College of Health and Human Performance

Majors

Applied Physiology and Kinesiology

The Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology is concerned with quality of life and the many aspects of human movement. Significant research contributions, education and service are related to the study of physiological and psychological responsiveness to vigorous and relevant physical activities.

In addition, movement skill capabilities and ways to improve skills and maintain health are determined for the typical person, the person who is disabled and the high-level athlete. Sites for research, student experience and employment include educational institutions, health and fitness centers, businesses and industries, and health agencies and organizations.

Athletic Training

The mission of the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) at the University of Florida is to develop outstanding entry-level allied health professionals who will be contributing members to the profession of athletic training and other allied health-care professions. Through the integration of balanced didactic coursework, intensive hands-on laboratory sessions and excellent clinical experiences students will become proficient in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses for the physically active.

The ATEP will prepare students for entry-level work in secondary schools, colleges and universities, sports medicine clinics, professional sports programs, industrial settings and other healthcare environments. In addition, the ATEP prepares students for graduate study in athletic training and other allied health-care fields (e.g. physical therapy and physician assistant studies). The curriculum is designed to meet accreditation standards set forth by the Commission on Accrediting Athletic Training Education (CAATE) and to prepare students for the Board of Certification (BOC) examination. Students who graduate from the program will receive a Bachelor of Science (B.S. degree) in athletic training and will meet the requirements to sit for the BOC examination. BOC certification is required to practice athletic training in 49 of the 50 states and is considered the gold standard by licensing boards.

Health Education and Behavior

The Department of Health Education and Behavior offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Education with emphases in community health education, health promotion and health studies.

The degree program allows students maximum flexibility when choosing department specialization coursework during the junior and senior years that relates to their personal interests in community and public health education, health promotion in the worksite setting or general health studies.

Students with an interest in community and public health education complete coursework focused on illness and disease prevention among special target groups within a particular community, with the ultimate goal of providing practical health information to diverse population groups through the use of theory-driven educational methods. Community health and public health educators generally find employment in local, state or national government health agencies (state or county health departments, CDC, NIH) and in voluntary public health units such as the American Cancer Society, the March of Dimes and Planned Parenthood.

Students with an interest in health promotion complete coursework that prepares for careers in employee-assistance programs and corporate or hospital-based wellness centers. Many companies with large employee populations have noticed a significant decrease in absenteeism and an increase in work productivity for those employees actively participating in an employee wellness program. In addition, insurance rates tend to be lower for those employees, thus providing an incentive for employers to offer such programs. Employee wellness programs can include sessions for smoking cessation, nutritional guidelines, stress relief and injury prevention, and can also include running an on-site gym.

Students wishing in-depth knowledge of health concerns may complete a specialization in health studies to gain knowledge on a variety of health issues plaguing diverse population groups. Students are also able to complete required prerequisite coursework for professional health programs such as nursing, medical school, physician assistant, occupational therapy and physical therapy, as well as graduate programs in health education or related fields (public health, health administration, epidemiology and disease prevention).

Students majoring in health education and behavior are also eligible for the Bachelor’s/Master’s of Science combined degree program, thus receiving both degrees within approximately five years. Students interested in this program should schedule an appointment with the department academic adviser.

Recreation, Parks and Tourism

The Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management's program in recreation, parks and tourism is designed to prepare students for entry-level jobs in city, county, state or national park and recreation agencies (youth recreation programs, camps, YMCA/YWCA or park rangers, for example) or in aspects of tourism such as conference and meeting planning, resorts, cruise ships, touring companies, theme parks, hospitality industry, retirement communities as well as for career advancement as managers in government or business leisure industries. Research and training also focuses on understanding the role and impact of leisure services on individuals, health, society and the environment.

UF's Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management ranks among the top five such academic programs in the United States. The curriculum is accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association.

Students must complete curricula requirements with a minimum grade point average as specified by each specialization, achieve 120 semester hours – 60 of which must be at or above the 3000 level –and complete all course requirements for the major.

Sport Management

The Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management's program in sport management enables the student to apply the fundamental concepts of management, marketing, finance, and law to sport organizations. Students pursue employment opportunities in professional sport franchises, intercollegiate athletic departments, sports media industries, sporting goods merchandising, and sport organizing committees, among other organizations. Within sport organizations, students may focus on facility and event management, marketing, administration, compliance, ticket operations, sponsorship sales, fundraising, player representation, and a range of other sport-related jobs.

UF's Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management ranks among the top five such academic programs in the United States.

Students must complete curricula requirements with a minimum grade point average as specified by each specialization, achieve 120 semester hours – 60 of which must be at or above the 3000 level – and complete all course requirements for the major.