Graduate Programs in Health and Physical Education

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Health and Physical Education, M.A.

Two Concentrations of Study

36 Total Semester Hours for Each Concentration

Director: Leah Fiorentino

Program Description

The Department of Health and Human Performance offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Physical Education with a concentration in either of two programs - 1) Physical Education “M” Licensure, or 2) Exercise/Fitness or Sports Administration.

The M.A. program leading to “M” licensure is designed to enhance physical educator’s understanding and knowledge of human movement, the graduate program in Health and Physical Education seeks to encompass the elements of biological study, fitness, wellness, health, recreation, and physical education into a directed, comprehensive study of the discipline and how to teach it. The graduate program must be broader than the undergraduate’s physical education preparation, and to that end, will be a multi-disciplinary study that aims to help in-service teachers prepare for the teaching of physical education at all levels of learning and curriculum preparation. The program will seek to challenge the graduate student in all areas of advanced university study relative to the discipline and to teacher-effectiveness.

The graduate experience in the Exercise Science/Sport Administration program provides opportunities for students to investigate those associated fields at a more intense level than an undergraduate program can provide to students.  Faculty members provide in-depth coursework for graduate students in a variety of sub-disciplinary areas including exercise science, sport psychology, recreation, sport management, and sport leadership.  Students in this program complete a thesis in their final semester and present the result from their research project to the graduate department faculty.

Program Goals

The graduate program in Health and Physical Education (“M” licensure) is designed

1. to prepare physical educators in the field of human movement physiology as it relates in the teaching of physical education, athletics, and leisure activities;
2. to extend the graduate student’s understanding of the basic principles of educational management, supervision, leadership, and/or administration;
3. to help the graduate student to understand the role of educational psychology in teaching, coaching, and administration;
4. to stress the importance of a sound understanding of legal issues in schools, athletes, recreation, and any movement education facility;
5. to help the graduate student to construct curriculum design in various phases of health, wellness, fitness, physical education, recreation, etc.;
6. to provide an expanded grasp of research trends in the teaching of human movement and healthful living;
7. to help the graduate student to understand the principles of facilities, finances, budgeting, funding, etc., in a variety of sectors; and
8. to help the graduate student to develop the ability to objectively review educational issues affecting students, families, sports, and schools.

The graduate program in Physical Education - Exercise Science/Sport Administration is designed

1. to prepare professionals in the field of human movement physiology as it relates to the fields of exercise science and sport administration;
2. to extend the graduate student’s understanding of the basic principles of management, supervision, leadership, and/or administration;
3. to help the graduate student to understand the role of psychology in teaching, coaching, and administration;
4. to stress the importance of a sound understanding of legal issues for athletes, recreation, and any movement education facility;
5. to help the graduate student to construct effective development plans for various phases of health, wellness, fitness, physical education, recreation, etc.;
6. to provide an expanded grasp of research trends in the field of human movement and healthful living;
7. to help the graduate student to understand the principles of facilities, finances, budgeting, funding, etc., in a variety of sectors; and
8. to help the graduate student to develop the ability to objectively review contemporary issues affecting students, families, sports, and schools.

Programs

• Health and Physical Education, Exercise/Sports Administration Concentration, M.A.
• Health and Physical Education, Physical Education Licensure Concentration, M.A.

Courses

• EXER 5010. Health, Fitness, and Exercise Physiology (3 credits)
• EXER 5020. Exercise, Sport, and Coaching Psychology (3 credits)
• EXER 5030. Advanced Teaching Methodologies in Health/PE (3 credits)
• EXER 5040. Recreation, Leisure, and Tourism (3 credits)
• EXER 5050. Health, Wellness and Fitness Administration (3 credits)
• EXER 5060. Current Issues and Trends in Health, PE, and Sport (3 credits)
• EXER 5070. The Law in PE and Sport (3 credits)
• EXER 5080. Facility Design and Management (3 credits)
• EXER 5090. Promotion and Marketing of PE and Sport (3 credits)
• EXER 5100. Leadership and Management in Health, PE and Sport (3 credits)
• EXER 5110. Conflict Resolution in PE/Sport (3 credits)
• EXER 5120. Advanced Methodologies in Health/PE II (3)
• EXER 5810. Internship in Health and Physical Education (3 credits)
• EXER 5980. Research Methodology (3 credits)
• EXER 5990. Capstone Study (3 credits)
• EXER 6000. Thesis (3 credits)

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