Undergraduate Courses

Graduates have the opportunity to pursue careers in physical education teaching, health and fitness education and management, and athletic coaching, or to continue their education in graduate studies.

Basic Instruction Courses

The Department of PXW also provides basic instruction for all students of the University in a wide variety of sport, aquatics, dance, and fitness classes. Activity courses in physical education may count toward the hours required for graduation. These credit hours may be earned by enrolling in PXW 104-118, 124-138, or 144-158. In some cases, equipment is provided by the department; however, there are fees assessed for certain specified activities.

PXW Courses

Semesters the course is typically offered will be signified after the course description by F=Fall, S=Spring, SS=Summer

• PXW 101. Introduction to Public Health. 3 credits. A Survey of public health principles, history, philosophy, ethics, services, tools, systems, and applications to current events.  (F,S)
• PXW 102:  Epidemiology in Public Health.  3 credits.  A population perspective on the factors influencing health and disease and the tools available to protect and promote health.  (F,S)
• PXW 104-118. Physical Education. 1 credit. Instruction in aquatics, dance, fitness, individual sports, team sports, and outdoor pursuits at the introductory level. F,S,SS
• PXW 119. Sports Officiating. 1 credit. Knowledge of the rules and techniques for officiating various sports. Offered by sport; credit is repeatable by sport. On Demand.
• PXW 124-138. Physical Education. 1 credit. Prerequisite: PXW 104-118 in the same activity or consent of the instructor. Instruction in aquatics, dance, fitness, individual sports, team sports, and outdoor pursuits at the intermediate level. F,S
• PXW 144-158. Physical Education. 1 credit. Prerequisite: PXW 124-138 in the same activity or consent of the instructor. Instruction in aquatics, dance, fitness, individual sports, team sports, and outdoor pursuits at the advanced level. On Demand
• PXW 206. PXW Workshop. 1 credit. Each workshop will emphasize an area related to PXW. Course may be repeated as long as content varies. On Demand
• PXW 207. Prevention and Care of Physical Activity Injuries. 3 credits. An overview of the scope of athletic training with emphasis on injury management and preventative measures. F,S
• PXW 224-236. Movement Performance and Analysis. 1 credit, repeatable to 12 different credits. Prerequisite: PXW 104-118 or performance equivalence in appropriate activity. Development of performance, performance analysis and knowledge as they apply to aquatics, dance, fitness, individual sports, team sports, and outdoor pursuits. Professional preparation courses for PXW majors and/or athletic coaching minors. F,S
• PXW 240. Introduction to Wellness. 2 credits. Designed to encourage personal awareness and responsibility for the maintenance of health and well-being. This course will study the multi-dimensional nature of wellness and the pivotal role that each dimension plays in personal self-fulfillment. F,S
• PXW 241. Introduction to Coaching. 1 credit. An introduction and overview of relevant philosophy, sport psychology, sport pedagogy, sport physiology, sport medicine and sport management issues confronting coaches. Coaching is presented with emphasis on effective instructional techniques and coaching principles based upon scientific knowledge. F,S
• PXW 276. Motor Learning. 3 credits. Co-requisite: PXW 276L. Consideration of various factors which may affect learning and performance in human movement activities. S
• PXW 290. Physical Education for the Elementary Grades. 3 credits. A study of contemporary programs in elementary physical education. Emphasis on appropriate movement experiences for children. F
• PXW 309. Water Safety Instruction. 2 credits. Prerequisite: Current Senior Lifesaving Certificate. Scientific movement principles, theories and techniques as they apply to the teaching and conduct of aquatic activities. Laboratory teaching assignments. S
• PXW 325. Youth and Children in Sport. 3 credits. Analysis of research findings in sport studies, sport psychology and sport sociology with applications to coaching children and youth in sport. F
• PXW 326. Fundamentals of Physical Conditioning. 3 credits. A study of the basic knowledge, principles, and methods of physical conditioning for health and fitness benefits, and for athletic performance improvement. F,S
• PXW 327. Fitness for Life. 3 credits. A classroom course focusing on advanced concepts of lifetime fitness and wellness from a consumer perspective. Emphasis is on the development of personal programs for fitness and wellness. F,S
• PXW 332. Biomechanics. 4 credits. Prerequisite: Anat 204, 204L. The study of human movement with special emphasis on those movements related to sport and physical activity. F
• PXW 341. Organization and Administration of Athletics. 2 credits. Principles and practices for management of the interscholastic athletic program. S
• PXW 355. Applied Motor Development. 3 credits. Changes in motor performance which occur with age, physical and mental development as they relate to these changes. S
• PXW 375. Fundamentals of Group Exercise Instruction. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PXW 326. The fundamental knowledge and practical skills needed to lead a group exercise class. S
• PXW 376. Professional Skills in Personal Training. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PXW 326. The fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to provide personal training for individuals and/or small groups. F
• PXW 385. Practicum. 2 credits. Independent and group study of professional placement and leadership in recreation and leisure settings. Practical experiences in recreation settings within the community. Includes lectures, site visits, and fieldwork hours. F,S
• PXW 390. Introduction to Teaching in Physical Education and Sport Settings. 3 credits. Prerequisite: 224-236. Corequisite: PXW 323L. Strategy for classroom management, planning, instruction, and assessment of teacher and student behavior. Special emphasis on systematic development of a variety of teaching skills through practice and feedback in individual and small group situations. F
• PXW 390L. Introduction to Teaching in Physical Education and Sport Settings Laboratory. 1 credit. Prerequisites:224-236. Corequisite: PXW 323. Supervised experiences in laboratory and field settings for the purpose of developing teaching skills for physical education and sport settings. F
• PXW 397. Cooperative Education in PXW. 1-4 credits, repeatable to 16. Prerequisite: PXW major. A practical work experience with an employer closely associated with the student's academic area. Arranged by mutual agreement among student, department, and employer. S/U gradig only. F,S,SS
• PXW 400. Strategies for Teaching Physical Education in the Elementary School. 3 credits. Prerequisites: 290, 390, and admission to Teacher Education. Corequisite: PXW 406L. The development of skills and knowledge related to teaching physical education to young children. F
• PXW 400L. Strategies for Teaching Physical Education in the Elementary School-Laboratory. 1 credit. Prerequisites: PXW 390L, 290, and admission to Teacher Education. Corequisite: PXW 440. Supervised experiences in the elementary school for the purpose of developing teaching skills for physical education and sport settings. F 
• PXW 401. Sport Sociology. 3 credits. Prerequisite: Soc 110. The critical exploration of the function of sports in American culture, in an interdisciplinary fashion, with a focus on the contemporary scene. F
• PXW 402. Exercise Physiology. 4 credits. Prerequisite: PPT 301 or PXW 499. The acute and chronic effect of the type, intensity and duration of exercise on physiological function. F
• PXW 403. School Health Education. 2 credits. Provides prospective health educators with a cursory look at health curriculum construction and investigation of different methods, devices and classroom techniques. S
• PXW 404. Adapted Activities Program. 3 credits. Etiology of specific handicaps and adaptations of various activities which the individual may participate in at various grade levels. Theory and practical work will be emphasized. S
• PXW 410. Methods and Materials for Teaching Physical Education in the Secondary School. 3 credits. Prerequisites: PXW 400 and admission to Teacher Education. Corequisite: PXW 400L. Instructional skills and curriculum analysis for secondary school physical education. F
• PXW 410L. Methods and Materials for Teaching Physical Education in the Secondary School-Laboratory. 1 credit. Prerequisites: PXW 410L and admission to Teacher Education. Corequisite: PXW 410. Supervised experiences in the secondary school for the purpose of developing teaching skills for physical education and sport settings. F  
• PXW 424-437. Coaching Methods. 2 credits. Prerequisite: PXW 224-237 in same sport. Repeatable with different sports to a maximum of 10 credits. Methods employed in coaching specific sports. F,S
• PXW 446. Exercise Testing and Prescription. 3 credits. Prerequisites: PXW 326 and 402. Theory and practice of administering exercise and fitness tests, and using the results in exercise prescription and programming. F
• PXW 440. Sport Psychology. 3 credits. Prerequisite: Psyc 111. Examination of psychological constructs influencing the competitive sport process and physical activity. S
• PXW 496. Field Experience in PXW. 1-8 credits. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor and upper division status. Placement of student in a practical setting under university faculty supervision. F,S
• PXW 498. Practicum in Coaching. 2 credits. Prerequisites: PXW 423 in the assigned sport in which the student will coach. Supervised experiences in a school setting for the purpose of developing skills and techniques for coaching. F,S
• PXW 491. Senior Teaching Seminar. 3 credits. Corequisite: T&L 487. A critical analysis of problems, professional obligations and careers in teaching physical education. F,S
• PXW 494. Directed Studies in Physical Education. 1-4 credits. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. An in-depth study in a subject area selected by the student under tutorial supervision. F,S
• PXW 497.Internship. 10 credits. Prerequisite: Physical Education majors only. Development of professional skills by working directly with established fitness/wellness, health and human service organizations under the supervision of professionals and faculty. S-U grading only. F,S,SS
  • Internship Manual
• PXW 499. Special Topics in PXW. 1-4 credits repeatable to 9. Specialized topics related to physical education, health and recreation. On Demand.

In order to graduate with a bachelors degree from the University of North Dakota, all students are required to: complete the Universities Essential Studies Requirements (see Essential Studies details on the Resistar’s website), including a department capstone course; complete the specific requirements related to earn a grade point average of at least 2.0. Graduation requirements related to transfer of courses from other institutions and to courses taken while not in residence on campus are published in the UND Academic Catalog. Graduation with the major in Physical Education and Exercise Science requires a minimum grade point average of 2.20, except in the Teacher Education track where the minimum grade point average is 2.75. The Department of Physical education, Exercise Science and Wellness offers one major with three different tracks:

• physical education-teacher education-Option A
• exercise science-Option B
• cross-disciplinary option with a related minor-Option C

The Department also offers two minors:

• Athletic Coaching
• Health Education