Department of Health & Kinesiology

 
Department Chair: Dr. Mark Giese
Office: JDF 001
Extension: 3950
E-mail: giese@nsuok.edu
   
Secretary: Jackie Farrow
E-mail: farrowja@nsuok.edu
 

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DEPARTMENT CHAIRMAN

Dr. Mark Giese Dr. Mark L. Giese, Chair of the Health and Kinesiology Department at Northeastern State University, has been recently chosen for the Honor Award presented by the State of Oklahoma Health and Physical Education Association (OAHPERD). The award was given at the annual meeting held in Tulsa on October 18, 2001. The Honor Award is the association's highest citation and is presented to those persons with more than 10 years service and leadership. Dr. Giese served as OAHPERD's president in 1993 and received the Scholar Award in 1995. Dr. Giese has been the Department Chair at NSU for 13 years and is also serving as OAHPERD's interim Executive Director.

CURRICULUM & OBJECTIVES

The Department of Health and Kinesiology strives to develop, through wellness clinics and academic courses in physical education and health education, an appreciation for the rules and laws of exercise and healthy living in a complex society.

Health and Human Performance is a program featuring career alternatives for majors who wish to combine a broad science background with a personal interest in lifestyle enrichment. Its emphasis is to prepare students for employment in corporate settings, hospital settings, health intervention programs, and as consultants.

 Classroom and laboratory experience will emphasize current knowledge and trends and offer students opportunities for work in ongoing,primary prevention programs, along with administering campus-based community and student fitness and wellness programs. Specializations in exercise prescription, cardiac rehabilitation, health promotion and sports medicine programs will be featured. The student who wishes more independence will be encouraged to pursue an entrepreneurial role as this relates to the development of fitness, health, exercise, and retailing centers. Majors wishing to earn an advanced degree at a professional or graduate school will be encouraged to become actively involved in a laboratory research project under staff supervision. Numerous off-campus internships are also available for students to gain experience in cardiac rehabilitation, wellness promotion and corporate fitness programs.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

One function of the department is to train persons as physical education teachers and coaches. The majority of the majors seek and find teaching opportunities in Oklahoma. A second function is to train students in the area of health, wellness, and athletic training. The fitness/wellness boom has resulted in significant growth in job opportunities for fitness and health professionals. In urban settings, most job opportunities can be found in the private sector (health clubs and fitness chains), the medically related field (health promotion programs, sports medicine centers) and the corporate setting (corporate fitness and wellness programs.

DEGREES OFFERED

Bachelor of Science Education:

  • K-12 Health/Physical Education
  • Health and Human Performance
Master's Degree:
  • College Teaching in Health/Physical Education

REQUIREMENTS FOR DEGREES

 A minimum of 50 semester hours of academic work in general education is required. Students must complete general education requirements by the time they complete 90 semester hours of college work. The education major consists of 40 credit hours of study and the Health & Human Performance degree requires 45 hours. The professional education core consists of 29 semester hours of study. Within this framework of classes and field experiences, students will become familiar with educational history, educational psychology, the needs of the exceptional child and classroom management practices. In addition, all students will participate in public school settings. The final semester involves a full time, 16 week internship.

DEPARTMENT NEWS

 Students are encouraged to become active in professional student organizations in their respective fields (PEMM Club). A senior capstone experience is required in a social service contest. Students may elect to get involved in department activities such as the senior exercise program or the exercise program for persons with diabetes. Several faculty are involved with grants and students are frequently asked to participate.

The department sponsors the National Youth Sports Program, an ongoing summer activity program for area youth.  This program received a national award for 1999.