Health and Physical Education/Fitness.

Get Ready for an Active Career

Through Huntingdon’s Sport Science and Physical Education academic programs, you will learn both inside and outside the classroom, gaining hands-on experience that refines your skills, builds your resume, and prepares you well for graduate and professional school or for your first professional position.

If you love being active, want a fast-paced career, and sport and fitness are your passions, we invite you to explore the majors in SSPE, where you can combine your dreams with reality, get experience in your field as you learn by doing, and prepare for a career field you will never think of as work.

Physical Education

The Physical Education major prepares graduates to combine teaching and coaching responsibilities to enhance employability in the teaching field.  Physical Education involves teaching pre-Kindergarten-through-Grade-12 youth the performance and understanding of basic motor skills, games, and life-long fitness activities, as well as the social and personal skills related to participating in physical activities. Physical educators at all levels are responsible for enhancing these skills while working with a variety of ability levels and meeting the needs of those who have disabilities.

Elementary physical educators teach levels Pre-K–5, specifically addressing children’s basic skills and movements. Middle school physical educators typically work with grades 6–8, honing skills and movements by using an array of organized individual and team activities. This level also stresses teamwork and social skills. Secondary physical educators (Grades 9–12) stress participation in life-long activities such as aerobics, rock climbing, hiking, biking, jogging, and functional training.  Physical educators with additional training in Adapted Physical Education are responsible for ensuring that children and youth (ages pre-K through age 21) with disabilities  receive quality physical education services as mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA, 2004).

Huntingdon physical education graduates may qualify to become certified to teach in Alabama with reciprocity in a wide range of states. Once you have completed your degree and passed your certification exam, you may seek a full-time teaching position immediately. Flexibility in your willingness to relocate or to teach at various grade levels will enhance your employability.  Some physical educators choose to coach or officiate as well. You may advance in your career as either a director of physical education, adapted physical educator, athletic director, or school principal, among many possibilities.

Huntingdon’s PE major includes special training for those who are interested in working with special needs populations. Teaching placements in two different settings provide hands-on, resume-enhancing experiences.

Exercise Science