DIVISION OF KINESIOLOGY AND HEALTH
COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
Mission, Goals, and Outcomes
VISION
The Division of Kinesiology and Health (DK&H) strives to break through barriers and
explore new frontiers of teaching and learning. Through the unfettered pursuit of
knowledge, we aim to apply innovation, intelligence and tenacity to meet the health,
economic, social and environmental challenges of today, and to create a sustainable,
diverse and equitable world across which knowledge and services are shared to empower
the health of humankind.
MISSION
Promote an environment of excellence and achievement in kinesiology and health across
the lifespan, with emphasis on the physical activity and health needs of Wyoming and
rural residents.
We are committed to innovative, contemporary, and nationally/internationally recognized
research and teaching that equips our graduates to positively impact individual and
community health, lead in a constantly changing global society, and participate in
a democratic society that supports diversity of cultural values and practices.
DIVISION GOALS
The Division of Kinesiology and Health’s overarching goals remain consistent with
those developed in the summer of 1999.
The major goals of the Division are:
- To deliver a quality undergraduate education;
- A quality graduate education program that is accessible to student on- and off-campus;
- To contribute to the University wide research agenda; and
- To contribute to service both on- and off-campus.
GOALS AND OUTCOMES
The Division of Kinesiology and Health offers two undergraduate programs leading to
the Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Health: Kinesiology and HealthPromotion
(K&HP) and Physical Education Teacher Education (PHET). Both are four-year 120 credit
hour degree programs.
A. COMMON CORE IN KINESIOLOGY AND HEALTH
Kinesiology and Health majors in all three undergraduate programs complete a common
core of five lower division courses from the Division of Kinesiology and Health (HLED,
KIN, and PEAC courses). The Common Core is designed to provide majors a basic understanding
of kinesiology and health.
GOALS
1. Critical Thinking
Outcomes – The Student will:
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Critically evaluate forms of information related to kinesiology, health, and/or physical
education.
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Develop research questions related to issues in kinesiology, health, and/or physical
education.
2. Information LiteracyStudents will develop information literacy skills and abilities essential for adult
learning.
Outcomes – The Student will:
3. Disciplinary Knowledge
Students will develop knowledge of the organic, skeletal, and neuromuscular structures
of the human body, and psychological factors associated with diverse physical activities.
Outcomes – The Student will:
-
Understand how the organic, skeletal, and neuromuscular structures of the human body
adapt and contribute to motor performance, fitness, and wellness.
-
Define and contrast physical fitness, physical activity, exercise, and health.
B. KINESIOLOGY AND HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM (K&HP)
The Kinesiology and Health Promotion (K&HP) program is designed to prepare students
to assume leadership roles in health, fitness, and wellness related industries, as
well as to continue their studies in the health-related fields and graduate level
in kinesiology and health. The K&HP program goals and outcomes are framed around
the competencies and skills espoused by the American College of Sports Medicine Health
and Fitness Instructor certification and the National Health Standards. Approximately
275 students are enrolled in the K&HP program. Students must make application to enter
the last two years of the K&HP program (referred to as the professional program).
The admission process is competitive and limited to 50 students per year, 35 in the
fall and 15 in the spring. Following are the courses students complete during the
professional program:
GOALS
1. Knowledge for Application
A kinesiology and health promotion major will develop knowledge necessary to understand
and apply principles, skills, and methods related to biomechanics, exercise physiology,
health promotion, and exercise and sport psychology.
Outcomes – The kinesiology and health promotion major will:
-
Identify biomechanical, health, physiological, and psychological limitations to and
interventions for improving physical performance.
-
Identify and explain the mechanisms underlying biomechanical, physiological, and psychological
changes that occur during after acute and chronic exercise.
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Develop physical conditioning programs based on scientific principles designed to
develop physical fitness and improve athletic performance.
-
Understand how mechanical principles can be applied to the analysis of human movement
to assess and improve performance and reduce risk of injury.
2. Clinical and Epidemiological Evidence
A kinesiology and health promotion major will develop knowledge necessary to understand
the clinical and epidemiological evidence linking physical activity and exercise to
mental and physical health and approaches to the delivery physical activity and health
programs in clinical and community settings.
Outcomes – The kinesiology and health promotion major will:
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Identify and describe psychological, biological, biomechanical, and behavioral factors
that can influence health-related adaptations to exercise.
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Ability to identify and explain the disease-specific benefits and risks of physical
fitness and physical activity for coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia, hypertension,
diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, cancer, and immune system, anxiety and depression.
-
Ability to develop an individualized exercise prescription based on scientific principles
and appropriate evaluation techniques designed to reduce the risk of chronic disease
and avoid injuries.
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Ability to identify risks of and safe approaches to exercise and physical activity.
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Ability to identify the major personal, environmental, and activity characteristics
that determine the adoption and maintenance of participation in supervised and population-based
physical activity and exercise programs.
3. Scientific Method and Critical Thinking
A kinesiology and health promotion major will understand the scientific method and
ts application together with critical thinking and analytical skills to solve problems
related to physical activity and health.
Outcomes – The kinesiology and health promotion major will:
-
Describe and understand the process by which physiological, psychological, biomechanical,
and physical- and health-related tests are validated.
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Ability to apply scientific principles to evaluate the effectiveness of physical activity
and conditioning programs designed to improve health-related fitness or sport performance.
-
Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of human movement using mechanical principles.
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Ability to distinguish between correlational and causal relationships.
C. PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM (PHET)
The Physical Education Teacher Education (PHET) program is designed to prepare students
to teach physical education in schools K-12 as well as to continue their studies at
the graduate level in kinesiology and health. This program is accredited by the National
Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Professional Teaching
Standards Board (PTBS), Wyoming Department of Education. The Physical Education Teacher
Education program has received National Recognition through the next NCATE/NASPE accreditation
review which will be in 2016. The PHET program goals and outcomes are framed around
the national standards for beginning physical education teachers. Approximately 100
students are enrolled in the PHET program. Students must make application to enter
the last two years of the PHET program (referred to as the professional program).
The admission process is competitive and limited to 20 students per year. Following
are the courses students complete during the professional program:
GOALS
1. Content Knowledge
A physical education teacher education major understands physical education content
and disciplinary concepts related to the development of a physically educated person.
Outcomes – The teacher candidate will:
-
Identify critical elements of motor skill performance and combine motor skills into
appropriate sequences for the purpose of improving skill learning.
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Demonstrate competent motor skill performance in a variety of physical activities.
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Describe performance concepts and strategies related to skillful movement and physical
activity (e.g., fitness principles, game tactics, and skill improvement principles).
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Describe and apply bioscience concepts (anatomical, physiological, and biomechanical)
and psychological concepts to skillful movement, physical activity, and fitness.
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Understand and debate current physical activity issues and laws based on historical,
philosophical, and sociological perspectives.
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Demonstrate knowledge of approved local, state, and national content standards, and
local program goals.
2. Growth and Development
A physical education teacher education major understands how individuals learn and
develop, and provides opportunities that support their physical, cognitive, social,
and emotional development.
Outcomes – The teacher candidate will:
-
Monitor individual and group performance in order to design safe instruction that
meets learner developmental needs in the physical, cognitive, and social/emotional
domains.
-
Identify, select, and implement appropriate learning/practice opportunities based
on expected progressions and levels of readiness.
-
Identify, select, and implement appropriate learning/practice opportunities based
on understanding the student, the learning environment, and the task.
3. Diverse Learners
A physical education teacher education major understands how individuals differ in
their approaches to learning and creates appropriate instruction adapted to these
differences.
Outcomes – The teacher candidate will:
- Identify, select, and implement appropriate instruction that is sensitive to students’
strengths/weaknesses, multiple needs, learning styles, and/or prior experiences (e.g.,
cultural, personal, family, community).
- Use appropriate strategies, services, and resources to meet diverse learning needs.
4. Management and Motivation
A physical education teacher education major uses and understands individual and group
motivation and behavior to create safe learning environments that encourage positive
social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
Outcomes – The teacher candidate will:
- Use managerial routines that create smoothly functioning learning experiences.
- Organize, allocate, and manage resources (e.g., learners, time, space, equipment,
activities, and teacher attention) to provide active and equitable learning experiences.
- Use a variety of developmentally appropriate practices (e.g., content selection, instructional
formats, use of music, appropriate incentives and rewards) to motivate learners to
participate in physical activity inside and outside of the school.
- Use strategies to help learners demonstrate responsible personal and social behaviors
(e.g., mutual respect, support for others, safety, and cooperation) that promote positive
relationships and a productive learning environment.
- Develop an effective behavior management plan.
5. Communication
A physical education teacher education major uses knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal,
and media communication techniques to enhance learning and engagement in physical
activity settings.
Outcomes – The teacher candidate will:
- Describe and demonstrate effective communication skills (e.g., use of language, clarity,
conciseness, pacing, giving and receiving feedback, age appropriate language, and
nonverbal communication).
- Communicate managerial and instructional information in a variety of ways (e.g., bulletin
boards, music, task cards, posters, Internet, and video).
- Communicate in ways that demonstrate sensitivity to all learners (e.g., considerate
of ethnic, cultural, socio-economic, ability, and gender differences).
- Describe and implement strategies to enhance communication among learners in physical
activity settings.
6. Planning and Instruction
A physical education teacher education major understands the importance of planning
developmentally appropriate instructional units to foster the development of a physically
educated person.
Outcomes – The teacher candidate will:
- Identify, develop, and implement appropriate program and instructional goals.
- Develop short- and long-term plans that are linked to both program and instructional
goals and student needs.
- Select and implement instructional strategies, based on selected content, learner
needs, and safety issues, to facilitate learning in the physical activity setting.
- Design and implement learning experiences that are safe, appropriate, relevant, and
based on principles of effective instruction.
- Apply disciplinary and pedagogical knowledge in developing and implementing learning
environments and experiences.
- Provide learning experiences that allow students to integrate knowledge and skills
from multiple subject areas.
- Select and implement appropriate (i.e., comprehensive, accurate, useful, and safe)
teaching resources and curriculum materials.
- Use effective demonstrations and explanations to link physical activity concepts to
appropriate learning experiences.
- Develop and use appropriate instructional cues and prompts to facilitate competent
motor skill performance.
- Develop a repertoire of direct and indirect instructional formats to facilitate student
learning (e.g., ask questions, pose scenarios, promote problem solving and critical
thinking, and facilitate factual recall).
7. Student Assessment
A physical education teacher education major understands and the varied types of assessment
and their contribution to overall program continuity and the development of physical,
cognitive, social, and emotional domains.
Outcomes – The teacher candidate will:
- Identify key components of various types of assessment, describe their appropriate
and inappropriate use, and address issues of validity, reliability, and bias.
- Use a variety of appropriate authentic and traditional assessment techniques to assess
learner understanding and performance, provide feedback, and communicate learner
progress (i.e., for both formative and summative purposes).
- Involve learners in self- and peer-assessment.
- Use and interpret learning and performance data to inform curricular and instructional
decisions.
8. Reflection
A physical education teacher education major understands the importance of being a
reflective practitioner and its contribution to overall professional development and
actively seeks opportunities to sustain professional growth.
Outcomes – The teacher candidate will:
- Use a reflective cycle involving description of teaching, justification of teaching
performance, critique of the teaching performance, the setting of teaching goals,
and implementation of change.
- Use available resources (e.g., colleagues, literature, professional associations)
to develop as a reflective professional.
- Construct a plan for continued professional growth based on the assessment of personal
teaching performance.
9. Technology
A physical education teacher education major uses information technology to enhance
learning and professional productivity.
Outcomes – the teacher candidate will:
- Demonstrate knowledge of current technologies and their application in physical education.
- Design, develop, and implement student-learning activities that integrate information
technology.
- Use technologies to communicate, network, locate resources, and enhance continuing
professional development.
10. Collaboration
A physical education teacher education major understands the necessity of fostering
relationships with colleagues, parents/guardians, and community agencies to support
the development of a physically educated person.
Outcomes – The teacher candidate will:
- Identify strategies to become an advocate in the school and community to promote a
variety of physical activity opportunities.
- Actively participate in the professional physical education community (e.g., local,
state, district, and national) and within the broader education field.
- Identify and seek community resources to enhance physical activity opportunities.
- Establish productive relationships with parents/guardians and school colleagues to
support learner growth and well-being.