Health, fitness & sport science

The health, fitness & sports science department is housed in Founders Hall and Burcky Addition. This complex contains two playing floors, seating capacity of 2,000, and storage and office space for department faculty. In addition to courses designed for its majors, the department offers teacher licensure in physical education and health, a wellness concentration emphasizing personal and community wellness, and majors in sport management and recreation management. The department also offers a wide variety of skill courses, a strong intramural program in men’s, women’s and co-ed sports, and intercollegiate athletics to help students develop a better understanding and appreciation for movement and to foster a desire for life-long physical activity.
More info...

Majors

There are three majors - health, physical education and recreation (with teaching certification and multi-age license), sport management and recreation management; and four minors - coaching, wellness, physical education and recreation management; offered by the health, fitness and sport science department.

Health, Physical Education and Recreation major

(36 hours)
Course work is planned in consultation with a departmental advisor and focuses on the student's area of interest.

HFS 110 Introduction to Health, Fitness and Sport Science (2)
HFS 120 Team and Individual Sports 1 (3)
HFS 130 Team and Individual Sports 2 (3)
HFS 140 First Aid and CPR (1)
HFS 210 Fit for Life (2)
HFS 220 Personal & Community Health Concerns (3)
HFS 240 Coaching Methods (3)
HFS 250 Basic Athletic Training (2)
HFS 260 Motor Learning and Physical Activity for Special Populations (4)
HFS 300 Measurement and Evaluation of HFS (2)
HFS 310 Kinesiology (3)
HFS 320 Exercise Physiology (3)
HFS 330 Teaching Methods for Physical Education (2)
HFS 340 Teaching Methods for Health (2)
HFS 385 Internship (1)

Wellness concentration: (29 hours)
Persons interested in the wellness concentration can major in health, physical education and recreation or food and nutrition. In addition to course work, the student will have the opportunity to gain valuable professional training through an internship experience.

BIO 230 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
COM 195 Interpersonal Communication (3)
     or COM 185 Public Speaking and Persuasion (3)
NTR 361 Family Resource Management (3)
HFS 225 Commercial Recreation (3)
HFS 310 Kinesiology (3)
HFS 325 Recreation and the Aging Process (3)
NTR 225 Fundamentals of Nutrition (3)
NTR 325 Lifecycle Nutrition (3)
NTR 335 Public Health Nutrition and Policy (3)
NTR 400 Seminar in Wellness (1)
PSY 110 Introduction to Psychology (3)

Teaching licensure

Licensure may be obtained from the Ohio Department of Education to teach physical education (Pre-K–12) and health education (Pre-K–12). The state requirements for multi-age licensure (Pre-K–12) are listed below.

Multi-age License: Health and Physical Education (47 hours + 10 LAS hours)
The multi-age provisional teacher license is valid for teaching learners from ages 3 through 21 and pre-k through 12 in the curriculum areas named in the license. Preparation in the teaching field shall constitute at least an academic major or its equivalent with sufficient advanced course work in all areas to be taught as specified by the Ohio Department of Education. The multi-age license for health and physical education requires these courses:

BIO 230 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
ENG 110/120 College English (3)
LAS 342 Cross-cultural Experience (4)
One Social Science Course (3)
HFS 110 Introduction to HFS (2)
HFS 120 Team and Individual Sports 1 (3)
HFS 130 Team and Individual Sports 2 (3)
HFS 140 First Aid and CPR (1)
HFS 150 Human Sexuality (2)
HFS 160 Drug Education (2)
HFS 210 Fit for Life (2)
HFS 220 Personal and Community Health Concerns (3)
HFS 240 Coaching Methods (3)
HFS 250 Basic Athletic Training (2)
HFS 260 Motor Learning and Physical Activity for Special Populations (4)
HFS 300 Measurement and Evaluation of HFS (2)
HFS 310 Kinesiology (3)
HFS 315 Teaching Methods for Physical Education (2)
HFS 320 Exercise Physiology (3)
HFS 340 Teaching Methods for Health (2)
HFS 385 Internship (1)
NTR 225 Fundamentals of Nutrition (3)

Required professional education courses: (30 hours)
EDU 303 Computers and Technology in Education (2)
PSY 110 Introduction to Psychology (3)
EDU 200 Introduction to Teaching in a Diverse Society (3)
EDU 205 Field Experience (1)
EDU 302 Reading in the Content Areas: Middle Childhood (3)
   or  EDU 305 Content Area Literacy/General Methods (3)
EDU 332 Social and Philosophical Issues in Education (3)
EDU 345 Multi-age Classroom Organization (2)
EDU 352 Educational Psychology and Classroom Assessment (3)
EDU 452 Clinical Practice- Multi-Age (10)

Sport Management major 

(45 hours)
The expansion of public interest and participation in sport and physical fitness has created a need for qualified leadership in these areas. Graduates will be prepared for careers as athletic administrators, in YMCA/YWCA work, in sporting goods companies, as sports information personnel and in other related areas.

Practical experience in an area of interest is provided to the student so insight into his/her chosen career may occur prior to graduation. The sites for these experiences are selected in cooperation with the student's advisor.

Students majoring in sport management are required to take 33 hours in core courses and 3 hours of internship (9 hours may be taken). Nine hours of classes are taken from either a sport communication concentration or from a sport organization concentration.

Required: (36 hours)
ACT 151 Principles of Accounting I (3) 
MGT 354 Principles of Management (3) 
COM 185 Public Speaking and Persuasion (3) 
  or COM 195 Interpersonal Communication(3) 
ECN 141 Principles of Macroeconomics (3) 
ECN 142 Principles of Microeconomics (3) 
HFS 110 Introduction to HPR (2) 
HFS 200 Sport and Society (2) 
HFS 210 Fit for Life (2) 
HFS 230 Sport Psychology (3) 
HFS 240 Coaching Methods (3)
HFS 350 Sport and Administration Management Practices (3) 
HFS 385 Internship (3)
MKT 356 Principles of Marketing (3)

Sport communication concentration: (9 hours)
COM 105 Introduction to Journalism (3)
COM 240 Media and Culture (3)
COM 277 Public Relations (3)
COM 305 Writing for the Media (3)

Sport organization concentration: (9 hours)
MKT 358 Consumer Behavior (3)
MGT 359 Entrepreneurship (3)
MKT 360 Sales (3)
MKT 362 Advertising (3)
MGT 364 Human Resource Management (3)

Recreation Management major 

(42 hours)
Career options include work in such areas as church recreation, parks, playgrounds, recreation in business and industry, hospitals, health care centers, camps, resorts, hotels, cruise ships, youth organizations, zoos and environmental centers. The program meets the standards of the National Recreation Parks Association.

Students majoring in recreation management are expected to complete 42 hours of credit including six hours of internship. Internships will consist of on-site experience with agencies that deliver leisure services. These may include public recreation park agencies, voluntary or social agencies, correctional institutions, industries, therapeutic recreation programs serving persons with disabilities, camps and college unions.

Required: (42 hours) 
HFS 115 Introduction to Recreation (3)
HFS 135 Games and Social Recreation (3)
HFS 145 Recreation Arts and Crafts (3)
HFS 205 Recreation Leadership and Program (3)
HFS 215 Outdoor Recreation (3)
HFS 225 Commercial Recreation (3)
HFS 235 Facilities Planning and Construction (3)
HFS 245 Camping Administration (3)
HFS 315 Therapeutic Recreation Service (3)
HFS 325 Recreation and the Aging Process (3)
HFS 335 Trends, Issues and Legislation in Recreation (3)
HFS 385 Internship (3)

Electives:
HFS 155 Adventures in Outdoor Recreation (1-2)

Minors

Bluffton University offers minors in coaching, wellness, physical education and recreation management.

Coaching minor (18 hours)
Persons other than HPER majors may be interested in a minor in coaching. The minor requires a coaching internship.

HFS 120 Team and Individual Sports 1 (3)
HFS 130 Team and Individual Sports 2 (3) 
HFS 140 First Aid and CPR (1) 
HFS 200 Sport and Society (2)
HFS 210 Fit for Life (2) 
HFS 240 Coaching Methods (3)
HFS 250 Basic Athletic Training (2) 
HFS 385 Internship (2)

Wellness minor (21 hours)
Persons in areas other than the food and nutrition and health, physical education and recreation majors (which have a wellness concentration for the major), may be interested in a minor in wellness. The minor consists of 21 hours of course work including the following:

BIO 230 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
COM 195 Interpersonal Communication (3)
  or COM 185 Public Speaking and Persuasion (3)
HFS 140 First Aid and CPR (1) 
HFS 210 Fit for Life (2)
HFS 220 Personal and Community Health Concerns (3) 
NTR 225 Fundamentals of Nutrition (3)


A minimum of five additional hours are to be chosen from courses within the wellness concentration. A person minoring in wellness must graduate with current first aid and CPR certification.

Physical Education minor (20 hours)
Persons other than health, physical education and recreation majors may be interested in a minor in physical education. 

BIO 230 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
HFS 110 Introduction to HPR (2) 
HFS 120 Team and Individual Sports 1 (3)
  or  HFS 130 Team and Individual Sports 2 (3) 
HFS 210 Fit for Life (2) 
HFS 260 Motor Learning and Physical Activity for Special Populations (4) 
HFS 300 Measurement and Evaluation of HPR (2) 
HFS 320 Exercise Physiology (3)

Recreation Management minor (18 hours)
The recreation management minor enables students to develop recreation skills and interests through a variety of avenues and to better understand the importance of leisure in our society. The minor includes the following recreation courses:

HFS 115 Introduction to Recreation (3) 
HFS 135 Games and Social Recreation (3) 
HFS 145 Recreation Arts and Crafts (3) 
HFS 205 Recreation Leadership and Program (3) 
HFS 215 Outdoor Recreation (3) 
HFS 315 Therapeutic Recreation Service (3)
   or HFS 235 Camping Administration (3)

Courses

HFS 110  Introduction to Health, Fitness and Sport Science  (2)
Provides an introduction to HFS and the theory of movement and play. Assists the HFS professional in acquiring the skills necessary to appreciate the values of movement. Includes a study of the qualifications and professional preparation of the HFS major. Covers aims and background of modern HFS programs. The psychological implications of movement education are included. First-year student or sophomore standing.

HFS 115 Introduction to Recreation (3)
Covers foundations of organized recreation, backgrounds and theories, objectives and principles, social and economic factors, public, private and commercial interests, and recreation and social institutions.

HFS 120   Team and Individual Sports 1 (3)
HFS 130 Team and Individual Sports 2 (3)
These courses emphasize personal mastery of the psychomotor skills and cognitive material of selected sport activities as well as the ability to analyze skill techniques. Instruction concentrates on the point of view of the participant as a prospective player.

HFS 135 Games and Social Recreation (3)
Focuses on individual, dual, low-organization activities, quiet games, table games and social mixers usable in programming in a recreation setting.

HFS 140 First Aid and CPR (1)
This course certifies persons in first aid and CPR according to the standards of the American Red Cross.

HFS 145 Recreation Arts and Crafts (3)
Involves designing for and working with various craft media including paper, metal, metal enamel, clay and other ceramic materials, plastic and weaving materials.

HFS 150 Human Sexuality (2)
This course is designed to examine the role and meaning of human sexuality as it relates to oneself and others. This course also considers society's sexual value systems including the Anabaptist/Mennonite perspective and reviews biological, psychological and sociological aspects of sexuality.

HFS 155 Adventures in Outdoor Recreation (1-2)
Designed to develop introductory skills in a variety of outdoor recreation adventure opportunities in areas such as: whitewater rafting, skiing, kayaking, backpacking and mountaineering.

HFS 160 Drug Education (2)
The course focuses on the problem of drugs in our society. Pharmacological, physiological, psychological and sociological aspects of drugs are studied. The course emphasizes that we are all drug educators regardless of the profession we choose. Each student is asked to suggest an active "plan" that can alter drug dependence using cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains of learning as a method of behavior modification.

HFS 200 Sport and Society (2)
Sport is examined from a sociological research perspective. Topics to be covered include the values and goals of sports as they are reflected in American culture, amateur athletics as a political tool, the relationship between sports and the media, violence as it exists in sports and in sport fans, religion as it influences athletes, athletics as an American corporation, youth and sport, racism in sport and females in sport. The course involves readings, discussion, speakers and films.

HFS 205 Recreation Leadership and Program (3)
Studies principles of leadership and their application in the development of recreation programs.

HFS 210 Fit for Life (2)
This course focuses on an introduction to wellness concepts including special emphasis on the physical, intellectual, emotional and social dimensions. In addition, students design an individualized program to improve their physical fitness. Level of fitness is tested both at the beginning and end of the term.

HFS 215 Outdoor Recreation (3)
Study of basic techniques and resource availability for camping, hiking, backpacking, mountaineering and related activities. Review of the interest in outdoor recreation and its impact upon facilities and environment.

HFS 220 Personal and Community Health Concerns (3)
Examines individual health habits and the normal developmental pattern for humans from conception through old age. The course emphasizes discussions and decisions about sexuality, marriage, selection of mate and proper nutrition and fitness. Communicable and chronic disease recognition and prevention and community/national health responsibility are explored.

HFS 225 Commercial Recreation (3)
This course deals with the private sector of recreation opportunities, including industrial corporations, establishment of private corporations, profit camps, sports clubs and the use of public land by private endeavors. Offered alternate years.

HFS 230 Sport Psychology (3)
Sport psychology is the psychological study of individuals in relation to sports and sport environments. Psychological principles are used to provide a foundation for understanding athletes, coaches, teams, fans, opponents and the mental aspects of sports. The focus is on performance enhancement through the use of mental skills training.

HFS 235 Facilities Planning and Construction (3)
An in-depth exploration into planning, constructing, equipping and managing a variety of recreation facilities. Funding and fundraising is also explored. Offered alternate years.

HFS 240 Coaching Methods (3)
This course examines the profession of coaching and involves studying the functions, techniques and methods of coaching boys' and girls' interscholastic/intercollegiate athletic teams. Organization and administration of athletic (and HPER) programs are studied with sociological implications considered.

HFS 245  Camping Administration (3)
This course deals with the development and implementation of successful camping programs and the total camp operation.

HFS 250  Basic Athletic Training (2)
This course focuses on head to toe examination emphasizing initial care and prevention of athletic injuries. Risk factors and mechanisms of athletic injuries are identified. Laboratory experiences are provided in taping, wrapping and usage of various modalities. Recommended: BIO 230.
 
HFS 255 Aquatics (3)
A course to advance the student in the aquatics area and to provide an understanding of potential programs as they relate to recreation. Offered alternate years.

HFS 260  Motor Learning and Physical Activity for Special Populations (4)
The purpose of this course is to become familiar with the learner, the learning environment and the process of learning in the motor skill context in order to help physical educators and coaches with appropriate instructional decisions. Special attention is given to those who are physically challenged and/or elderly.

HFS 300  Measurement and Evaluation of HFS (2)
The purpose of this course is to guide students in the appropriate selection, construction, administration and interpretation of tests specific to the field of health, physical education and exercise science. Fundamental statistical concepts are introduced.  Offered alternate years.

HFS 310  Kinesiology (3)
The science of human movement encompasses the anatomical and mechanical aspects of movement as they relate to sport, games and dance. Prerequisite: BIO 230, junior or senior standing. Offered alternate years.

HFS 315  Therapeutic Recreation Service (3)
Involves a study of leadership skills, techniques and adaptation of recreation activities for persons with disabilities. Offered alternate years.

HFS 320  Exercise Physiology (3)
This course focuses on the immediate and long-term effects of exercise on the human body including theories and principles for improving performance. Prerequisite: BIO 230; physics, chemistry preferred. Offered alternate years.

HFS 325  Recreation and the Aging Process (3)
The role of recreation as it relates to understanding and working with older persons. Emphasizes the role of the recreation manager in pre-retirement planning and in social programs planning for the older adult in retirement. Offered alternate years.

HFS 330    Teaching Methods for Physical Education (2)
The purpose of this course is to prepare the student to meet the challenge of teaching physical education in elementary and secondary school settings. Methods, materials and practices related to curriculum instruction are the focus of this course. Practical experience is included. Recommended prerequisite: EDU 200, EDU 332, junior or senior standing.

HFS 335  Trends, Issues and Legislation in Recreation (3)
A course designed to explore current issues, trends and legislation affecting the recreation management professional. Offered alternate years.

HFS 340    Teaching Methods for Health (2)
The purpose of this course is to prepare the student to meet the challenge of teaching health in elementary and secondary school settings. Methods, materials and practices related to curriculum instruction are the focus of this course. Practical experience is included. Recommended prerequisite: EDU 200, EDU 332, junior or senior standing.

HFS 350  Sport and Administration Management Practices (3)
This course is designed to acquaint the student with the many opportunities that exist for the professional administrator in sport management. A discussion of the foundation of sport management, career and employment opportunities, and essential skills needed in management aids the student in the development of his/her own personal philosophy of sport management in the 21st century. Prerequisite: junior standing.

HFS 385 Internship (1-15)
On-site experiences with an agency that delivers leisure services. This may include public recreation park argencies, voluntary or social agencies, correctinal institutions, industries, therapeutic agencies, serving persons with disabilities or commercial recreation opportunities. Approval of department chair and instructor for non-recreation majors.

HFS 390 Independent Study (1-4)
Individual readings, research and/or field study of a recreation issue, problem, service system or activity pattern. Can include individual growth of the student in a particular area. Approval of department chair and instructor for non-recreation majors.

August 2011