Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Health and Physical Education Degree

Are you drawn to a career in which you can educate others about physical education, health, recreation, and wellness?

Whether you want to teach in a K-12 classroom or school gym, develop programming for parks and recreational organizations, or pursue a another career path, this program will prepare you for entry-level careers in which you teach others about healthy lifestyles.

It will also give you a good foundation for advanced studies in a graduate program, if you want to continue your education at the master's or Ph.D. levels.

Why choose health and physical education degree at Marian?

Because this is a very flexible major with a variety of career paths that you could pursue, we offer two different plans of study from which you can choose:

• To teach children in a K-12 setting, complete a double-major and earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Secondary Education in addition to the B.S. degree in health and physical education.

• If you want to pursue careers that do NOT take place in a K-12 setting, complete this program as a stand-alone bachelor's degree. This is a good choice if you want to educate children as well as young adults, senior citizens, or other audiences about health and wellness issues.

We also offer a minor in health education teaching and a minor in physical education (this is a licensure-only program for those who are already teaching or are working toward a bachelor's degree in education).

No matter what you choose, we'll engage you in high-impact, hands-on practica and clinical internships throughout the course of your studies.

You'll have opportunities for networking with top employers and professionals in the greater Indianapolis area.

What will you study?

Marian University courses are rigorous and academically challenging, but our faculty will guide and support you every step of the way. You'll complete required general education and core curriculum courses as well as other required and elective classes.

You'll explore a range of topics, such as:

• Foundations of physical education and sport
• Instructional methods in sports like tennis, golf, volleyball, football, and soccer
• Strength and conditioning
• Fitness and wellness
• School health education
• Group fitness activities
• Structural anatomy

Double Major Sample Four-Year Plan

What career paths are available?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment outlook for health educators through 2024 is expected to grow by 13 percent, which is faster than average compared to other professions.

Depending on whether you choose to pursue a double-major in secondary education or the stand-alone B.S. degree, you'll have a number of career paths from which to choose. These are just a few:

• P-12 health teacher
• P-12 physical education teacher
• Coach
• Athletic director
• Recreational leader
• Education director
• Fitness director
• Intramural director
• Corporate wellness coach
• Strength and conditioning coach