Health and Human Performance

Health care professionals, educators and personal trainers are always in demand. At the College of Charleston, constant interaction and a variety of experiences shared through three diverse concentrations prepare you to excel in these disciplines.

Physical Education. Majors in physical education choose one of three concentrations that lead to a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. Graduates of this program qualify for employment in a variety of areas depending on the concentration chosen.

A concentration in Health Promotion prepares you for work in such areas as:

Facility management
Corporate wellness
Hospital health promotion
Community health
Public fitness and recreation
Patient education
Research
Public health

A concentration in Excercise Science qualifies you for:

Graduate study in one of the sub-disciplines of exercise science – exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor behavior or sports psychology
Health fitness instructor certification
Strength and conditioning specialist certification
Professional programs in occupational therapy
Professional programs in physical therapy
Professional programs for physician’s assistant

A concentration in Teacher Education prepares you to teach physical education in:

Elementary School
Middle School
Secondary School
Private School

That concentration also prepares you for further study in education that can lead to masters and doctoral degrees in teaching pedagogy.

Active Learning Opportunities

Internships. Students with a concentration in exercise science or health promotion will have the opportunity to compete for acceptance into the department’s internship programs. Students have been placed in the following Charleston area locations:

Fenwick Hall
MUSC Wellness Center
Coastal Center
American Lung Association
Air Force Base
Jewish Community Center
Pain Center
Carolina Center for Athletes
Department of Environmental Control
Rehabilitation Centers of Charleston
Roper, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and East Cooper Hospitals
St. Andrews Family Recreation Center
Fitness Attitude Training Center

Teacher education. Students in this concentration complete clinical internship experiences at any one of a number of Charleston area elementary or secondary schools.

Student research. As part of your coursework, you’ll engage in independent research in an area of interest. Some examples of titles of recent student research projects include:

Developing the Charleston Upper Body Power Test
Effect of Reduced Training and Training Cessation Post- Marathon
Arch Height and Ankle Strength in Relation to Ankle Sprain History
Effects of Diet on Blood Glucose and Perception of Energy Levels
Influence of Head and Eye Position on Elbow Flexor Torque
Effect of Stretching Duration on Hamstring Torque and Stiffness
Impact of Stretch Type on Hamstring Torque and Stiffness
Effect of Power Plate Training vs. Traditional Strength Training

Learning Resources

New facilities are currently under construction. They will include additional classrooms and labs, a new racquetball court and dance studio, stadium-style lecture halls, and student/faculty lounge areas.

Physical Education Complex

two gymnasiums that include four basketball courts, five volleyball courts, and six badminton courts
an indoor track
a dance studio
a fitness conditioning room containing free weights, weight machines, stationary bikes, rowing machines, stair climbers and treadmills

Academic laboratories include a VO2 Max treadmill laboratory, a hydrostatic weighing laboratory, and the Richard N. Godsen Laboratory of Exercise Physiology. All laboratories are part of your practical experience in exercise physiology.

Other Special Opportunities

Clubs and organizations. Students and faculty gather together at department-wide meetings each fall and spring, where new majors are introduced to the clubs that promote professional development:

Physical Education Teacher Education Club (PETE) sponsors community projects, field days at Charleston area schools and attendance at state and regional professional conferences.
Student Sports Medicine Association supplements educational opportunities in the ever-changing fields of sports medicine and athletic training through guest speakers, hands-on learning sessions, and seminar/conference attendance.
Wellness Advocacy and Volunteer Empowerment (WAVE). sponsors activities for any student interested in peer health education including retreats, workshops, HIV training, seminars, guest speakers, health fairs, health education presentations at schools and other settings, peer health education activities on campus, and attendance at local, state, and national conferences.