Physical Education, Wellness, and Recreation Department
Fitness and Wellness Management, BS
Physical Education, BA K-12 Education Certification Preparation
Physical Education, BS
Recreation, Sport, and Tourism Management, BA General Recreation Emphasis
Recreation, Sport, and Tourism Management, BA Outdoor and Adventure Education Emphasis
Therapeutic Recreation, BS
The Physical Education, Wellness, and Recreation Department offers degree programs that promote a physically active and healthy lifestyle. Students can pursue secondary education certification in physical education through the state of Missouri through the Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education K-12 program. (For more information on certification programs, see the School of Education.) Additionally, the department offers a Bachelor of Science in physical education for those who wish to pursue coaching or related work outside the K-12 setting.
The department offers a Bachelor of Science in fitness and wellness management, which prepares graduates to work in corporate, community, government, non-profit, and clinical settings as wellness specialist. Students will have the knowledge and skills to implement and evaluate effective wellness programming to help improve the health outcomes for a desired population.
The Recreation, Sport, and Tourism Management program promotes healthy lifestyles in society by developing students’ understanding and ability to plan, organize, and facilitate challenging and rewarding recreation and leisure experiences in preparation for future careers in leisure services. Students will learn about human behavior, public policy, social issues, and how to manage facilities and resources to enhance the quality of life for individuals and communities. Students will gain the knowledge and skills needed for entry-level positions in private, nonprofit, and public recreation organizations on the local, state/regional, and national/federal level as well as be prepared for further study in graduate school in a variety of disciplines. The degree program offers the following emphasis areas: general recreation and outdoor and adventure education.
The undergraduate curriculum for the Therapeutic Recreation program prepares students for applied leadership positions with clinical and community agencies providing a wide variety of health care services. Typical employment agencies include long-term care facilities, residential treatment institutions, hospitals, community centers, outdoor adventure camps, senior centers and retirement complexes, wilderness camp facilities, juvenile detention centers, universities, community-based inclusion programs, Paralympic and Special Olympics, and drug and alcohol treatment centers. The Therapeutic Recreation program provides a firm foundation of classes and hands-on learning experiences designed to help students develop skills in assessment, planning, programming, leadership, and evaluation. The coursework and classroom learning experiences prepare students to sit for the CTRS (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist) credential administered through the NCTRC (National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification).