Dec 05, 2025  
Undergraduate Catalog 2025-26 
    
Undergraduate Catalog 2025-26

Human Performance and Health Education


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Departments and Programs

Michael Miller, Chair
Main Office:  4024 Student Recreation Center
Telephone:  (269) 387-2710
Fax:  (269) 387-2704
 

Mauro Andre
Chris Cheatham
Benjamin Cork
Deborah Droppers
Xin Du
Nicholas Hanson
Geumchan Hwang
Sangwoo Lee
James Lewis
Yuanlong Liu
Timothy Michael
Michael G. Miller
Julie Raedy
Suzan Smith-Ayers
Zeljka Vidic
Carol Weideman
Jiabei Zhang
 

The Human Performance and Health Education Department offers students the opportunity to pursue career development in five major areas of study and five minors. The professional programs are based on the following concepts:

  1.  Balanced undergraduate preparation enables the student to later specialize at the graduate level;
  2.  Exposure to practical experiences throughout the professional sequence is critical;
  3.  Elective choices enhance professional options; and
  4.  Continual review of curriculum facilitates program effectiveness

Students who desire specialized professional preparation may select from the following:

Majors:

  1. Event Management
  2. Exercise Science
  3. Physical and Health Education Teacher Education (PHETE): K-12
  4. Recreation Management
  5. Sport Management

Minors:

  1. ESport
  2. Event Management
  3. Recreation
  4. Sports Coaching
  5. Strength and Conditioning

Transfer Students
Transfer credits from four-year schools and community colleges may be included in majors and minors. However, a minimum of one-half of the required semester hours for a major or a minor must be taken at Western Michigan University.

For those seeking teaching certification in Health Education or Physical Education (PHETE), the following Human Performance and Health Education teaching methods course(s) must be included in the hours at WMU:

  1. Health Education (majors and minors): HPHE 3120 and 4120; 3520 (majors only);
  2. Physical Education: HPHE 4470 and 4480

Transfer students in physical education must participate in Human Performance and Health Education entry skill and fitness assessments administered during HPHE 1500. Transfer students should contact the HPHE 1500 course instructor at the beginning of the first semester of work at WMU.

University General Education Requirement
Each student must complete 37 hours of work in approved General Education courses and/or non-professional courses in the College of Arts and Sciences. For additional information please refer to the General Education section of this catalog.

Undergraduate Program Admission Policy
Students interested in Sport Management, Recreation Management, Event Management, or Exercise Science may enter the program by declaring their major to a College of Education and Human Development advisor and completing the appropriate introductory course with a grade of “C” or better.

Prior to admission to Intern Teaching for PHETE, the following must be met:

  • Completion of all required courses
  • Passing scores on Michigan Basic Skills Test
  • Accumulative GPA of 2.5 or above
  • An overall GPA of 2.5 in the professional education sequence and no grade lower than a “C” in any professional education course.
  • Completion of methods course(s) in major and/or minor with a minimum grade of “C”.

General Physical Education
A maximum of eight hours of general activity physical education may be applied toward electives for graduation credit. All courses are co-ed. Course descriptions may be obtained from the Human Performance and Health Education office.

  • PEGN 1000-level courses - are open to all students and emphasize beginning activity skills.
  • PEGN 1700-1830 - Health and Wellness courses are approved for fulfillment of General Education Area VIII. The content included addresses the topics of health, including nutrition, substance abuse, Studs, and the concepts of physical fitness. Dual enrollment in 1700-1830 courses offered in one semester is prohibited. Courses are not repeatable for credit.
  • PEGN 2000-level courses - are open to all students who have completed a 1000-level course in the activity or the equivalent. (** Prerequisite 2490 or Red Cross Intermediate Card)
  • PEGN 3000-level courses - are open to all students desiring additional experience in an activity and who have completed the 2000-level course or permission of instructor to enroll.
  • PEGN 4000 - A varsity athlete may receive PEGN credit by enrollment and completion of these courses. (1 credit hour each.) Enrollment by permission of instructor.

Accelerated Graduate Degree Program
For more information about department accelerated graduate degree programs see the graduate catalog.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Departments and Programs