Undergraduate Programs

This option is designed to prepare the student with the necessary knowledge and skills to analyze movement and to conduct and administer physical fitness programs. The option is particularly valuable for the student interested in employment in fitness assessment labs or fitness centers.

Applied Fitness Curriculum

Located in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, a region that is densely populated with dance studios and professional opportunities, CSUN is an ideal setting for students who want to continue their dance studies. Attracting students from disparate geographical regions and from different cultural backgrounds, CSUN offers several dance programs, all designed to meet the needs of undergraduate and graduate students.

Currently, the Department of Kinesiology offers not only a major in Kinesiology with a specialty in dance (Dance Option) but also a Dance Minor available for students obtaining a BA or BS with a major in another discipline.

CSUN dance is a dynamic, rapidly growing area of study – one that draws students with an interest in performance and/or pedagogy. Within the Department of Kinesiology, and in collaboration with the Music and Theatre Departments, three concerts are produced each academic year, while multiple studio performances are offered at the completion of each semester.

Outreach programs are currently being developed, including collaborations with professional dance groups in the Los Angeles community. The Department of Kinesiology and College of Health and Human Development believe CSUN dance students will be active participants in all aspects of the dance activities offered at CSUN.

Dance Option Curriculum

Dance Minor Curriculum

This option is designed to prepare the student with the necessary knowledge and skills to analyze movement and to conduct and administer physical fitness programs. This option is ideal for those intending to pursue graduate study in a variety of allied health fields (e.g. Physical Therapy, Medical School, etc.). More information on careers in Exercise Science.

The option requires courses in:

• Basic physics and chemistry
• Motor Learning, Control, and Development
• Biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology

Along with elective courses to provide specialized training in an area of interest.

Exercise Science Curriculum

Purpose

Physical Education Teacher Education prepares professionals capable of delivering diverse programs that promote self-directed, responsible, physically active lifestyles in school aged children and youth in urban settings across the state and region.

Goals

Students will:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the urban child and the nature of urban contexts in relation to positive lifestyle choices through human movement.
• Demonstrate knowledge and appropriate application of pedagogical content knowledge of human movement across diverse settings and age groups through human movement.
• Demonstrate knowledge of diverse physical education programs and curricular planning to ensure student learning in a supportive learning environment.
• Effectively apply pedagogical skills and kinesiological principles in diverse activity settings.
• Demonstrate the ability to write and speak effectively in multiple contexts with diverse populations.
• Integrate technology within movement settings to enhance communication, assessment and learning.
• Create a learning environment characterized by acceptable student behavior and efficient use of time.
• Demonstrate commitment to continuous professional growth.

Objectives

Students earning a BS in the Physical Education Option will have demonstrated the following through course work and application:

• Ability to serve as a change agent for the promotion of positive lifestyle choices for learners in urban settings.
• An understanding of physical education content knowledge, disciplinary concepts and tools of inquiry related to the development of a physically educated and physically active person.
• An understanding of how individuals learn and develop, and can provide opportunities that support their physical, cognitive, social and emotional development in human movement settings.
• An understanding of how individuals differ in their approaches to learning human movement and create appropriate instruction adapted to diverse learners.
• An understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior in order to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interacting, active engagement in physical activity, learning and self-motivation through human movement.
• An ability to create a learning environment characterized by acceptable student behavior, efficient use of time, and disciplined acquisition of knowledge, skills and understanding in a human movement setting.
• The effective use of verbal, nonverbal and media communication and technological techniques to foster inquiry, collaboration and engagement in physical activity.
• Planning and implementation of a variety of developmentally appropriate instructional strategies to develop physically educated and active individuals.
• An understanding and use of formal and informal assessment strategies to foster physical cognitive, social and emotional development of learners in physical activity.
• A reflective practitioner who evaluates the effects of his/her actions on others in developing human movement.
• The fostering of relationships with colleagues, parents/guardians and community agencies to encourage a lifetime of physical activity.

Physical Education Curriculum

This option is designed for students who have an interest in sport but do not want to become physical education teachers or clinicians in exercise science related occupations. The Sport Studies option focuses on the critical examination of sport in the contexts of historical and contemporary society, emphasizing skills in cultural analysis and critical thinking pertaining to the administration, leadership, psychological, historical, philosophical, and sociological aspects of sport. The BS in Sport Studies will prepare students for careers in sport leadership as well as for graduate work in sport studies, sport management, or other related fields.

Sport Studies Curriculum