiable option; minor required). Designed for students who seek careers in which teaching certification is not mandatory, such as 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 kinesiology, may also wish to choose this option.

Health Education teacher certification (teacher certification; minor required). Designed to prepare students to teach Health Education in the school setting. Graduates will also be prepared to work in various allied health professions.

Minors

The department also offers 5 minors. Students from all disciplines are encouraged to enjoy the opportunities provided through our minors.

Adapted Physical Education The Adapted Physical Education Minor is a 22 credit minor for students seeking teacher certification to meet the needs of students with disabilities within physical education. This is an "add-on certification" for Comprehensive K-12 Physical Education majors only. It is not a "stand alone minor" for students from any other major. The minor consists of 15 credits of required course work plus 7 credits of directed electives.

Athletic C oaching The Athletic Coaching Minor is a 24 credit minor which prepares students to enter the world of Athletic Coaching. Students are required to take a scientific based core of 18 credits and 6 credits of coaching theory. The culminating experience is a 3 credit coaching practicum.

Dance Education The UWRF Dance Program is committed to student-centered learning experiences, which values individuals and their creativity. Our students are encouraged to pursue their academic goals while actively participating in artistic and cultural experiences. A highlight of the UWRF dance minor program is the opportunity for students to receive teacher certification in dance. If the dance minor is combined with a teacher preparation major, the student can be certified to teach dance in the public high schools. One of the only dance education programs in the state of Wisconsin.

Health Education The Health Education Minor is a 23 credit minor which can lead to teacher certification if combined with a certifiable major. Non-education majors can minor in Health Education-Liberal Arts which would prepare a student to work in the area of health promotion and risk reduction.

Outdoor Education The Outdoor Education Minor provides a series of challenging outdoor experiences that develop personal skills in outdoor adventure activities, prepares the student to teach these activities and develops the leadership skills to work with groups in outdoor adventure programs. Activities students participate in include wilderness backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, winter camping, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, high ropes challenge courses, group initiative challenge activities, and orienteering.

Academic Plan Sheets

Semester by semester examples to help you plan your four-year degree program.

Practicum Information

FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)
Practicum Application Process P ED 271/471
Recreational Field Study Application Process P ED 371

Applications can be found on the Forms page

Forms

For your convenience, the Health and Human Performance department has several of the commonly requested forms available online, including checklists for ensuring completion of major/minor requirements, a form to request a course substitution and an approval form for Option II majors as well as several other forms.

Test Outs

You can test out of several half credit Physical Education classes.

Post Graduate Placement Statistics

ADA Accommodations

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls welcomes students with disabilities into the university's educational programs and activities. Students with disability-related needs for reasonable accommodations should contact the Disability Services Office,102 Davee Library, (715) 425-3531. Before final decisions can be made to allow accommodation, students must provide documentation; see http://www.uwrf.edu/academic-success/ for further details.