Mission
The mission of the Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science is to prepare professionals at the
undergraduate level through excellence in teaching, research and service so that they may encourage enhanced
performance and quality of life of all citizens through active lifestyles and lifetime physical activity.
Goals
- Wellness courses provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to maintain and improve physical
fitness levels and to develop an understanding of the lifetime benefits associated with regular physical activity
and exercise. - Graduates with a major in Physical Education and Health Education (PHE) will have the skills and knowledge
necessary to become effective Physical Education and Health Education teachers. Students who earn a major
in physical education and health education, with teacher licensure, are qualified to teach physical education
and health education in grades K-12 in North Carolina and many other states. Students who earn a major in
physical education and health education without teacher licensure usually go on to graduate school or seek
employment in physical education, health education, or exercise related fields. - Graduates with a major in Exercise and Sport Science will have the skills and knowledge to become personal
trainers, exercise professionals, or strength and conditioning specialists. As exercise professionals, graduates
will be involved in developing and implementing individualized approaches to exercise leadership in healthy
populations and/or for those individuals with medical clearance to exercise. Graduates of the program will
be proficient in writing appropriate exercise recommendations, leading and demonstrating safe and effective
methods of exercise, and motivating individuals to begin and to continue with their healthy behaviors. Students
will have the opportunity to sit for professional certification examinations offered by NSCA and ACSM.
Graduates may also pursue graduate opportunities in cardiac rehabilitation, exercise physiology, nutrition,
strength and conditioning, etc.