The new degree will replace the current bachelor of science
degree in physical education. Current students will graduate with a bachelor’s
degree in physical education until 2016 and incoming students will receive the
new degree. The health, leisure and fitness studies program will offer four
degree concentration options, including aquatics management, dance studies,
health promotion, and exercise science and coaching.
“The new degree program in health, leisure and fitness
studies is distinctively designed to meet the needs of individuals with a
variety of non-teaching career goals, and will provide a competitive and global
edge in the workplace,” said Patricia Green-Powell, interim dean of the College
of Education.
HPER professors Barbara Thompson, Steve Chandler, and Brian Hickey helped develop the new program. Currently six faculty members are credentialed and prepared to serve as inaugural instructors for the program. The students will have an internship prior to graduation and be well prepared to go on to graduate school, if they desire.
“The new bachelor’s degree, with its leisure studies
courses, can lead them to the master’s degree in sports management,” said
Chandler. “They could also conceivably do the master’s in business or public
health. We see it as being extremely supportive of the masters programs that
already exist on campus.”
Thompson said that one of the goals with the new program is
to reclaim students who left because they could not meet progression
requirements. She expects that approximately 15-20 students will re-enroll this
fall.
“We’re calling some of those students and inviting them
back. In fact, a lot of them are interested in coming back,” said Thompson.
“We’re telling them, ‘if you want to come back, we’re going to work with you.
We’re going to look at your transcript and everything you’ve had, and we’re
going to try to get you in and out.’”