Programs

1. Health Major
   1. Health Non-Teaching (minimum of 32 cr. hrs.).
      A Health Non-Teaching Major prepares students for graduate study and for work in the health care and/or fitness industries. This major requires students to complete a group of core courses (21 credit hours) plus twelve additional credit hours in one of the following areas of emphasis: Wellness, Women's Health, Family Health, Management, or Mental Health. The structure of the Health Non-Teaching Major encourages an interdisciplinary approach to learning by requiring students to take several courses from disciplines outside the department. Students often enroll in an internship to complement their classroom experience. Most students successfully complete this major in four years.
      (Health Major Requirements)
   2. Health Education (31 credit hour plus education sequence).
      Health Education prepares students for the teaching profession and/or for graduate work. This major requires thirty-one credit hours and the completion of the education sequence including a 13 credit professional semester (student teaching). Most students successfully complete this major in four years.
      (Health Major Requirements)
2. Physical Education Major
   1. Physical Education Non-Teaching (35 - 41 credit hours).
      The non-teaching Physical Education major prepares students for graduate school or professional careers in the areas of athletic training, exercise science, or sports psychology. Students are required to complete nineteen credit hours of physical education core courses plus additional credit hours in one of the three areas of emphasis. The majority of the core courses are offered within the HPE Department, but, there are courses in each of the three areas of emphasis that require students to take courses from other departments on campus. Students often choose to enroll in an internship to complement their classroom experience. The athletic training program is seeking accreditation through CAAHEP, and hence, the curriculum is undergoing revision. Most students successfully complete this major in four years.
      (Physical Education Requirements)
   2. Physical Education - Teaching (43 credit hours).
      The teaching major prepares students to enter the teaching profession. Students must complete the education sequence in addition to the prescribed course of study within the HPE Department. This program also includes coursework enabling students to obtain the coaching endorsement. Upon completion, students will be licensed to teach K-12 Physical Education and to coach at the secondary school level in Iowa schools. With careful planning, students can finish this major in four years; however, it is not uncommon for students to complete the professional semester (student teaching) in the ninth semester.
      (Physical Education Requirements)
3. Second teaching areas. (25 - 27 credit hours)
   Second teaching areas in Health and Physical Education are available. Education students often elect a second teaching area in Physical Education or Health to complement another teaching major.
4. Health and Physical Education Minors.
   A minor in Health or Physical Education is available by earning approximately twenty credit hours in either discipline.
5. Coaching Endorsement.
   Completing the coaching endorsement allows one to coach at the secondary school level in Iowa.
6. The Sports Management Special Program.
   The sports management program is an interdisciplinary program that prepares students to work in the sport, health and/or fitness industries. Students complete coursework in the Departments of Business and Economics and Health and Physical Education. Students may elect to major in Management and then take a group of courses from the Health and Physical Education Department or they may elect to major in either Health or Physical Education and complete a group of courses from the Business and Economics Department. Students are also required to complete an internship to gain valuable work experience.
   (Sports Management Requirements)
7. Skills Classes.
   All students at Luther College are required to complete two, one credit hour courses in physical education as part of the general education requirement. One must be a wellness course and the other an activity course. A student may apply a maximum of four semester hours of physical education skills classes toward the 128 hours required for graduation.
8. Internships.
   A wide variety of internship opportunities enable students to apply their knowledge, skills, and abilities in the fitness industry. Internship experiences are also available on campus with programs such as the Lifetime Wellness Program.