Ohio Wesleyan Announces Department of Health and Human Kinetics
Ohio Wesleyan University’s Department of Physical Education has been renamed as the Department of Health and Human Kinetics to better reflect the department’s focus on lifelong movement, holistic fitness, and health-based programming. (Photo courtesy of OWU’s Department of Health and Human Kinetics)
DELAWARE, OHIO – Things are on the move for Ohio Wesleyan University’s newly named Department of Health and Human Kinetics—literally.
Previously the Department of Physical Education, the new name better reflects the department’s focus on lifelong movement, holistic fitness, and health-based programming, said Christopher Fink, Ph.D., department chair.
“The departmental faculty feel that this name better implies what is occurring within the department, with a general philosophy geared toward health and movement (kinetic) activities, whether in the form of sport, fitness, or general physical activity,” said Fink, an assistant professor whose research interests include health behavior change. “Furthermore, the change brings us closer in alignment with similar departments at other colleges and universities, while setting us apart because of our broad focus.”
That comprehensive focus includes studying issues such as chronic disease prevention from a variety of perspectives, including socio-cultural, physiological, behavioral, environmental, and developmental, Fink said.
The name change also better reflects the breadth of careers and post-graduate programs that attract Ohio Wesleyan’s Health and Human Kinetics majors. After earning their OWU degrees, department majors routinely pursue professional health programs including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nursing; exercise physiology graduate programs; public health graduate programs; physical education teacher careers; law school; sports marketing and management careers and graduate programs; and personal training.
As part of the Health and Human Kinetics (HHK) name change, the names of three of Ohio Wesleyan’s four HHK concentrations also are being revised to better reflect their content:
General Physical Education is now General Health and Human Kinetics. Sport Science is now Exercise Science. Sport Management is now Sport and Exercise Management. Physical Education Teacher Education will remain unchanged.Learn more about Ohio Wesleyan’s Department of Health and Human Kinetics.
Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier small, private universities, with more than 90 undergraduate majors, sequences, and courses of study, and 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Located in Delaware, Ohio, just minutes north of Ohio’s capital and largest city, Columbus, the university combines a globally focused curriculum with off-campus learning and leadership opportunities that translate classroom theory into real-world practice. OWU’s close-knit community of 1,850 students represents 47 states and 57 countries. Ohio Wesleyan was named to the 2010 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with distinction, is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives,” and is included on the “best colleges” lists of U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. Learn more at www.owu.edu.