UNCP’s Health and Physical Education major prepares students to inspire others to higher levels of health and physical fitness. The program is arranged sequentially to help students acquire and gradually refine the planning, instructional, and interpersonal skills needed to be effective teachers. The degree builds comprehensive foundational knowledge in biology, anatomy and physiology, the science of movement, and motor development. These courses serve as a conceptual framework for in-depth study of physical education teaching methods, adapting methods for disabilities, and coaching. Physical education majors leave UNCP with the practical and conceptual tools they need to make a difference in their students’ lives.

Physical Education majors are expected to become independent thinkers and lifelong learners. Students are encouraged to be an active part of the Physical Education Majors' Club, attend professional meetings, conduct and present student research, and actively participate in campus life.

Successful completion of the health and physical education major makes a student eligible for K-12 certification for the teaching of health and physical education in North Carolina. The Department of Health and Human Performance provides an articulated curriculum that incorporates effective instruction, extensive professional field experiences in area schools, state of the art technology and academic resources. The goal of the program is to develop lifelong learners who possess the skills, knowledge and personal-social attributes to competently assume professional roles in a culturally diverse society.

American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance