Health, Physical Education and Recreation now Department of Kinesiology

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation is now the Department of Kinesiology, a change reflecting a more streamlined approach to the degree programs offered within the department.

"'Physical Education' was recognized as the umbrella term for a number of related disciplines, such as physical education, exercise science, exercise physiology, health education, biomechanics, coaching education, sports administration, sports medicine, athletic training, and many others," said Dr. Gary Preston, head of UNG's Department of Kinesiology. "Kinesiology is a more current, specific and well-recognized program name in the field of health and physical education."

The shift has also impacted degree names, and some of the degree curricula have also received minor changes. The degrees offered include:

• Bachelor of Science in kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise science – for students who are more clinical-minded and interested in fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician's assistant, etc. (minor changes were made to this curriculum)
• Bachelor of Science in kinesiology with teacher certification in physical education – for students who want to teach public school physical education (minor changes were made to the curriculum)
• Bachelor of Science in kinesiology with an emphasis in health and fitness – this degree replaces the Bachelor of Science in physical education with any UNG minor, and is best suited for students pursuing careers in personal training, strength and conditioning, or health
• Bachelor of Science in sports medicine – this replaces the undergraduate athletic training degree, and is a preparatory degree route for students wanting to pursue a master's degree in athletic training

The department, which is within UNG's College of Education, also offers associate and master's degrees, as well as a post-baccalaureate certificate program.

With the name change, the prefixes for physical education courses will no longer be PHED, but will now be KINS; this change will first be enacted in the fall 2017 course schedule. Some courses will still be listed as PHED, but it is important to note that those courses will only be for graduate students.

To learn more about the department and degree programs, visit https://ung.edu/kinesiology/.