Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance

Welcome to the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Our academic undergraduate programs in Sports Management and Dance, continue to make a positive impact on the campus and the community at large. Students are inspired and motivated to meet the challenges that prepare them to establish and launch their careers in Sports Management or Dance. Their drive for excellence furthers their personal growth and development as they evolve into professionals in their chosen fields.

In the near future, the department anticipates developing a major in Physical Education, Urban Recreation, and Urban Health. In the fall of 2006, our Health Education Studies Program anticipates launching a new minor in Urban Health and a new major in Urban Health by fall 2007. In the area of Sports Management, we anticipate two new tracks, one in Sports Administration and the other in Aquatic Administration and Facility Management. We are looking to offer a major in Aquatics with concentrations in facility management and instruction as well.

Since we launched the Sports Management major with tracks in Sports Journalism, Sports Business, Sports Marketing and Sports Medicine, our enrollment has significantly increased. Students who have graduated from the program have successfully acquired positions at supervisory and managerial levels in recreation, corporate fitness, and with professional teams and organizations in sports and related fields. The new dance major, Dance and Culture, continues to artistically serve the community by incorporating culture into the training of dance students as they prepare to be dance artists or dance educators.

As our faculty and staff continue to increase and as we anticipate the opening of the New Physical Education Complex in 2010, the department seeks to provide and maintain its high standards of teaching and excellence in the university community. Our commitment to this philosophy permeates through out our academic program as we count our success stories and continue to diversify in our academic and co-curricular offerings tailored to meet the needs of our students in this changing and demanding global society.

Sincerely,

Dr. Edna D. Simmons, Chair