Department of Human Performance and Sport Sciences

Jason Smith, EdD, Department Chair
332 Gentry Complex
(615) 963-2114

Faculty: A. Boyd, J. Brown, R. Cochrum, P. Dickson, J. Heimdal, W. Johnson, T. Jones, and J. Smith

General Statement

The Department of Human Performance and Sport Sciences prepares students for professional careers in the following areas of concentration: Teacher Education - Physical Education Teacher Education - Health Education, and Exercise Science.

The department focuses on the development of competent leaders for our diverse society, who will promote the essentials of quality living, as well as excellence in teaching and serving.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. All students will develop critical thinking skills, effective communication skills (written and oral), and technological skills.
2. All students will develop reflective skills needed to enhance other scholarly pursuits as lifelong learners.
3. All students will employ measurement and statistical concepts to assess student/client performance and program success, specific to their field of study.
4. All students will exhibit professional decision-making skills and civic responsibility in a variety of ways in their specific field of study.

Departmental Objectives 

1. Prepare physical education teachers’ pedagogical skills in the design of program activities that would guide youth in becoming physically active for the rest of their lives.
2. Prepare health educators to promote wellness by instructing others in the way of proper diet, stress management, psychological well-being, human sexuality, exercise, and play, as well as other fundamental behaviors that improve the quality of life for all individuals and communities.
3. Prepare exercise science, students, for careers in community physical fitness entities: public, private, corporate, commercial, and clinical settings.
4. Provide opportunities for students to learn the scientific basis and fundamentals of athletic training to prepare them for success in graduate curriculums of advanced degree programs.

Retention/Graduation Requirements

The department of HPSS offers three undergraduate concentrations and two graduate concentrations. The Graduate Catalog should be checked for information on master’s degree concentrations in Sports Administration and Exercise Science.

Completion of the undergraduate curricula terminates with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree. Retention requires that students meet all specific minimum hours for graduation with a GPA of 2.00 or higher in the programs listed below. A Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better may qualify a major for graduation with only one D recorded in the Major Core.

Teacher Education Candidates are required to Pass the Praxis Core Examination; and achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.75 before applying for admission into the Teacher Education Program. Teacher education admission requirements are further specified in the introductory material included under the general heading: The College of Education.

Concentrations in Human Performance & Sport Sciences

Four undergraduate concentrations are offered in the HPSS Department. The curriculum for each of these majors is presented below:

The Department of HPSS offers (1) minor: 1) Personal Training

Programs

• Human Performance & Sport Sciences, Exercise Science, B.S.
• Human Performance & Sport Sciences, Health Education Teacher Education (K-12) (HETE), B.S.
• Human Performance and Sport Sciences, Physical Education Teacher Education (K-12) (PETE), B.S.

• Human Performance and Sport Sciences Minor
• Personal Training Minor

Courses

• HPSS 4730 - Internship in HPSS 3 to 9
• HPSS 4730a, 4730b, 4730c - Internship in HPSS 3