College of Arts and Sciences - Academic Programs 

Physical Education, Health Education and Recreation

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education must take at least two of the following courses during the freshman year: PHED 002, PHED 004, PHED 005, PHED 159, PHED 160, PHED 161, PHED 164, and PHED 175. Any two activities may be elected during the sophomore year. Students who have lifeguard cards or who can pass the swimming proficiency test at the intermediate level may elect another course in place of swimming.

The division of physical education offers a teaching and non-teaching option. Students pursuing the teaching option must complete the professional education minor and “student teaching.”  The non-teaching option has three areas of concentration: (1) Exercise Physiology, (2) Sociology of Sport and (3) Athletic Training.

Courses required for the teaching option include: PHED 102, PHED 106, PHED 112, PHED 050, PHED 103, PHED 055, PHED 140, PHED 107, PHED 109, PHED 052, PHED 104, PHED 113, PHED 121, PHED 053, PHED 117 or PHED 135, PHED 123.

Courses required for a concentration in exercise physiology are: PHED 106, PHED 102, PHED 112, PHED 103, PHED 055, PHED 140, PHED 107, PHED 116, PHED 012, PHED 104, PHED 113, PHED 111, PHED 123, PHED 057, PHED 181, PHED 139.

Required courses for concentrations in sociology of sport are: PHED 140, PHED 106, PHED 050, PHED 001, PHED 031, PHED 035, PHED 117, PHED 111, PHED 132, PHED 123, PHED 036, PHED 133, PHED 137, PHED 134.

Courses required for a concentration in athletic training are: PHED 102, PHED 106, PHED 124, PHED 126, PHED 127, PHED 104, PHED 103, PHED 109, PHED 107, PHED 118, PHED 113, PHED 119, PHED 123, PHED 181, PHED 158.

A minor in physical education is available in the following areas of concentration: exercise physiology, sociology of sport and athletic training. A minimum of 15-18 semester hours is required.

The health education program offers the Bachelor of Science degree with two options: (1) School Health Education and (2 Community Health Education. Students selecting School Health Education must complete the following courses: PHED 152, PHED 220, PHED 102, PHED 103, PHED 160, PHED 181, PHED 172, PHED 157, PHED 180, and PHED 123.

Students majoring in School Health Education are required to complete “student teaching” and the professional education minor in the School of Education which includes the following courses: 145-029, 145-001, 145-005, 145-039, 145-160, and 145-135.  
Students selecting Community Health Education must complete the following courses: PHED 153, PHED 174, PHED 112, PHED 156, PHED 179, PHED 176, PHED 151, PHED 154, PHED 123, PHED 124 and PHED 179.

The health education minor program provides a choice for students majoring in other areas within the department as well as students matriculating in other disciplines within the University. A student who chooses to minor in either school Health Education or Community Health Education must secure a minimum of 18 hours in the area of concentration. These courses should be selected by the student’s minor advisor.  

A Bachelor of Science degree is offered in Recreation and Leisure with three areas of specialization: (1) Therapeutic Recreation, (2) Commercial Recreation and Tourism, and (3) Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management.

All Recreation and Leisure Studies majors are required to take the following core courses: PHED 200, PHED 201, PHED 202, PHED 203, PHED 204, PHED 205, PHED 123, and PHED 221.

Specialization course requirements are as follows: Therapeutic Recreation: PHED 230, PHED 231, PHED 232, PHED 102, PHED 103, PHED 111 or PHED 113. Commercial Recreation and Tourism: PHED 240, PHED 241, PHED 210, PHED 280, PHED 220. Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management: PHED 210, PHED 212, PHED 222, PHED 220, PHED 280.

Physics and Astronomy

Students not majoring in physics and who have not taken calculus as a part of their training program and who are required to take one year of physics will generally take PHYS-001 and PHYS-002. In a minor or concentration group, the student’s major department will specify which courses other than PHYS-001 and PHYS-002 or PHYS-013 and PHYS-014 are required. Where no specifications are made, consultation with a faculty member in the physics department will be helpful.  

For a minor in physics, PHYS-013/014 or PHYS-001/002 together with PHYS-182 and PHYS-183, or PHYS-178 and PHYS-179, are suggested as a program of study. Substitution of other courses may be made with the approval of the department.

The normal sequence for a student planning a career in physics consists of 37 credits in physics, including PHYS- 015, 175, l78/179; 182/183; 190/191; 194/195; and 196. The major sequence should begin no later than the second year.

In addition to the physics course requirements, there are other required, or suggested, courses in the program. Chemistry CHEM-003 and CHEM-004 are suggested. Prerequisites for all of the upper-level physics courses are MATH-156, MATH-157, MATH-158 and MATH-159. If students are not ready to take calculus on entering the University, they should take MATH-007 and not MATH-006 and MATH-010. The Advanced Calculus sequence or two semesters of upper-level mathematics courses are strongly recommended. The college language requirement may be satisfied with French, German, or Russian. Substitution of any other language will require department approval.

Students who earn an A grade in a senior thesis approved by the Department and in the senior comprehensive and who maintain the grade point average designated by the College of Arts and Sciences, are eligible for departmental honors.

Courses listed with two or more numbers must be taken in the sequence indicated.