Apr 18, 2024  
2010-2011 Catalog 
    
2010-2011 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Physical Education, Health and Recreation


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Introduction

The Department of Physical Education, Health and Recreation offers degree programs for students interested in professions related to kinesiology, P-12 physical education and health, community health education, and recreation.

In addition to major/minor programs, a broad selection of activities is offered for students interested in developing lifetime sports skills or the promotion of personal fitness and health. Along with individual and team sports classes, courses are offered in outdoor pursuits including skiing and sailing.

Faculty

The department currently consists of 15 faculty members whose backgrounds span the entire range of kinesiology and physical education, health education and recreation. Students are provided opportunities to interact individually with faculty who are involved in community projects and research in public schools, kinesiology, health and recreation.

Facilities

The department is housed in the Carver Facility. Exercise physiology and biomechanics laboratories afford students an opportunity for in-depth study in the exercise sciences and health assessment as applied to health and sports medicine. Considerable practical experience using laboratory and computerized equipment enables students to develop skills in cardiorespiratory, anthropometric, strength and movement analysis, and health appraisals.

Major Programs

Kinesiology and Physical Education

The major programs are varied and include undergraduate and graduate student preparation for careers as professional physical and health educators, specialists in kinesiology options, and health fitness instructors in agencies, schools, industries, hospitals and health care facilities. Students are expected to perform community service in all programs. The concentrations offered include the following:

  • Teacher Education P-12 Physical Education and Health
  • Kinesiology
    • Movement Studies
    • Health and Fitness Specialist
    • Pre-Healthcare Professions
    • Pre-Physical Therapy
    • Sport Psychology

Kinesiology and Physical Education Mid-Program Checkpoint

Students seeking to complete a BAE degree in teacher education P-12 physical education and health or a BS in kinesiology within a four-year time span should have completed the following courses by the start of their junior year:

Major omissions from this list will make it difficult or impossible to complete this degree within two additional years.

NOTE: The teacher education P-12 option requires a 4½-year commitment, which includes a one-semester student teaching internship. Students must meet the minimum entry requirements of the Woodring College of Education before being considered for admission to the P-12 physical education and health program. Students should first declare a pre-major in this specialization in order to register for required pre-major classes and then apply for entry into the P-12 physical education and health program during the fall quarter of their junior year while they are enrolled in pre-major courses. Students who do not meet the minimum qualifications of the Woodring College of Education cannot apply to be considered for entry into the P-12 physical education and health program.

NOTE: The pre-physical therapy specialization of the kinesiology option requires careful planning if students are to complete the degree in a four-year period. It is suggested that students who are interested in this specialization consult with Dr. Gordon Chalmers, Dr. Brandi Row, or Dr. Dave Suprak (PEHR faculty) during their freshman or sophomore year in order to establish a reasonable plan of study for the completion of this degree.

NOTE: The health and fitness specialist option requires that all courses under the specialty area be taken which include specific additional courses in the core options. The American College of Sports Medicine University Connection Endorsement Program was designed to recognize academic institutions with educational programs that cover all of the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) specified by the ACSM Committee on Certification and Registry Boards to prepare students for successful careers in the health and fitness and clinical exercise programming fields. The health and fitness specialist option curriculum was approved by the ACSM University Connection program (UCP) from its inception in 2004 until the termination of the UCP.

NOTE: Development Skills/Fitness Leadership - PE Courses

Activities courses, with the exception of varsity sports and those so noted, may not be repeated for credit. Courses offered depend on instructor availability.  All 100-level classes are S/U graded. Participants may not accumulate more than three absences to receive a satisfactory grade. Should a student register late and miss the first and/or second class, all missed classes will be counted as absences. 

Some courses require an additional VARIBABLE fee (see specific course sections). Attendance and participation in the University assigned final exam time period, as listed in the timetable, is MANDATORY. A written and/or skills test will be given during the final exam class period.

Beginning courses, or equivalent, are pre-requisite to intermediate courses, which are in turn pre-requisite to advanced course in any given activity.

Health Education

Health education is a discipline with roots in the behavioral sciences of psychology, sociology, social psychology, and anthropology; the biological sciences; education; and public health. Health educators use multidisciplinary theories and behavioral and organizational change principles to plan, implement, and evaluate interventions that enable individuals, groups, and communities to achieve personal, social, and environmental health. To this end, health educators apply many different methods and strategies to achieve goals: group process, teaching, training, mass media, communication, community organization, organization development, strategic planning, skills training, legislation, policy development, and advocacy. Health educators practice in schools, colleges, work places, medical care settings, public health settings, and community-based agencies and organizations. (Adapted from the Joint Committee on Health Education and Promotion Terminology.)

Health educators are defined by the U.S. Federal Register as individuals who promote, maintain, and improve individual and community health by assisting individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors. They collect and analyze data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. They may also serve as a resource to assist individuals, other professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) are individuals who have met required health education training qualifications, successfully passed a competency-based examination administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. The WWU Community Health major prepares students to meet the eligibility requirements for becoming a Certified Health Education Specialist.

NOTE: Students interested in teaching health education in P-12 schools are referred to the Physical Education and Health major to meet state requirements for teaching Health and Fitness in the state of Washington.

Health Education Mid-Program Checkpoint

Students seeking to complete a BS degree in Community Health within a four-year time span should make normal progress toward the GUR requirements and should apply for pre-major admission to the program during their freshman or sophomore year. Admission is competitive and the number of majors accepted is limited. It is suggested that students interested in Community Health consult the program coordinator (Dr. Billie J. Lindsey) to establish a reasonable plan of study and be assigned an advisor. The following courses should be completed during the sophomore and junior years and prior to the start of the senior year. Major omissions from this list make it difficult or impossible to complete the degree within the four-year time span.

Recreation

The curriculum in recreation offers generalist preparation for a wide range of career entry-level positions including:

  • Community Recreation
  • Therapeutic Recreation
  • Outdoor Recreation
  • Tourism

Students seeking to complete a BA degree in recreation within a four-year time span should have made normal progress toward the GUR requirements and should apply for admission to the program during fall quarter of their sophomore year. For more information regarding admission and normal progress toward completion of a degree, interested students are strongly urged to contact the Recreation Program well before applying.

In response to the leisure needs of society, career opportunities in recreation and leisure services are numerous and diverse. Recognizing the importance of recreation in the lives of individuals, families and communities, the curriculum prepares students to plan, develop and administer programs and resources in a variety of settings.  The curriculum adapts the quarter system of scheduling classes to a sequential series of four phases. Students enter Phase I of the program during spring quarter of their sophomore year, although juniors and seniors are welcome to apply. They continue through the curriculum as a group, as indicated in the following schedule:

- Fall Winter Spring Summer
Fresh - - - -
Soph - - I -
Junior - II III or III
Senior IV - - -

The phase system allows maximum flexibility in scheduling workshops, field experiences, conferences and seminars both on and off campus. By making use of other departments at Western, statewide recreation resources, and recreation professionals, a wide range of educational experiences is available to the student.

The Recreation Program emphasizes preparation in the broad areas of outdoor recreation, community recreation, therapeutic recreation, and tourism. Community and outdoor recreation graduates find employment in federal and state recreation and park agencies, county and community recreation departments, and non-profit agencies serving people from all walks of life.  Therapeutic recreation graduates find employment in hospitals, senior centers, nursing homes, mental health agencies, community recreation departments, and federal, state and private agencies serving persons with disabilities or other adapted recreation needs. Graduates prepared in tourism plan and lead trips worldwide or work in destination planning.

The Recreation Program is nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation. Students should inquire directly to the Recreation Program office in Old Carver 6 for current information on admission procedures.

Faculty

CHARLES D. SYLVESTER (1984) Chair and Professor. BS, MA, University of Maryland; PhD, University of Oregon.
LORRAINE BRILLA (1985) Professor. BS, Pennsylvania State University; MS, Pennsylvania State University; PhD, University of Oregon.
RANDALL T. BURTZ (2003) Assistant Professor. BA, MA, Washington State University; PhD, Colorado State University.
GORDON CHALMERS (1996) Professor. BS, Simon Fraser University; MS, PhD, University of California-Los Angeles.
JEANNE FREEMAN (2007) Assistant Professor. BS, LaSierra University; MS, University of Nevada; PhD, University of Arkansas.
JILL HECKATHORN (1980) Instructor. BS, MA, Michigan State University.
YING LI (2006) Assistant Professor. BMEd, Zhejiang College; MS, Zhejiang University; MEd, University of Cincinnati; PhD, University of Florida.
BILLIE J. LINDSEY (2002) Associate Professor. BS, University of Texas; MA, EdD, University of Northern Colorado.
LEAANN MARTIN (1991) Professor. BS, Southwest Missouri State University; MS, University of Arizona; PhD, University of Texas.
DERRICK MEARS (2005) Assistant Professor. BS, MS, Central Missouri State University; PhD, University of Arkansas.
BRANDI ROW (2006) Assistant Professor. BA, Willamette University; MS, University of Oregon; PhD, Pennsylvania State University.
KEITH C. RUSSELL (2008) Associate Professor. BS, Lewis and Clark College; MS, PhD, University of Idaho.
DAVID N. SUPRAK (2008) Assistant Professor. BS, Eastern Washington University; MS, Western Washington University; PhD, University of Oregon.
RALPH A. VERNACCHIA (1973) Professor. BA, Montclair State University; MS, Ohio University; PhD, University of Utah.

Affiliated Teaching Faculty

JEFF DAVIS (1987) Certified Water Sports Instructor. U.S. Sailing Association, Levels I and II Instructor Trainer; Windsurfing Instructor Trainer.
LORI DEKUBBER (1991) Rehabilitation Athletic Trainer. BS, MEd, Western Washington University.
KELVEN HALSELL (1987) Head Coach, Track and Cross Country. BS, MEd, Wayland Baptist University.
DEBORAH HENRICHS (2000) Instructor. BA, MS, Western Washington University.
BRAD JACKSON (1985) Head Coach, Men’s Basketball. BA, Washington State University; MA, Seattle Pacific University.
MARTIN MULHOLLAND (1993) Instructor. Student Teacher Supervisor. BEd, Exeter University; MSc, University of Oregon.
REBECCA SCHINDLER (2001) Instructor. BS, Northern Illinois University; MEd, Western Washington University.

Graduate Study

For a concentration leading to the Master of Science degree, see the Graduate School  section of this catalog.

Undergraduate Degrees and Programs

Community Health, BS 

Kinesiology - Health and Fitness Specialist, BS 

Kinesiology - Movement Studies, BS 

Kinesiology - Pre-Healthcare Professions, BS 

Kinesiology - Pre-Physical Therapy, BS 

Kinesiology - Sport Psychology, BS 

Physical Education and Health P-12, BAE 

Recreation, BA 

Sport Psychology Minor 

Graduate Degrees and Programs

Human Movement and Performance, Exercise Science, Thesis, MS 

Human Movement and Performance, Sport Psychology, Thesis, MS 

Physical Education, Health and Recreation Courses

 

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