School of Education—Department of Health and Physical Activity
Programs within the Department of Health and Physical Activity focus on the promotion of health and wellness across the lifespan through the teaching and study of (a) enhancement of exercise performance, (b) education for wellness and disease prevention, and (c) control and learning of movement skills.
The department offers master’s and doctoral degrees in health and physical activity with specializations (areas of concentration) in exercise physiology and development movement.
Within the exercise physiology concentration two tracks are offered: health-fitness and wellness and clinical/research.
At the doctoral level, the health-fitness and wellness track prepares individuals to be leaders in the health-fitness/wellness industry and to direct corporate, commercial, hospital, community, and university wellness programs. The clinical/research track prepares professionals for academic and/or research positions or clinical jobs in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and/or other hospital-based exercise programs.
At the master’s level, the health-fitness and wellness track targets in-service teachers and professionals who desire to work in a health-fitness setting. The clinical/research track targets individuals who desire to work in the university clinical or research setting.
The master’s degree with an area of concentration in developmental movement leads to career opportunities that involve the implementation and design of instructional and therapeutic programs to enhance movement.
Two University certificate programs are also offered. The Adapted Physical Education Certificate program focuses on movement of children with special needs and is intended to provide health and physical educators with background knowledge and experience in developing programs geared toward the integration of children with special needs into the physical education class. The Youth Health and Fitness Certificate program focuses on physical activity in children and the development of safe and effective youth fitness programs.
Contact Information
- Graduate Coordinator
- Department of Health and Physical Activity
- 140 Trees Hall
- 412-648-8320
- Fax: 412-648-7092
- E-mail: hpred@pitt.edu
- www.education.pitt.edu/hpa
Admission
Applicants to programs in the Department of Health and Physical Activity must meet all of the
requirements in addition to specific departmental
requirements. Application
material should be directed to the University
of Pittsburgh, Student Service Center,
5500 Posvar Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 or telephone
412-648-2230.
The programs in exercise physiology and developmental movement have a rolling admissions policy that assures that all completed applications will be reviewed regularly. However, priority for admissions and financial aid decisions will be given to those applications that are sent in by established deadlines.
The Department of Health and Physical Activity offers financial aid in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and tuition scholarships. Applicants may apply by calling Chris Miller at 412-648-8320 or via e-mail at cemiller@pitt.edu. Additional information on admissions, financial aid, registration, and other student services may be found at the Student Service Center.
Degree and Certificate Options and Requirements
For detailed degree requirement information for the below degrees, refer to the school section on Master’s Degree Requirements or Doctoral Degree Requirements.
The department offers Master of Science degrees in health and physical activity and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in health and physical activity with specializations (areas of concentration) as noted below.
University certificates are offered in adapted physical education and youth, health, and fitness.
Master of Science Degree (Exercise Physiology)
The exercise physiology area of concentration has two tracks: health-fitness and wellness and clinical research.
Health-Fitness and Wellness Track
The degree in this track requires 37–40 credits distributed as follows: Basic Areas of Education (9 credits), Core (9 credits), Assessment (4–7 credits), Content Schools (3–6 credits), Wellness (6 credits), and Clinical Experience (6–9 credits).
Clinical/Research Track
The degree in this track requires 37–40 credits distributed as follows: Basic Areas of Education (9 credits), Core (12 credits), Assessment (4 credits), Wellness (6 credits), and Clinical Experience (6-9 credits).
Both tracks are available with thesis and non-thesis options.
Master of Science Degree (Developmental Movement)
This degree requires 39 credits distributed as follows: Basic Areas of Education (9 credits), Core (18 credits), and Electives (12 credits). This degree is available with a thesis and non-thesis option.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Exercise Physiology)
Both the health-fitness and wellness track and the clinical/research track require a minimum of 90 graduate credits, 30–36 credits in core courses, 9–18 credits in a collateral area, 12 credits in research methodology, 6 credits in research practicum, variable credits in electives, and 18 credits of dissertation research.
Advanced Certificates in Adapted Physical Education/Youth Health and Fitness
Both the Adapted Physical Education Certificate and the Youth Health and Fitness Certificate require a total of 24 credits, including 6 credits in core courses.
