Health, Wellness, and Physical Education

Faculty

Earlene Simmons, Chair
Bruce Peifer
Ben Johnson
Vesa Naukkarinen

Introduction

The Department of Health, Wellness, and Physical Education (HWPE), emphasizes the body of knowledge accumulated concerning a fundamental human activity, human movement, a phenomenon considered essential and an integral part of human existence. The specific movement forms that the department studies, explains, and understands typically involve a variety of physical activities including exercise, sport, fundamental motor skills, fine motor tasks, and motor tasks of everyday living. These are applied to all persons across all ages.
The Health/Fitness Management major introduces the student to the fields of health education and fitness management. In addition, basic sciences and computer usage receive strong emphasis. The major is designed as professional preparation leading toward the roles of directors and leaders in the field of health and fitness.
Students preparing to teach in church-affiliated or public schools should plan to qualify for state of Maryland teaching credentials by completing the Physical Education teacher certification curriculum and passing the PRAXIS I exam.
For those students who intend to pursue careers other than teaching in Physical Education, the curriculum requires successful completion of the physical education core courses as well as a minor.
The Physical Education department offers class work and a practicum in sports administration and coaching for students who are interested in sports administration and coaching individual or team sports.

Mission Statement

Physical education is a part of the total educational process that has as its goal the development of physically, mentally, and spiritually balanced individuals through the medium of physical activities.

Goals

The Department of Health, Wellness, and Physical Education at Columbia Union College seeks to promote healthful living, physical fitness as well as knowledge and skill development. Physical Education at CUC should teach young people fitness, cooperation, teamwork, and perseverance to sportsmanship within the theology of play. Physical Education does not just include the ins and outs of physical exercise, but is multi-faceted and inclusive of all dimensions of health including the physical, mental and spiritual. It encompasses the eight principles of health, as we know it, and the pedagogical aspects of the physical body as it relates to human movement and sport.
The goals of the major programs include imparting the body of knowledge in physical education to undergraduate students; to prepare those interested in pedagogy for the teaching profession; to provide opportunities for students not interested in teaching to pursue alternate career tracks.

Objectives

The programs in HWPE embraces the following objectives:
Students in the program should be able to:
1. Understand the many lifestyle factors affecting health, with an emphasis on physical fitness.
2. Understand the physiological principles underlying human movement and current health/wellness issues.
3. Understand the mechanical and anatomical factors that explain human performance and fitness management.
4. Understand basic principles of physical fitness in relationship to personal wellness.
5. Apply knowledge of physical capabilities, learning theory and movement principles in program development, and lesson planning, and design.
6. Adopt and maintain a prescribed exercise and fitness program.
7. Assess and write prescriptions for health-related components of fitness.
8. Perform nutritional analyses and write sound diet/weight control programs.
9. Determine cardiovascular and cancer risks and implement risk-reduction programs..
10. Determine stress levels and implement stress management programs..
11. Promote health and fitness within the framework of the whole person. Christo-centric philosophical paradigm.