Fact Sheets

Health & Physical Education @ MSUM

MSUM’s Health and Physical Education (HPE) Department offers programs for students who are interested in administrative positions in health care delivery, community health promotion, teaching health or physical education in schools, exercise science, athletic training or coaching.

Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration
Health service administrators are employed in health maintenance organizations, nursing homes, hospitals, extended-care facilities, rehabilitation programs, health planning agencies, health departments, health associations, insurance companies and research institutes.

Bachelor of Science in Health Education: Community
Community-based health educators work for local, state and federal government agencies as well as voluntary and private health organizations.  In addition, many large corporations employ individuals who develop, conduct and evaluate programs concerned with the health and welfare of employees.  The educational program at MSUM prepares students to become a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).

Bachelor of Science in Health Education: Teaching
School health educators are licensed to teach health education in the public or private schools at 5-12 level. Students obtaining a health education teaching degree are also elibible for positions in the community setting. Graduates who wish to teach health education at the post-secondary level must have a master’s degree, or preferably a doctorate, in health education.

Bachelor of Science in Physical Education: Teaching
Physical education teaching graduates are employed as K-12 physical education teachers.  An adapted physical education licensure or coaching minor enhances public school employment opportunities .Graduates who wish to teach and coach at the college/university level must pursue graduate degrees. Other physical education teaching graduates assume jobs in a variety of recreational and fitness fields.

Bachelor of Science in Physical Education: Exercise Science
The physical education exercise science major is designed to prepare students for positions as a personal trainer, health fitness instructor, fitness supervisor, strength coach and fitness director. The major provides course work for students interested in attending graduate school in exercise science, exercise physiology or cardiac rehabilitation. The exercise science program also prepares students as candidates for certifications given by the American Council of Exercise, National Strength and Conditioning Association and the American College of Sports Medicine.

Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training
The athletic training program at MSUM combines specialized course work and practical experience designed to prepare students for national certification. MSUM graduates may choose to pursue advanced degrees or find jobs in athletic training at the secondary level, college/university level, clinical level, or corporate level.

Coaching Minor
The coaching minor prepares students to assume the responsibilities of coaching in competitive athletics. The coaching minor enhances a student’s credentials and employment opportunities as a varsity coach in Minnesota and other states. The coaching minor is available to students pursuing either a teaching or non-teaching degree.

Developmental Adaptive Physical Education Licensure
The developmental adaptive physical educational licensure provides specialized training to teach physical education to public school students who have physical, sensory, emotional and/or mental disabilities. This licensure is an excellent complement to the physical education major.

Career Opportunities

  • Community health educators work with mass media, plan and conduct workshops and clinics, develop educational programs, and act as a health information resource to individuals and organizations.
  • School Health Education teaching graduates are typically employed in the middle and secondaryschools, however, they may also qualify for jobs outside the school setting in agencies that design, implement and evaluate health education and health promotion programs.
  • Physical education teaching graduates typically are employed in elementary, middle and secondary schools as physical education teachers.
  • Exercise science graduates are employed in a community or corporate fitness center, athletic club,wellness center, recreation centers, YMCA or sports medicine departments.

Alumni at Work

  • Keith Barnier, ‘87, Head Track Coach, MSU Moorhead, Moorhead, MN
  • Mark Engebretson, ‘95, Personal Training Department Head, Lifetime Fitness, Bloomington, MN
  • Mitch Mohs, ‘99, Assistant Personal Training Manager, Lifetime Fitness, Eagan, MN
  • Ann Bruck, ‘01, Personal Trainer/Strength Coach, Old Town Sport and Health, Alexandria, VA

Department Benefits

  • Class sizes range from 15 to 30 students in upper division courses and offer students direct contact and personal attention from professors.
  • Students complete an internship to gain work experience and strengthen their marketability.
  • HPE Club sponsors seminars and social gatherings to familiarize students with the career they have selected and other students who share their same interests.
  • Students receive hands-on experience in the department’s human performance laboratory. The laboratory includes a hydrostatic weighing tank, treadmill, cycle ergometer, clinical spirometer, heartrate monitor equipment and TriFit.
  • Students can get in shape at MSUM’s fitness center, which includes treadmills, step machines, exercise bikes, rowing machine and weight training equipment.