Health and Kinesiology
Emphases: Health & Physical Ed Teaching
Bennion
Center
1078
Declared
Majors
32
Average
Class Size
Courses
Getting Started
- Begin Gen Ed courses
- Take KINES 2500 - Exploration of the Movement Sciences
- Complete MATH 1050 - College Algebra, BIOL 1610/1615 - Principles of Biology, WRTG 2010 - Intermediate Writing, NUIP 1020 - Scientific Foundations of Nutrition, & an ETHNC course - Ethnic Studies
Making Progress
Complete:- KINES 3091 - Exercise Physiology
- KINES 3200 - Introduction to Coaching
- H EDU 4200 - Foundations of Health Education
- H EDU 4230 - Health Teaching in Secondary Schools
- ED PS 3721 - Child Development & Learning
- H EDU 5300 - Diversity & Health
- NUIP 3620 - Cultural Aspects of Food
- ESSF courses - Exercise & Sport Science
- Statistics (multiple options)
Finishing Up
- Complete required upper-division H EDU & KINES courses
- Finish Gen Ed requirements
- Complete Student Teaching Experience
Community
Getting Started
Connect with a range of diverse health-related communities:- Volunteer for programs like U-Fit
- Intern alongside community partners
- Participate in research programs like UROP
- Join student-led organizations
Making Progress
Customize & tailor your Kinesiology experience towards your specific personal, academic, & professional goals:- Try classes like KINES 4920 and ECS 3150 to get teacher's aide experience & multi-cultural education
- Complete academic credit while gaining practical skills & experience in the community through research & internship opportunities.
Finishing Up
Apply your knowledge by taking on more influential roles:- Coordinate a group service project
- Volunteer your time with the Bennion Center
Knowledge & Skills
Getting Started
- Visit your advisor to create an academic plan
- Connect with support resources on campus such as the Writing Center & Math Lab
- Get to know other students in the major
Making Progress
- Organize a study group
- Attend office hours
- Touch base with your advisor to stay on track
- Explore & register for electives that support your learning goals
- Develop your knowledge through an independent study
- Seek out applied experience through job shadowing, community service, leadership opportunities, & direct patient/client exposure with organizations like Connect2Health & Primary Children's Medical Center
Finishing Up
- Practice what you learned & share your knowledge in a real world setting such as an internship or a collaboration with a Kinesiology community partner
- Consider an endorsement in something like English as a Second Language or Elementary Arts, meet with an advisor at the Urban Institute for Teacher Education for more information
Transformation
Getting Started
- Meet with an advisor to begin exploring what you want to do after you graduate& learn how to customize your undergraduate experience to meet your goals.
Making Progress
- Take courses with the community engaged learning designation or a supervised internship
- Connect with ASUU & the Student Success Coaches to learn more about student support services on campus
- Try extracurricular activities outside the major through the Bennion Center, the Natural History Museum, or the Huntsman Cancer Institute
Finishing Up
- Complete the student teaching experience & put theory into practice
- If you've done research, consider presenting at the Undergraduate Research Symposium
Impact
Getting Started
Join student groups & clubs on campus such asMaking Progress
- Apply for leadership positions in clubs such as Pre-Med Honor Society, Pre-SOMA, Pre-PT Club, Pre-PASO Club
- Visit your Career Coach & look into summer jobs in health professions
- Volunteer with an organization like U-Fit, Utah Reads, Science in the Parks, Connect2Health, or Friends for Sight
- Get valuable experience with an internship through PEAK Fitness, L.S. Skaggs Patient Wellness Center, or the Hinckley Institute
Finishing Up
- Visit with your Career Coach to discover opportunities to gain additional skills & experience through volunteering, job shadowing, clubs, or internships
Careers
Getting Started
- Take Focus2 or the StrengthsFinder assessments through the Career & Professional Development Center to get to know yourself better
- Use O Net & Who Hires U of U Grads to research career options
- Meet with a Career Coach for guidance
Making Progress
- Seek out new experiences by completing informational interviews, shadowing, volunteering, or working in areas of interest
- Use career events (Career Fairs/Meet & Eats) & resources (Handshake/Forever Utah) to get connected
- Develop back-up plans for your primary career goal
- Get your resume & LinkedIn reviewed
- Build references & contacts for the job search
- Attend the Career Conference to get all of these at once
Finishing Up
- Meet with a Career Coach to refine your job or graduate school application materials
- Practice interviewing
- Practice salary negotiation
Start Your Career Journey
Find support at the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC)
About the Major
If you are interested in and passionate about improving the function, health, and wellness of students in a K-12 setting, a Health and Kinesiology degree with the Health and Physical Education Teaching emphasis at the U is a great fit for you! You’ll learn about the disciplines within kinesiology (the study of human movement) including pedagogy and exercise physiology and psychology. You’ll also take courses in health education on topics such as healthy weight for life, facilitating healthy behavior, and health teaching in secondary schools. In addition to intensive coursework, the program provides a wide range of experiences and settings in which you’ll have opportunities to reflect, learn through practical experience and develop as a physical education teacher.
The Health and Physical Education Teaching program is committed to educating individuals who believe ALL students can learn and deserve the opportunity to learn; who act on the principle that diversity is to be valued; and who are committed to providing quality health and physical education instruction. Our curriculum is designed to help you meet the state requirements for teacher certification. Upon completion of the curriculum, you will be qualified for state licensure.
The Health and Physical Education Teaching program is committed to educating individuals who believe ALL students can learn and deserve the opportunity to learn; who act on the principle that diversity is to be valued; and who are committed to providing quality health and physical education instruction. Our curriculum is designed to help you meet the state requirements for teacher certification. Upon completion of the curriculum, you will be qualified for state licensure.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply discipline-specific scientific and theoretical concepts critical to the development of healthy, physically educated individuals.
- Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to demonstrate competent movement performance and health in the K-12 Standards.
- Learn to plan and implement developmentally appropriate learning experiences aligned with local, state, and national standards to address the diverse needs of all students.
- Use effective communication and pedagogical skills and strategies to enhance student engagement and learning.
- Utilize assessments and reflection to foster student learning and inform instructional decisions.
- Demonstrate dispositions essential to becoming an effective professional.
Plan & Prepare
At the U, we plan for our students to have an exceptional Educational Experience identified by four broad categories we call the Learning Framework: Community, Knowledge & Skills, Transformation, and Impact. This major map will help you envision, explore, design, and plan your personalized Exceptional Education Experience with the Learning Framework at the core. In addition to assisting you in planning your coursework and navigating the requirements of your major, this map will help you incorporate other kinds of experiences to expand your knowledge, support your development, and prepare you for the future you want.