Health and Physical Education

Mission

The mission of Health and Physical Education at Converse is to provide as broad and varied a curriculum as possible to aid students in developing skills, knowledge, and understanding that will lead to participation in lifetime sports and/or fitness activities.

Requirements and Recommendations

It is recommended that all physical education requirements be completed by the end of the student’s junior year.

Every new student, by July 1, must be examined by her own physician. The report must be sent to the director of health services.

Students are required to take HPE 255: Introduction to Fitness and Wellness or one of the following or BIO 105 Human Biology; BIO 150 SP: Nutrition; PSY 350: SP: Body Image; PSY 350: SP: Women’s Wellbeing; PSY 280: Health Psychology; or PSY 281: Yoga and stress management, and one activity course. The activity course is selected from one of three areas: team sport, individual sport, or dance. HPE 256: Concepts and Approaches also includes the activity requirement. Courses are graded conventionally and will be counted in the grade average of the student. Dance courses are listed in the Department of Theatre and Dance section of the Catalog.

Students who are not safe in deep water are encouraged to take a swimming course. Beyond the one course physical education requirement, a student will be allowed to take 10 additional physical education activity courses. Only three of these additional courses will count toward the total of 120 hours required for graduation.

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

BIO 255: BASIC NUTRITION

Credits 3

This course studies the biology and chemistry of nutrients with special emphasis on their role in human physiology. Normal nutrition throughout the life cycle, nutrition in sports, weight management, and diseases resulting from improper nutrition will also be studied. Lecture only.

Notes

GEP Health and Wellness, Non-Lab Science

HPE 125: FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR

Credits 3

First-Year Seminars (FYS) constitute a common and academically significant experience in a student’s first year at Converse. All incoming first-year students are required to take a 3- or 4-credit hour FYS course in the fall semester, choosing from a variety of discipline specific topics. Each FYS carries the corresponding departmental prefix, but with a common course number.  Each FYS carries the corresponding departmental prefix but with a common course number. Special emphasis is given to cultivating critical thinking, effective speaking, and writing skills. 

Notes

GEP.

HPE 140: SWIMMING

Credits 1
Beginning swimming is designed for students who feel unsafe in the water or for those students who would like to learn how to swim. Offered in the Fall Term.
Notes
GEP, Elective credit.

HPE 155: INTRODUCTION TO PILATES

Credits 1
Pilates is a course designed to provide a working knowledge of and the essential exercises involved in establishing core strength and stability. The course will help heighten mind-body awareness. Offered Fall and/or Spring Terms.
Notes
GEP, Elective credit.

HPE 156: ZUMBA

Credits 1

This course will introduce the beginner to the fundamentals ZUMBA technique through various exercises. ZUMBA is a Latin-Inspired , dance-fitness class that incorporates Latin and International music and dance movements, creating a dynamic, exciting, exhilarating, and effective fitness system. ZUMBA integrates some of the basic principles of aerobic, interval, and resistance training to maximize caloric output, cardiovascular benefits, and total body toning.

Notes

GEP credit.

HPE 180: CPR, FIRST AID, AED, AND PERSONAL SAFETY

Credits 2

This course focuses on a study of first aid, CPR, and use of the AED, including thorough knowledge and skill development to meet the needs of most situations when emergency first aid care is needed and medical assistance is not available or is delayed.  Upon completion of the course students may receive an American Red Cross certification.

 

Notes

Elective credit.

HPE 195: ATHLETIC TRAINING

Credits 3
This course focuses on causes, symptoms,..emergency.care, treatment, rehabilitation and diagnostic training for sports injuries. Offered on demand. Special fee: $20.00 for training.
Prerequisites

BIO 100 or permission of the instructor.

Notes
Elective credit.

HPE 245: LIFEGUARD TRAINING

Credits 2
The American Red Cross Lifeguarding course covers the skills and knowledge required for effective lifeguarding at swimming pools. Certifications include Lifeguard Training, CPR for the Professional Rescuer, AED and Lifeguard Management. Offered during Spring Term. Fee payable to Red Cross through instructor is $79.00, including books, pocket mask, cards and equipment. The fee is subject to change.
Notes
GEP, Elective credit.

HPE 250: PERSONAL TRAINING

Credits 3

In this personal training course students will be given the opportunity to develop their knowledge and application of exercise training as it relates to improving the health, fitness, and well being of various populations in one on one, or group fitness settings. The course includes classroom lessons which includes the study of energy systems, resistance training, conditioning, speed training for athletes, aerobic conditioning for various populations, fitness evaluations, designing training programs, legal responsibilities of a personal trainer, and the business of personal training. In addition students will receive practical experience designing, implementing, and assessing sports performance and general fitness programs for classmates.

 

HPE 254: INTERMEDIATE YOGA

Credits 1
This course is a continuation of the work done in Beginning Yoga. Intermediate Yoga will focus on more advanced yoga postures, including standing and seated poses, twists, supine and prone poses, inversions, balancings, and backbends. Yoga philosophy is studied to a greater degree.
Prerequisites

HPE 154 or permission of instructor.

Notes
GEP, Elective credit.

HPE 255: INTRODUCTION TO FITNESS AND WELLNESS

Credits 3

This course is designed to give students a basic knowledge of fitness, nutritional health and general wellness principles. Topics to be discussed and examined will include but are not limited to nutrition, stress management, behavior modification, disease prevention, sexually transmitted diseases, food and the consumer, cardiovascular and cancer- risk reduction, exercise and aging and lifetime physical fitness and wellness. To aid in the discussion of physical fitness, students will also participate in a variety of daily lifetime physical activities such as aerobic, Zumba and pilates activity, core activities, relaxation, yoga, and body weight training.


Offered Fall and Spring Terms.

Notes

GEP credit.

HPE 256: CONCEPTS AND APPROACHES TO A FIT AND WELL WAY OF LIFE

Credits 3
This course is designed for Jan Term to give students a knowledge of fitness, nutritional health and general wellness. Students will also participate in a variety of daily lifetime fitness activities such as aerobics, yoga, pilates and water aerobics. Offered Jan Term only.
Notes
GEP credit for Fitness and 1 PE activity. May not take both HPE 255 and 256 for credit.

HPE 355: ISSUES IN WOMEN’S HEALTH

Credits 4
January Credits
4

Although men and women have many similar health problems, women also face issues that are unique to them. Throughout history, women have been subjected to many misconceptions relating to their health and their ability to be a functioning part of society. Additionally, they have experienced discrimination in their daily lives and in the area of healthcare. Not only are women living longer now, but they are experiencing more healthcare problems due to increased lifespan. In this course topics will be introduced to provide students with knowledge related to the wide spectrum of women’s health issues and how they might deal with them. Possible topics include; history of women’s healthcare, the economics of women’s healthcare, preventing cardiovascular disease and cancer, nutrition and exercise, chronic diseases for women, sexual and reproductive health, HIV/sexually transmitted infections, violence against women, mental health issues of female aging and the impact of the workplace on women’s health. Meets the Wellness, Humanities, and Women Studies GEP requirements.

Notes

GEP Wellness, Humanities, CCW credit.

HPE 361: WOMEN IN SPORT: A STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY

Credits 3

For years women have had to fight for gender equality, especially in the male dominated area of sports. This course will closely examine the obstacles women have had to overcome in their quest for equality in sports throughout history. The course will be comprised of lectures, readings and discussions from assigned articles, video presentations in class, and student presentations on issues related to the struggle for women to compete in sports.

Notes

GEP, CCW credit.

HPE 393: HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Credits 3
Recommended to take during the Junior or Senior year. Designed to meet certification requirements of the South Carolina State Department of Education. A study of the developmental characteristics of the elementary child and planned activities in health and physical education that meet these needs. Offered during Fall, Jan, Spring and Summer I and II Terms.
Notes
Required for elementary majors, elective for special education majors.

HPE 490: DIRECTED INDEPENDENT STUDY

This course is designed as an individual study of a topic chosen by the student and approved by the instructor or as a group study designed to complement the physical education curriculum or a specific course offered by another department. Offered on demand.
Notes
Elective credit.

HWS 450: INTERNSHIP: HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Credits 3

The student will be engaged in an internship in a business, governmental agency, or organization that will give the student an opportunity to develop disciplinary skills and explore a variety of career options in health and wellness-related fields. This internship will be a minimum of 120 hours over the course of a semester. Pass/fail grading. Major Credit. Capstone

 

 

Prerequisites

90 Hours of Completion

Notes

Major, Elective Credit