Community Education: Sports, Recreation, and Wellness (B.A.)

The Bachelor of Arts in Community Education Program

The Community Education Program (CEP) is for students that are ready to be change makers, innovators, leaders, creative thinkers, and non-traditional educators in their chosen fields in either education, the nonprofit sector, for profit organizations, or entrepreneurial enterprises.

The course work is driven by hands-on, experiential, progressive forward-thinking practical experiences in the chosen field, to prepare students for the challenges of an ever changing and developing 21st century world and their work with the lifelong learner community.

Graduates will leave with a degree that is innovative, creative, non-traditional, and forward-thinking, by being prepared with basics of community and social change and innovation, as well as problem/ project-based service-learning opportunities. All, while giving them the freedom to follow their dream careers by partially building and creating their own degree through selecting a number of electives of interest. This prepares the students for a job market in high demand positions in ever and newly developing fields and industries on the local, national, and international level.

The CEP is a 120-credit hour program, consisting of general studies, core, and track/ concentration specific coursework.

 

The CEP also offers a 15-credit hour minor.

 

There are five tracks/ concentrations for students to choose from:

Community Innovation and the Arts

Disabilities Services and Advocacy

Outdoor Education Experiential Learning and Mindfulness

Sports Recreation and Wellness

Teaching English and Global Education

 

Sports Recreation and Wellness encompasses all things sports, recreation, wellness, health education and services, as well as the sports industry, community, and fitness fields, prioritizing the use of non-formal teaching methods, developing the lifelong learner, and providing experiential learning opportunities. Students will learn, recognize, and embrace concepts from physical to mental, and emotional wellness. A focus could be put on coaching by adding the minor of athletic coaching as part of the track/ concentration specific elective course work. 


Career opportunities include but are not limited to program directors or coordinators of sports, recreation, and wellness programs and institutions, community health promotion and education instructors and specialists, recreational leaders, personal trainers, coaches (athletic coaching minor required), event coordinators, and administrator positions in athletic and sports, recreation, wellness, and stress reduction fields. Employment could be sought in public health organizations, non- and for-profit organizations, public and/ or private recreation, event management, community empowerment, engagement, and advocacy organizations. 
In addition, students can select a number of elective courses fitting their individual career aspirations and areas of interest. 

This track/concentration also can serve as preparation for graduate school to further students’ studies and work in allied areas of their chosen field. 

 

Requirements

Required Courses

CEP 101Introduction to Community Education & CEP

3

CEP 201Cross-Cultural Competencies in Changing Communities

3

CEP 411Formal & Non-formal Educational Models

3

CEP 421Promoting Creativity & the Arts

3

CEP 422Outdoor Learning Spaces

3

CEP 433Program Design & Implementation

3

Or

CEP 452Reggio Emilia & Other Approaches

3

Or

CEP 473Community & School-based Programming

3

CEP 442Community Empowerment & Engagement

3

CEP 443Fundraising & Grant Writing

3

CEP 463Leadership in Community Education

3

CEP 482Practicum II (off-campus)

3

CEP 492Practicum I (on-campus)

3

CEP 493Internship/ International Community Experience

4

EDUC 201Human Development

3

ENT 350Entrepreneurship Law & Ethics

3

HE 360Community & Environmental Health

3

PE 211Group Fitness Leadership

2

PE 317Net and Wall Games

3

PE 322Organization & Administration of Physical Education, Athletics & Recreational

3

PE 354Facilities Management in Sports and Physical Education

2

PE 365Psychology & Sociology of Physical Education

2

PE 452Adapted Physical Education I

2

SDE 232First Aid-Emergency Service

3

SPED 241Introduction to Exceptionalities

3

Choose 1 hour from the following:

PE 115Beginner Swimming

1

PE 225Lifeguarding

1

Electives to total 120 hours