Kinesiology and Health Science

Return to: Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services

Department Head: Eadric Bressel
Location: Health, Physical Education and Recreation 122A
Phone: (435) 797-7216
FAX: (435) 797-3759
E-mail: khs@usu.edu
WWW: khs.usu.edu

Graduate Program Coordinator:
Melissa Johnson, HPER 122, (435) 797-1495, melissa.johnson@usu.edu

Undergraduate Academic Advisors:
Raquel Friddle, HPER 122D, khsadvising@usu.edu
Jose Chavez, HPER 122F, khsadvising@usu.edu
Melanie Stein, HPER 122G, khsadvising@usu.edu
For advising appointments, schedule online here: cehs.usu.edu/advising.

Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Education and Promotion; BS in Kinesiology; BS in Recreation Administration; Master of Science (MS) in Kinesiology; Master of Education (MEd) in Physical and Sport Education; Master of Fitness Promotion (MFP); Master of Public Health (MPH)

Undergraduate emphases: BS in Health Education and Promotion—Community Health and Health Science; BS in Kinesiology—Exercise Science, Pre-Physical Therapy, and Physical Education Teaching

Graduate specialization: MS—Exercise Science

Full details of the learning objectives, assessment plan, student outcomes and evidence of continuous improvement for these programs of study can be found at khs.usu.edu/assessment/index.

Undergraduate Programs

Objectives

Undergraduate Programs of Study

The Kinesiology and Health Science Department offers undergraduate programs of study designed to prepare USU students for successful careers in one of three areas: Health Education and Promotion, Kinesiology, or Recreation Administration. Preparation is accomplished through well-rounded, rigorous course requirements.

Activity Courses

USU students are served by an extensive elective lifetime-skill activity course program. The number and diversity of courses encourages students to increase their lifetime participation skills and enjoy opportunities, creativity, and expression. Students may also achieve and maintain a high level of personal fitness and adopt a proactive lifestyle conducive to health and well-being.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Undergraduate students interested in health, kinesiology, and recreation research are encouraged to assist faculty members with grant writing, data collection, data analysis, and report writing. Additionally, students can assist faculty members with submissions of scholarly presentations and articles.

Suggested Four-year Plans

Suggested semester-by-semester four-year plans for students working toward a bachelor’s degree are available through the Kinesiology and Health Science Department.

Students should consult with their advisor to develop a plan of study tailored to their individual needs and interests.  Appointments to meet with an advisor can be made online through cehs.usu.edu/advising/.

University Honors Program

The University Honors Program offers students in all colleges and majors the unique opportunity to deepen their educational experience with hands-on practical applications of their academic knowledge. The Honors Program admits incoming, transfer, and existing USU students based on application. High achieving students with at least one year remaining are encouraged to apply.  See the University Honors Program catalog entry and website (honors.usu.edu) for more information.

Additional Information

Updated information concerning undergraduate courses and major or minor requirements can be obtained from the Kinesiology and Health Science Department, or check the departmental home page at khs.usu.edu/.

Major requirement sheets, which provide detailed information about requirements for departmental majors, can be obtained from the department.

Financial Support

The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services distributes scholarship applications beginning in January of each academic year. For information on the scholarships awarded by the Kinesiology and Health Science Department visit the department website: khs.usu.edu/.

Assessment

Health Education and Promotion Major Assessment

The Health Education and Promotion major curriculum is based on the National Commission of Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) seven responsibility areas for entry-level health educators. As such, each course is evaluated on a yearly basis to determine if it is meeting student needs, based on NCHEC guidelines. Coursework prepares graduating students to successfully sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist exam. Additionally, exit surveys and interviews are given to students to better assess the curriculum and the learning needs of the students. To further assess curriculum needs, follow-up surveys are sent to students one year after they graduate.

Kinesiology Major Assessment

The Kinesiology major curriculum is based on the standards and benchmarks of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). Each course is matrixed against the standards to assure quality in curriculum content. A number of assessments are available for exiting students, including Praxis 2, for physical education pre-service teachers, and a number of certifications of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), for students interested in fitness programming. Exit surveys and interviews are conducted annually, as well as post-graduation surveys.

Recreation Administration Major Assessment

The Recreation Administration major curriculum is accredited by the National Council on Accreditation of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). To assure compliance with the national standards, the curriculum is evaluated annually. Students are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination. Exit surveys and interviews are conducted yearly, as well as post-graduation surveys.

Graduate Programs

Please refer to the general admission requirements. In addition, please note that at least two of the three letters of recommendation should come from faculty members unless you have been out of school for 10 or more years or on a case by case basis. Otherwise, the letters of recommendation must be written by professionals in health, physical education, kinesiology, or another related field who know the applicant and his/her work well. Students with fewer than 12 credits of undergraduate coursework may be asked to make up any deficiencies before being granted matriculated status. Basic competencies that have not been acquired through courses or experience may be obtained by completing prerequisite undergraduate courses without credit. Other nongraduate credit courses may be required by the admissions committee. Students with weak oral or written English skills will be required to take remedial work or complete undergraduate or Intensive English classes.

Research

Research areas include health promotion, health education, exercise science, corporate wellness, sport psychology, sport in society, biomechanics, neuromechanics, and pedagogy, and other related fields. Research laboratories include the Biomechanics Lab, the Exercise Physiology Lab, the Body Composition Lab, the Neuromechanics Lab, the Neuromuscular Research Lab, the Perception-Action Lab, the Sensory Motor Behavior Lab, and the John Worley Sport Medicine Clinical Research Center.

Graduate Assistantships

Teaching and research assistantships are available through the Kinesiology and Health Science Department and are awarded on a competitive basis. Applications for the assistantships must be completed and submitted to the department by the beginning of March. A formal online application for a graduate program must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies as well as the assistantship application. Assistantship positions are conditioned upon acceptance into a graduate program and applications should meet all application requirements with no deficiencies. A recipient of a graduate assistantship is usually eligible for a waiver for the out-of-state portion of his or her tuition for the first fiscal year. For additional information, or questions contact the department at khs.usu.edu/.

Additional Information

Additional and/or updated information about graduate courses and programs may be obtained from the Kinesiology and Health Science Department, or check the departmental home page at khs.usu.edu.

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Return to: Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services