Physical Education programs can be life-changing for today’s young generation as such programs offer students opportunities to have quality health and to develop their minds. Regular physical exercises can improve physical and mental health; it helps to reduce stress level too. It releases endorphins; powerful chemicals in our brain that energizes our spirits and make us feel good. Physical exercise improves concentration, motivation, memory, and mood. It is an investment for our mind, body, and soul. That is why someone has rightly said “In a healthy body lives a healthy mind”.
Beneficial for a Healthy College Life
At the university level, students have to take important decisions that will affect them for the rest of their lives. For college-level students, it is much more important to learn about their bodies than younger students, as this is the time when students undergo major transformation in terms of both physical and mental health. Participation in the physical education program or sports in colleges help a students to build up self-confidence, team building skills and even improves communication skills. Physical education programs builds up self-discipline within students that helps them to make right choices in their lives.
According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “Physical activity can have an impact on cognitive skills and attitudes and academic behavior, all of which are important components of improved academic performance. These include enhanced concentration and attention as well as improved classroom behavior”. For successful academic achievement and career, the college students are expected to be academically sound, emotionally stable, physically strong and spiritually sound; these requirements can be achieved by Physical education.
Physical Education for Personality Development
Aristotle said, “The body is the temple of soul and to reach harmony of the body mind and spirit, the body must be physically fit”. Physical appearance matters a lot for a college student and for the ones who have just passed out and searching for a job. Sport is a key component in the process of personality development; it helps in ‘overall’ development of a person which clearly means physical, social, mental and emotional development of a person.
Physical Education as a Profession
Physical Education is one of the fast emerging academic disciplines in our education stream. It primarily focuses on the development of physical and mental fitness, development of character and personality. There are various career options in physical education, like a fitness trainer/instructor/coach, sports journalist, sports nutritionists, and even sports psychologists, etc. One can opt for physical education after completion of 10+2. A student from any discipline can get enrolled in the physical education course. An interested student can do a Diploma, Certificate or Degree course in physical education; candidates who have passed bachelor’s degree in physical education can opt for master’s degree in physical education.
Some of the renowned institutions in the United States which offer well-accomplished courses in Physical Education have been listed below.
The University of Michigan, Department of Kinesiology offers programs for students to learn about health and wellness, also business skills and prepare them for future career paths, such as managing a fitness center. The syllabus abides by the standards for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Health Fitness Specialist exam.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Kinesiology offers health and fitness courses, including physical activity, health and wellness through neurological, biochemical, physiological and behavioral components of human movement.
The University of San Francisco, Department of Kinesiology offers a complete interdisciplinary program in the study of human movement science. The program is designed for those students who are interested in health or fitness related professions like, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and medicine.
The Wake Forest University, Department of Health and Exercise Science offers a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree. The program is designed to introduce students to various aspects of human health while preparing them for a career in this field.
The University of Virginia offers kinesiology programs for health and fitness, physical activity, rehabilitation, sport and exercise science along with biology, anatomy, and physiology to further understand the physical activity.
A good physical education instructor should have such a personality trait which inspires other to be fit and in sound health. A physical education instructor should have leadership qualities to motivate students towards their goal and teach them ways to achieve their goals. S/he should have good interpersonal skills to understand the individuality of each student. A good physical education instructor should have good teaching skills to be able to educate.
