Beyond the Gym Class: Career Opportunities in Physical

1
Beyond the Gym Class Career Opportunities in
Physical Health Education

• Chapter 21

2
Outline

• Diversity of University PHE Programs
• Career Opportunities for University PHE Graduates
• Enhancing Your Career Possibilities

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Diversity of University PHE Programs
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1940-1970
NOW

• PURPOSE
• All deal with human movement specialization
• EMPLOYMENT
• Many different areas (discussed later)
• NAME
• Diversification
• To reflect diversification and fragmentation in
  PHE field
• Does not always reflect specialization
• ADMINISTRATION
• Linked to science- or health-oriented programs,
  or alone

• PURPOSE
• To train teachers
• EMPLOYMENT
• Elementary and secondary school Phys.Ed. Teacher
• NAME
• Physical Education
• ADMINISTRATION
• Linked to athletics

• Evolution in diversity of knowledge and its
  application to PHE
• Developments in related areas exercise
  physiology, sports psychology, sports sociology,
  motor learning, etc.

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PHE Name Diversification (1997)
38 PHE-related programs

• 45 Other Name
• Kinesiology
• Human Kinetics
• Kinathropology
• Exercise Sciences
• Human Biology

55 PHE
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Career Opportunities for University PHE Graduates
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Teaching Careers
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• Teacher certification (Ontario)
• Undergraduate degree (B.A., B.P.H.E.)
• Followed by a Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.)
• 1980s
• 50 PHE graduates
• 1990s
• 10-20 PHE graduates
• Competition
• Reduced hiring
• Present
• Again reversed
• More opportunities
• Older teachers retiring
• Rise in number of school age children

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Health and Science Related Careers
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• Medical doctor, chiropractor, physiotherapist,
  podiatrist, athletic therapist, etc.
• Require further study after completion of PHE
  undergraduate program
• PHE uniquely prepares graduates for these areas
• Opportunities in the curriculum
• Anatomy, physiology, sports medicine, community
  health, etc.
• Practical interpersonal and client/patient
  relationship skill-development opportunities
• Currently expanding areas
• Health promotion and research organizations
• Marketing of exercise and sports-related
  protective and corrective equipment

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Fitness Related Careers
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• 1990s career choice for increasing number of PHE
  graduates
• Fitness assessment, instruction, and programming
• Fitness clubs, community centres, YMCAs,
  employee fitness facilities in large corporations
• General population
• Special populations
• Masters athletes or executives
• Fitness administration and sales
• Sports equipment sales
• Sports equipment manufacturing and distribution

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Sports and Recreation Administration Related
Careers
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• Amateur sport administration
• Administration and marketing with professional
  and semi-professional and junior sports teams and
  organizations
• Facilities management
• Sports camp administration and intramural
  administration in universities and colleges
• Recreation and leisure
• Community recreation organizations
• Non-traditional areas for recreation (e.g.,
  outdoor adventure)
• Hotel/tourist industry and local tourism,
  camping, and recreation promotion

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Coaching Related Careers
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• Young and elite athletes
• Particularly those sports with large club bases
• Figure skating, swimming, gymnastics,
  track-and-field
• Squash and tennis
• In the education system
• Full time physical education teachers

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Exercise Sciences Related Careers
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• Masters and/or Doctoral (Ph.D.) post-graduate
  education
• 2-6 years beyond undergraduate education
• Employment opportunities
• University professors
• Researchers or laboratory technicians
• Community health promotion and research with
  private or public organizations or as independent
  consultants
• Community college instructors

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Other Related Careers
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• Although not directly related to PHE, still tend
  to attract PHE graduates
• Require further training beyond PHE degree
• PHE offers opportunities to develop physical and
  interpersonal skills required in these areas
• Police officers, fire fighters, and ambulance
  attendants
• Sales and marketing
• Insurance, pharmaceutical, and textbook sales
  industry
• Computer software design, law, translation, and
  various entrepreneurial endeavours

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Enhancing Your Career Possibilities
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• Having an appropriate university degree is only
  one of many often necessary attributes
• Need to gain as much work and practical
  experience as possible
• Volunteer work, summer or part-time employment,
  university CO-OP experiences
• Should be closely related to future career goal

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The Diversification of Physical Education Career
Opportunities

• Reflects
• Diversification of the physical and health
  education discipline
• Changes in the physical patterns and needs of
  Canadians
• Increased integration of fitness and leisure into
  business and private lifestyles
• Increased awareness of fitness benefits
• Expanding career opportunities for PHE students
  indicates a bright future for those pursuing PHE
  studies