Health, Physical Education and Recreation

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Department Head: Dennis G. Dolny
Location: Health, Physical Education and Recreation 122A
Phone: (435) 797-1498
FAX: (435) 797-3759
E-mail: hperd@usu.edu
WWW: http://cehs.usu.edu/hper/

Graduate Program Coordinator:
Dennis G. Dolny, HPER 122A, (435) 797-7579, dennis.dolny@usu.edu

Undergraduate Academic Advisors:

Mary Lou Reynolds, HPER 157, (435) 797-1278, hperadvising@usu.edu

Melanie Stein, HPER 156, (435) 797-2490, hperadvising@usu.edu

For student appointments, call (435) 797-1495.

Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Education and Promotion; BS in Human Movement Science; BS in Parks and Recreation; Master of Science (MS) in Health and Human Movement; Master of Education (MEd) in Physical and Sport Education

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

Graduate specializations: MS—Corporate Wellness, Exercise Science, Sports Medicine, and Health Education

Undergraduate Programs

Objectives

Undergraduate Programs of Study

The Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Department offers undergraduate programs of study designed to prepare USU students for successful careers in one of three areas: Health Education and Promotion, Human Movement Science, or Parks and Recreation. 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, physical education 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 in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department.

Students should consult with their advisor to develop a plan of study tailored to their individual needs and interests.

Departmental Honors

Students who would like to experience greater academic depth within their major are encouraged to enroll in departmental honors. Through original, independent work, Honors students enjoy the benefits of close supervision and mentoring, as they work one-on-one with faculty in select upper-division departmental courses. Honors students also complete a senior project, which provides another opportunity to collaborate with faculty on a problem that is significant, both personally and in the student’s discipline. Participating in departmental honors enhances students’ chances for obtaining fellowships and admission to graduate school. Minimum GPA requirements for participation in departmental honors vary by department, but usually fall within the range of 3.30-3.50. Students may enter the Honors Program at almost any stage in their academic career, including at the junior (and sometimes senior) level. The campus-wide Honors Program, which is open to all qualified students regardless of major, offers a rich array of cultural and social activities, special  classes, and the benefit of Honors early registration. Interested students should contact the Honors Program, Main 15, (435) 797-2715, honors@usu.edu. Additional information can be found online at: http://www.usu.edu/honors/

Additional Information

Updated information concerning undergraduate courses and major or minor requirements can be obtained from the HPER Department, or check the departmental home page at: http://cehs.usu.edu/hper/

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 those scholarships awarded by the HPER Department, visit the departmental office in HPER 122, or check the departmental home page at: http://cehs.usu.edu/hper/

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.

Human Movement Science Major Assessment

The Human Movement Science 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.

Parks and Recreation Major Assessment

The Parks and Recreation 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.

Additional assessment information can be found at: http://cehs.usu.edu/hper/

Graduate Programs

Please refer to the general admission requirements  in this catalog. In addition, the letters of recommendation must be written by professionals in health or physical education who know the applicant and his/her work well. Students with fewer than 12 credits of undergraduate health or physical education 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, and pedagogy. Research laboratories include the Motion Analysis Lab, the Biomechanics Lab, the Exercise Physiology Lab, the Body Composition Lab, and the John Worley Sport Medicine Clincial Research Center.

Financial Assistance

Teaching and research assistantships are available through the HPER Department and are awarded on a competitive basis. Application for the assistantships must be made by March 15 to the department head. A formal application for admission must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies at the same time as the application for an assistantship. 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 financial assistance information, check the departmental home page at: http://cehs.usu.edu/hper/

Additional Information

Additional and/or updated information about graduate courses and programs may be obtained from the HPER Department, or check the departmental home page at: http://cehs.usu.edu/hper/

Health, Physical Education and Recreation Faculty

Professors
Dennis G. Dolny, Head, Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department
Richard D. Gordin, Jr., sport psychology
Edward M. Heath, exercise physiology
Gerald A. Smith, biomechanics

Associate Professors
Eadric Bressel, biomechanics
Hilda Fronske, motor learning
Julie A. Gast, community health
Donna L. Gordon, community health
John M. Kras, secondary pedagogy
Dennis A. Nelson, parks and recreation
Dale R. Wagner, exercise physiology
Phillip Waite, community health
Rolayne Wilson, elementary physical education

Nontenure Assistant Professors
Mark Roark, parks and recreation

Principal Lecturer
Peter J. Mathesius, physical education

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