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Brief History
Department of Kinesiology
A Department of Physical Training for Men was established
in 1913 followed by a Department of Physical Culture for Women
in 1924. Several name changes occurred over the years but in 1974
the Department of Physical Education for Men (administratively
located in the College of Sciences and Humanities) and the Department
of Physical Education for Women (administratively located in the
College of Home Economics) were merged into a Department of Physical
Education and placed within the College of Education. Dance had
always been included in the Women's Department and continued under
the newly merged departments. Other changes in the same time frame
including closing the Hygiene Department and moving the courses
to the Department of Physical Education as well as the addition
of Leisure Services to the department name when a curriculum in
Leisure Services was approved. Intramural sports moved to the
new Campus Recreation Division and Women's Intercollegiate Athletics
was merged with the Men's Athletic Program. The program in Leisure
Studies was eliminated in 1991. The Departmental name was changed
in 1993 to the Department of Health and Human Performance.
An undergraduate major in physical education for men was approved
by 1930, but a stand-alone major for women was not approved until
1960. The two curricula merged in the mid-1970s. In the late 1980s
and 1990s, this degree evolved into the B.S. in Exercise and Sport
Science (options in exercise science, teaching, athletic training,
sport management, or exercise and sport studies). The Community
Health Education Feasibility Study/Proposal was approved by the
Board of Regents in 1983 and included in the 1985-87 ISU Catalog
leading to the B.S. in Community Health Education (options in
community/public health, substance abuse prevention, or wellness/fitness).
During 2001-02 the faculty restructured the B.S. in Exercise and
Sport Science and the B.S. in Community Health Education. This
resulted in dropping the B.S. in Community Health Education and
changing the name of the B.S. in Exercise and Sport Science to
B.S. in Health and Human Performance that included options in
Athletic Training, Community and Public Health, Exercise and Sport
Science, Health/Fitness Management, Physical Education (licensure
program), and Sport Management. The Department also has a certification
program in coaching as well as health education and participates
in an interdisciplinary performing arts degree with an option
in dance.
During the 1970s a M.S. in Physical Education was approved. In
June of 1999 a Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance was approved
by the Board of Regents and our first Ph.D. graduate was in August
2002. In the fall of 1999 the Department was given approval to
participate in the M.Ed. program administered through the College
of Education. With the new Ph.D. and M.Ed. programs, the M.S.
was limited to a thesis-only option in 1999. Each of the three
graduate degrees has options in either the Behavioral Basis of
Physical Activity (physical activity and health or sport management,)
or the Biological Basis of Physical Activity (analysis and control
of movement or exercise physiology).
The Women's Gym was completed in 1941 and a new addition was
completed in 1974. The completion of the new addition allowed
renovations in the older section, including the development of
two exercise physiology laboratories. During the 1993-94 academic
year, a computer laboratory for students and a motor control and
learning laboratory were completed and space was allocated for
a biomechanics laboratory. During that same year, the Exercise
Clinic was developed in the gymnasium formerly occupied by the
women's intercollegiate gymnastic team. More recent renovations
have allowed the development of the biomechanics laboratory, additional
development of the motor control and learning laboratory, an exercise
psychology laboratory, a physical activity and health laboratory,
and an applied motor development laboratory.
The Physical Education Building was dedicated in the name of
Barbara E. Forker in 1998. Barbara began as a faculty member in
the Department in 1948. She was Chair of the Department of Physical
Education for Women from 1958 until the Men's and Women's departments
merged in 1974 when she became Chair of the newly created Department,
a position she held until her retirement in 1986. Shirley Wood
was interim Chair in 1986-87. Following a national search, Dean
Pease was named Chair in 1987. Due to Dean Pease's illness, Shirley
Wood served as Interim Chair in the summer of 1988 and spring
of 1990. Dean Pease resigned as Chair in 1990 and Shirley Wood
was appointed and remained Chair through the 1993-94 year and
retired in 1995. Dean Anderson was appointed Chair in 1994 and
resigned in 1997. Shirley Wood came out of retirement to serve
as Interim Chair in 1997-98 and to chair a national search. As
a result, Jerry Thomas was named Chair in 1998 and continues in
that position. |
