Department of Movement Sciences

Philip W. Scruggs, Chair (101 Phys. Ed. Bldg. 83844-2401; phone 208-885-7921).

The Department of Movement Sciences is located in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. Our mission is to improve movement, health, and well-being through innovative research, transformative learning, and beneficial engagement, while we aspire to cultivate healthy and physically active lifestyles to sustain the well-being of individuals and communities.
 

The department offers undergraduate Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in Dance; Exercise, Sport, and Health Sciences; and Recreation, Sport and Tourism Management.

  • The B.S. in Dance is designed to create a positive, student-focused learning environment that promotes the whole person in preparation for dance careers and careers in related fields, such as professionals in dance education, performance, and therapy. The Festival of Dance and Performing Arts Association is in residency within the department.
  • The B.S. in Exercise, Sport, and Health Sciences includes five transcripted emphases: Community Health Education and Promotion; Fitness, Health, and Human Performance; Physical Education Teacher Education; Pre-Athletic Training; and Pre-Physical Therapy. Students are prepared for the many diverse fields of kinesiology, along with post-baccalaureate study in education, allied-clinical health fields, medicine, sport, and fitness.  The emphasis area in Physical Education Teaching leads to K-12 teaching certification.
  • The B.S. in Recreation, Sport and Tourism Management provides students with professional career options in leisure, recreation, and sport for leadership roles in organizations and communities, such as a recreation outfitter and guide, an events coordinator, a sports and/or fitness facility manager, a director of recreation, a leisure or travel tourism professional, etc.

The department offers graduate programs at the master’s and doctoral levels. Doctoral programs include the Doctor of Athletic Training (D.A.T., online with a summer residential component) and Movement Sciences Ph.D. in Education, with specializations in Healthy Active Lifestyles and Exercise Science. The department offers master's degrees in Athletic Training (M.S.A.T., online with a summer residential component), Movement & Leisure Sciences (M.S., online and face-to-face coursework), and Physical Education (M.Ed., online and face-to-face).

Movement Sciences also offers academic and teaching minors, which include: Health Education, Dance, Outdoor Recreation Leadership, Sustainable Tourism and Leisure Enterprises, and Physical Education.  The department offers a certificate in Athletic Leadership.

The university-wide Idaho Fitness (I-FIT) Program (i.e., physical and dance activity courses) are delivered by Movement Sciences and include numerous recreational, fitness, dance, aquatic, and sport activity areas.