Program Requirements
The Physical Education emphasis at Western Colorado University provides students with the opportunity to explore the field of physical education while developing knowledge and skills related to teaching health, movement, and lifelong wellness in school and community settings. The curriculum is housed within the Exercise and Sport Science program and emphasizes both theoretical and applied learning in areas such as pedagogy, exercise science, and instructional methods.
In addition to classroom-based coursework, students gain practical experience through partnerships with local schools in Gunnison and Crested Butte as well as the Gunnison Recreation Center. These community connections allow students to work directly with youth and educators, applying their learning in real-world environments.
This emphasis is designed for students who are interested in teaching or promoting physical activity in contexts where a state teaching license is not required, such as private schools, international schools, or community-based programs.
A minimum of 54 credits is required, including the 15-credit Exercise and Sport Science Nucleus:
To graduate, all exercise and sport science majors must complete ESS 181 Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science and ESS 185 Lifetime Wellness with a minimum grade of “C-”:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise and Sport Science Nucleus | ||
| ESS 181 | Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science | 3 |
| ESS 185 | Lifetime Wellness | 3 |
| ESS 320 | Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity | 3 |
| ESS 490 | Sociology of Sport and Physical Activity | 3 |
| Select one of the following ESS Capstone courses: | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar in Exercise and Sport Science | ||
or ESS 498 | Internship in Exercise and Sport Science | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
First Aid/CPR competency and the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ESS 201 | Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (with Lab) | 4 |
| ESS 275 | Human Motor Development and Learning | 3 |
| ESS 290 | Curriculum Development and the Learning Environment | 3 |
| ESS 330 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| ESS 331 | Exercise Physiology Lab | 1 |
| ESS 350 | Assessment & Technology in Physical Education | 2 |
| ESS 353 | Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) | 2 |
| ESS 363 | Inclusive Physical Activity | 3 |
| ESS 380 | Biomechanics | 3 |
| ESS 392 | Methods of Secondary Activities | 3 |
| ESS 395 | Methods of Elementary Activities | 3 |
| ESS 396 | Methods of Alternative Physical Education | 3 |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| Principles of Outdoor Education | ||
| Fitness Instruction | ||
| Select three of the following: | 3 | |
| Skill Development and Analysis: Net and Wall Games | ||
| Skill and Development and Analysis: Invasion Games | ||
| Skill Development and Analysis: Target and Fielding Games | ||
| Skill Development and Analysis: Dance | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
Capstone Course Requirement
Students can choose to take either ESS 495 Senior Seminar in Exercise and Sport Science or ESS 498 Internship in Exercise and Sport Science to fulfill the Capstone Requirement.
Western Watershed General Education Requirements
Students must complete all Western Watershed General Education requirements to graduate.
Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation. Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above). Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued.
Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements.
"C-" or better required for both ESS 181 Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science and ESS 185 Lifetime Wellness to receive credit toward ESS degree.
Students must achieve a “C-“ or better in Western Watershed Fundamental Skills, including ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) & ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2).
Sample Plan
Degree Plans are for planning purposes. They reflect a suggested plan to complete the degree in a projected timeframe per program of study.
“Western Watershed Course(s)” refers to a course from the Tributaries area of the Western Watershed program. These courses should be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| ESS 181 or ESS 185 |
Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science or Lifetime Wellness |
3 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed course | 7 |
| WWGE 101/102/103/104 | Headwaters (select one) | 2 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
| ESS 181 or ESS 185 |
Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science or Lifetime Wellness |
3 |
| ESS 210 |
Skill Development and Analysis: Net and Wall Games or Skill and Development and Analysis: Invasion Games or Skill Development and Analysis: Target and Fielding Games or Skill Development and Analysis: Dance |
1 |
| MATH 105 | Mathematics for the Liberal Arts (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed course | 6 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 201 | Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (with Lab) | 4 |
| ESS 290 | Curriculum Development and the Learning Environment | 3 |
| ESS 353 or ESS 396 |
Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) or Methods of Alternative Physical Education |
3 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed course | 6 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 210 |
Skill Development and Analysis: Net and Wall Games or Skill and Development and Analysis: Invasion Games or Skill Development and Analysis: Target and Fielding Games or Skill Development and Analysis: Dance |
1 |
| ESS 275 | Human Motor Development and Learning | 3 |
| ESS 298 or ROE 189 |
Fitness Instruction or Principles of Outdoor Education |
3 |
| ESS 392 or ESS 395 |
Methods of Secondary Activities or Methods of Elementary Activities |
3 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed course | 6 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 320 | Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity | 3 |
| ESS 330 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| ESS 331 | Exercise Physiology Lab | 1 |
| ESS 380 | Biomechanics | 3 |
| ESS 396 or ESS 353 |
Methods of Alternative Physical Education or Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) |
3 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 210 |
Skill Development and Analysis: Net and Wall Games or Skill and Development and Analysis: Invasion Games or Skill Development and Analysis: Target and Fielding Games or Skill Development and Analysis: Dance |
1 |
| ESS 350 | Assessment & Technology in Physical Education | 2 |
| ESS 363 | Inclusive Physical Activity | 3 |
| ESS 392 or ESS 395 |
Methods of Secondary Activities or Methods of Elementary Activities |
3 |
| Electives | Upper division elective/2nd Major/Minor/Certificate | 6 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 490 | Sociology of Sport and Physical Activity | 3 |
| Electives | Upper division elective/2nd Major/Minor/Certificate | 12 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 495 or ESS 498 |
Senior Seminar in Exercise and Sport Science or Internship in Exercise and Sport Science |
3 |
| Electives | Upper division elective/2nd Major/Minor/Certificate | 12 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 121 | |
Western is committed to doing our part to provide each student a clear path to graduation. This four‐year degree plan is a sample map for fulfilling requirements in the major and General Education. The pathway that you take to your degree may differ somewhat from this illustration, depending on where you start and the detours and side trips you may take along the way. You are responsible for ensuring your overall, upper division, and major‐specific credits as well as GPA requirements are fulfilled for graduation.