Department of Health Education, Physical Education, & Recreation (HEPER)

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Department Chairperson: Mark Kutame

Email: mkutame@csu.edu

Phone: 773-995-3650

Location: JDC 216

Department Overview

The Department of Health Education, Physical Education, and Recreation offers graduate and undergraduate programs. The department offers a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Physical Education and Bachelor of Science in Recreation. The Physical Education Program provides courses of study in physical education with career opportunities in teaching, coaching, health education, and driver education. The Physical Education department offers a post-baccalaureate non-degree licensure and a Masters of Arts in Teaching-Physical Education degree with licensure. Additionally, candidates with a professional educator license may also pursue a Master of Science in Education degree for Physical Education in a fully-online program. The Recreation Program offers emphasis areas in parks, recreation, sport administration, and therapeutic recreation.

Initial Licensure PreK-12 degree program

The professional program of study is designed to prepare graduates for a career in teaching physical education PK-12 upon completion of the program. Students qualify for a Professional Teaching License (PEL) with a Physical Education Endorsement K-12. Students may attach any endorsement (e.g., health, driver’s education) to their PEL. 

Admission Requirements 

• Provide one transcript(s) as evidence of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, and that the final 60 credit hours of undergraduate and/or graduate courses demonstrate a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Credit towards required courses in the program will only be awarded for grades of C or higher.
• Submit proof that undergraduate coursework meets a minimum grade of C threshold in the general education requirements:

Program Completion Requirements

• General program completion requirements include completing an application for graduation with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all required courses in professional education and the designated content area; as well as completion of the following addition licensure requirements:

  • Pre-clinical and clinical fieldwork forms documenting 100 clock hours or more are submitted to the Office of Field Placement. 

  • Field Practicum and Student Teaching Clinical Experiences successfully completed.

Illinois State Board of Education licensure examination / assessments, including the Content Area Test in the discipline. Proof of passing must be submitted to the academic program by announced due dates PRIOR to permission given to register for the final Student Teaching clinical experience course.

Content Designations: REC

PRSA

The PRSA emphasis area prepares students for multiple opportunities in the recreation field. PRSA prepares graduates for leadership in supervisory and administrative positions in park and recreation departments, youth and community agencies, commercial recreation, fitness and health facilities, resort areas, campus recreation, and armed forces/military. Upon completion of a recreation degree from the CSU accredited program, students qualify to pursue certification as a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) via a national examination by the National Parks and Recreation Association (www.nrpa.org).

TR

The TR emphasis area prepares students to deliver therapeutic recreation services. Services include assessing individuals, planning, implementing, and evaluating recreation programs for people with disabilities, illnesses, and special needs, many of whom may need assistance in developing skills for leisure involvement. An individual pursuing a career in Therapeutic Recreation is involved in using recreation as a tool to work with people with physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, mental illness, limitations due to aging, dependency on alcohol or other drugs, or work with youth considered at-risk. Graduates may work in rehabilitation centers, hospitals, nursing homes, childcare agencies, correctional facilities, schools, parks and recreation agencies, and other health and human service agencies.

Upon completion of the degree from the CSU accredited program students qualify to pursue certification as Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (www.nctrc.org) and/or Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) via a national examination by the National Parks and Recreation Association (www.nrpa.org).

Mission

The mission of the Physical Education program is to offer a quality program that prepares teacher candidates to plan, organize, deliver, and assess in physical education and to instill the importance of providing developmentally appropriate activities to diverse populations. 

Chicago State University’s Recreation Program seeks to be a recognized leader in providing undergraduate and graduate academic preparation, continuing education, research and service that targets the needs of the local community and the needs of a diverse student body that is under-represented in the profession of parks and recreation. Specifically, the Program seeks to:

1. Prepare students to provide recreation and leisure services in diverse, multicultural environments.
2. Add to the diversity of recreation and leisure professionals.
3. Develop recreation and leisure professionals to serve in a wide variety of settings.
4. Contribute to the professional knowledge base on issues relating to recreation and leisure in multicultural urban environments; and
5. Promote the value of leisure for the benefit of society.

Accreditation & Professional Associations

The Physical Education Program meets Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) standards in physical education. Completion of the Physical Education Program qualifies students for an initial Professional Educator License endorsed in physical education for grades PK-12. Licensure requires the successful completion of the Physical Education Content Test and edTPA.

Licensure Requirements

ISBE rules for licensure changes and existing programs must include those changes to be eligible for licensure entitlement. 

Programs

• Physical Education, M.S.Ed.

• Therapeutic Recreation Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

• Physical Education Post-Baccalaureate Licensure Program

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