Physical Education and Recreation

EMU’s faith-based physical education and recreation program promotes a healthful, activity-oriented lifestyle, and develops competent professionals who carry a sense of ministry and service into their vocational role. Through our four Physical Education and Recreation majors, we’ll prepare you to teach, work or guide in a variety of different settings.

The department also offers courses that the general student population may take such as Fitness, Conditioning and Weight Training, Rock Climbing and Skiing with the ultimate goal of helping students celebrate the joy of physical movement, bodily health and giving them the opportunity to honor their bodies as a beautiful gift from God.

Majors and minors

Majors:

• Health and Physical Education (PreK-12)
• Outdoor Ministry and Adventure Leadership
• Recreation Leadership and Sport Promotion
• Kinesiology and Sport Studies

Minors:

• Coaching
• Kinesiology and Exercise Science
• Outdoor Ministry and Adventure Leadership

Secondary Education Endorsement:

• Health and Physical Education, Grades PreK-12

Experience that builds on your faith

The major in Outdoor Ministry and Adventure Leadership develops leaders who help people to grow personally and spiritually using the outdoors as a context, and experiential and adventure activities as the means.

Students in this major learn leadership skills like guiding challenge courses, back-country daytrips, and expeditions, in a variety of outdoor settings. The Adventure Leadership class includes rappelling at Waterfall Mountain in the nearby Massanutten mountain range here in Virginia.

Five local camps provide EMU with field trip opportunities and ‘in the field’ experience with Christian camping professionals.

Career opportunities in physical education and recreation include:

camp director recreation/camp program director outdoor or environmental education specialist adventure trip director commercial adventure guide youth pastor

Christian educator community recreation agency programmer elementary or secondary physical education teacher athletic coach adult fitness or sports club management sports information director

Learn more about our program

Find out what kind of classes you will take and where you will be learning. Check out our Contact Us (PDF) for the details.