Physical Education Department Homepage

Physical Education (PED/HLT)
DWU's physical education major offers a comprehensive approach to the discipline of DWU's physical education major offers a comprehensive approach to the discipline of movement, exercise and sport. The program is designed to educate students to become fully prepared teachers and/or coaches who are uniquely equipped to apply their knowledge in school settings. Current educational research supports the theory that allowing children to explore their world through movement provides them with the foundations for future learning experiences. At the same time, our society has placed increased importance on healthy living and personal fitness.

Students interested in teacher certification in K-12 Physical Education must complete the following program and exceed the minimum score on the appropriate PRAXIS exam. For further clarification, see “Education,” speak to your adviser or speak to the education department chair.

Physical Education Teacher Education Program

Coaching Endorsement
The coaching endorsement is dedicated to developing competent athletic coaches, regardless of major. The State of South Dakota requires PED 211 and a theory of coaching course in the individual’s chosen sport for certification as a head coach. As each state may have different sets of requirements, it is advised for those seeking employment as coaches in states outside of South Dakota to contact the state’s athletic association. The following endorsement meets most requirements of the contiguous states to South Dakota.

K-12 Adaptive Physical Education Endorsement
This endorsement requires a teaching major in 7-12, K-8 or K-12. A student must complete the following coursework. There is no PRAXIS exam for this endorsement. See your adviser or the education department chair for any clarification.

Comprehensive School Health Endorsement
This endorsement requires a teaching major in 7-12, K-8 or K-12 and passage of the appropriate PRAXIS II test. The following courses are only suggested content in preparation for exceeding the minimum score of the PRAXIS II series test. These classes are not required for this endorsement; see your adviser or the education department chair for any clarification.

K-12 Physical Education Endorsement
This endorsement requires a teaching major in 7-12, K-8 or K-12 and passage of the appropriate PRAXIS II test. The following courses are only suggested content in preparation for exceeding the minimum score of the PRAXIS II series test. These classes are not required for this endorsement; see your adviser or the education department chair for any clarification.

Sport, Exercise and Wellness Major
The sport, exercise and wellness major is designed as a general studies program in exercise and sports studies. It is not intended for those who plan to be employed in K-12 education. Students majoring in sport, exercise and wellness must also complete a minor and/or a second major to fulfill DWU graduation requirements.

* Encouraged electives include SOC 350 Adjustment to Aging and SPM 431 Sports and Law.

Coaching Minor
The minor is for the student interested in coaching where the teaching certificate is not needed. The alternative would involve being an assistant coach under the direction of a head coach or one that would be interested in coaching little league type of sports.

* Electives should be selected with approval of the academic advisor to provide for one or more areas of concentration.

Course Descriptions
Physical Education (PED)
099-118 Fitness and Lifetime Sports 1 hour/section
The philosophy of the fitness and lifetime sports program is to teach the fundamentals, skills and physiological dynamics of fitness and lifetime sports with the goal of fostering within each student a long-lasting interest and lifetime participation. As a required element of General Education, each student must satisfactorily complete PED 120 and a minimum of one fitness and lifetime sport course (PED 099-118). Students may take additional courses beyond the requirements to satisfy electives. Students may not enroll in more than two fitness and lifetime sports courses per semester. PED 118 is offered Credit/No Credit only and is not repeatable for academic credit.

PED 099 Fishing S
PED 101 Racquetball and Golf F
PED 102 Badminton and Archery F
PED 103 Softball and Volleyball S
PED 104 Weight and Aerobic Training F
PED 105 Tennis and Bowling F
PED 106 Pickleball and Basketball S
PED 107 Cybex Training S
PED 112 Intermediate Golf S
PED 117 Social Dance S
PED 118 Varsity Sport F,S

107 Cybex Training 1 hour S
This course meets twice a week for a full semester, and addresses the basic principles and uses of the Cybex progressive weight training system. Students will become knowledgeable in the requisite principles necessary to guide them through their workouts, proper function and use of each machine, and the muscles involved. A system of record keeping will allow the students to programmatically monitor their progress in the use of the Cybex equipment.
General Education: Fitness and Lifetime Physical Activities

120 Wellness and Lifetime Fitness 1 hour F,S
The focus of this course is a positive, healthy lifestyle designed to enhance one’s current quality of life, while providing the basis for enhanced quality and quantity of life in the future. The class discusses proper exercise programs, healthful nutrition, stress management techniques, and avoidance of high-risk health behaviors in order to reduce the risks of acute and chronic health problems.
General Education: Fitness and Lifetime Physical Activities

130 Individual and Team Sports 2 hours S
This course involves preparatory training in skill development and motor performance of a variety of individual, dual and team sports, games and recreational activities.

140 Introduction to Physical Education 2 hours F
This is an introductory course for physical education majors, involving the principles, philosophy and history of physical education as a basis for examination of current practices within the discipline and the profession.

211 Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries 2 hours S
This course is designed to improve the professional competency of people who work with athletic teams. Appropriate instructional methods and effective health care for athletes based upon sound physiological and psychological principles are the foundations of the course. Students will practice the skills of injury recognition, evaluation and taping, and discuss the principles of therapeutic modalities.

240 Methods of Free Weights and Conditioning 3 hours S
This course studies the various methods and techniques used in free weight training and conditioning. The focus of study will be targeted toward sport-specific exercises, progression of exercise, methods of determining strength, lifting and spotting techniques, and plyometric exercise.
Prerequisite: BIO 211 or consent of instructor.

265 Adaptive Physical Education 2 hours S
This course focuses on the accommodations and/or modifications necessary for individuals with exceptionalities to participate both safely and successfully in traditional physical education courses. This course addresses the needs of individuals with exceptionalities – physical, emotional and/or cognitive.
Prerequisite: SPD 206.

270 Field Experience in Adaptive Physical Education 2 hours TBA
This course includes a supervised field experience specific to providing physical education instruction to individuals with disabilities. Students will apply pedagogical techniques learned in SPD 206 and PED 265. A minimum of 135 hours is required for satisfactory completion of PED 270.
Prerequisite: PED 265.

310 Motor Learning and Control 3 hours S
This course investigates the principles of human performance and acquisition of motor skills. Attention is principally devoted to learning theories, reinforcement, transfer, massed and distributed practice schedules, closed and open skills, motivation, feedback, arousal, motor control systems, and retention of motor skills. Recent research evidence is presented in all topical areas.

315 Kinesiology 3 hours S
This course examines the kinesiological, anatomical and mechanical concepts requisite to critical assessment, description and qualitative analysis of human exercises, sport and locomotive activities. Two lectures, one laboratory per week.
Prerequisite: BIO 211.

320 Exercise in Selected Populations 3 hours TBA
This advanced course will explore and identify the characteristics and values of demographic data and discuss the rationale for providing fitness activity services. It will specifically discuss the indications, contraindications, and precautions associated with exercise evaluations and prescription in nontraditional populations: in persons with pregnancy, metabolic syndromes, geriatrics, immuno-compromised, cancer, and other related conditions.

335 Theory of Coaching Football 2 hours F
This is a course in the theory and application of coaching football, including the fundamentals of the game, practice organization, game management, team cohesion, competitive strategies and leadership dynamics.
Prerequisite: Consent of department chair.

336 Theory of Coaching Volleyball 2 hours F
This is a course in the theory and application of coaching volleyball, including the fundamentals of the game, practice organization, game management, team cohesion, competitive strategies and leadership dynamics.
Prerequisite: Consent of department chair.

337 Theory of Coaching Basketball 2 hours F
This is a course in the theory and application of coaching basketball, including the fundamentals of the game, practice organization, game management, team cohesion and leadership dynamics.
Prerequisite: Consent of department chair.

338 Theory of Coaching Cross Country/Track and Field 2 hours S
This is a course in the theory and application of coaching cross country/track and field, including the fundamentals of each event, organization of training regimen, meet management, team cohesion, competitive strategies and leadership dynamics.
Prerequisite: Consent of department chair.

339 Theory of Coaching Baseball 2 hours S
This is a course in the theory of coaching baseball, including the fundamentals of the game, practice organization, game management, team cohesion, competitive strategies and leadership fundamentals.
Prerequisite: Consent of department chair.

340 Theory of Coaching Wrestling 2 hours S
This is a course in the theory and application of coaching wrestling, including the fundamentals of the sport, practice organization, meet management, team cohesion, competitive strategies and leadership dynamics.
Prerequisite: Consent of department chair.

341 Theory of Coaching Softball 2 hours S,F
This is a course in the theory and application of coaching softball, including the fundamentals of the game, practice organization, game management, team cohesion, competitive strategies and leadership dynamics.
Prerequisite: Consent of department chair.

345 Organization and Administration of Physical Education 3 hours F
This course includes the principles, practices, methods, and procedures of health and physical education on both the elementary and secondary school levels. Emphasis is placed on the coordination of instructional, athletic and intramural programs.

360 Rules of Officiating 2 hours F
This course focuses on the knowledge and application of the rules, mechanics, rotations, communicative systems and etiquette for the sports of football, basketball, cross country/track and field, baseball, softball, volleyball and wrestling.

362 Psychological Dynamics of Sport 3 hours F
This course investigates the psychological constructs and concepts that relate to and help explain the phenomena of sport performance. The course principally devotes attention to theories of goal setting, attribution, stress and stress management, cognitive coping strategies, psychological rehabilitation of the injured athlete and self-confidence. Recent research evidence is presented in all topical areas.

401 Methods of Teaching Physical Education 3 hours F,S
This course focuses on the theory and practice of effective curriculum and lesson planning, scope and sequence of activities, classroom management and adaptive activities.
Prerequisites or corequisites: EDU 300 and EDU 330 for all K-12 program majors.

410 Physiology of Exercise 3 hours F
This course investigates the physiological adjustments of the human organism to exercise, including neuromuscular, metabolic and cardiorespiratory changes that occur with acute and chronic exercise, and the influence of such variables as nutrition, drugs, environment, gender, age, training and body weight.
Prerequisite: BIO 102.

450 Coaching Practicum 2 hours F,S
This course is designed to provide practical, applied and guided experiences for students pursuing a career in coaching. A minimum of 90 clock hours is required. This course allows students to become actively involved with coaches.
Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of a coaching theory course and consent of instructor.

460 Independent Study 1-3 hours F,S
This course requires individualized research, specialized study or scholarly writing in the field of physical education.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

499 Selected Topics - advanced 1-3 hours TBA

Course Descriptions
Health (HLT)
210 First Aid and CPR 2 hours F,S,SU
This course is designed to teach standard first aid and CPR procedures specified by the American Red Cross. Credit is earned only upon successful completion of the course and First Aid/CPR certification.

232 Health Education 3 hours F,S
This course involves the study of attainable goals for school, personal and community health, and provides an emphasis on wellness for all ages.

300 Community Health and Chronic Disease 3 hours S
This course explores and examines health problems in current society. Topics range from cardiovascular disease to holistic health care. Time will be allotted for selected topics that the course participants feel are pertinent.

310 Professional Rescuer Skills 2 hours S
This course is designed to teach the student professional rescuer CPR, first aid, AED skills and procedures specified by the American Red Cross. Credit is granted only upon successful completion of the course, or by verified certification from an approved agency and successful completion of a challenge test of skills evaluated by a faculty member certified by an approved agency to provide training.