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Physical Activity & Recreation Administration

College of Education and Health Sciences

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Baldwin Wallace University has discontinued the physical activity and recreation administration major and is no longer accepting applications as of spring 2024. View majors.

Undergraduate Admission

(440) 826-2222, admission@bw.edu 

OVERVIEW

The ever-growing field of wellness needs individuals who bring enthusiasm, knowledge and strategic planning to careers in physical activity, community recreation and coaching.

Baldwin Wallace's physical activity and recreation administration major combines comprehensive coursework, practical experiences and a required internship. You'll gain the skills to effectively design, manage, evaluate and market programs in community settings.

You'll learn best practices for serving individuals of all ages and abilities as well as be prepared for leadership positions in operations and administration.

Small class sizes, personalized attention and mentoring are at the core of the program. You'll benefit from BW's impressive network of community partners and 20-minute proximity to Cleveland, a wellness hub offering diverse internship and career opportunities.

Career Opportunities

  • Recreation programs supervisor
  • Athletic coach
  • Athletic coordinator
  • Fitness center director
  • Camp coordinator
  • Park development manager
  • Sports administrator

Center for Coaching Excellence

The Center supports athletic coaches and student-athletes of all ages. Opportunities include collaborative research, workshops, partnerships, coaching and player development, and more.

CURRICULUM

The physical activity and recreation administration major combines quality academic coursework and experiential learning in diverse settings. You'll benefit from professors with decades of real-world experience who will work closely with you to obtain an internship related to your professional interests.

Upon completion of the major, you'll be eligible for the Physical Activity Leader credential through the Society of Health and Physical Educators and to sit for the Certified Parks and Recreation Professional Examination.

Additional areas of study include minors in athletic coaching, nutrition and recreation.

Course Catalog

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions, requirements for the major and additional information can be found in the University Catalog.

STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Experiential learning bridges classroom study with real-world opportunities. You can enhance your studies through co-curricular activities like:

PARA Student Organization

PARA (which stands for Physical Activity and Recreation Administration) offers educational and professional opportunities for students to build valuable skills, expand their understanding of the profession, and learn about the requirements of graduate and professional programs.

Student Scholarships

At the annual Ovation Ceremony each spring, recognitions include:

  • Bonnie Raye Graduate Scholarship (in honor Bonnie Raye, who taught at BW and was the women's basketball coach, 1980-89).
  • Dr. Lee J. Tressel Scholarship (in honor of Dr. Lee Tressel '48, who taught and was BW's football coach, 1957-80).
  • Hower-Stover Award (in honor of Dr. Marjorie Hower, who was a professor at BW, 1947-80, and Myrta Stover, who coached and taught at BW, 1943-68).

ALUMNI SUCCESS

Although the physical activity and recreation administration major will enroll its first class in Fall 2019, BW has a rich history of student success through the Department of Allied Health, Sport and Wellness. At Baldwin Wallace, you'll experience personal and professional growth in a supportive community that challenges and inspires you to succeed.

Kevin JohnsonKevin Johnson '14 is physical education teacher and defensive backs coach for the varsity football team at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. He was formerly sprint coach at Magnificat High School. Kevin holds six BW track records and earned two national champion titles in the 2014 Division III Track & Field Championships.

Brian Fox headshotBrian Fox '11 is head football coach at Elyria Catholic Highschool in Ohio. As an undergraduate at BW, he served as assistant coach of the Yellow Jackets for two years. He was recently named Division V Coach of the Year. Brian is from Huron, Ohio.

Taylor RothTaylor Roth '11 is assistant men's basketball coach at New York University. He has coached collegiately since graduation, previously holding assistant coaching positions at Bluffton University, Alfred University and BW. Taylor earned an MBA in sport and fitness administration/management from Bluffton University.

Natalie WinkelfoosNatalie Winkelfoos '03 is Delta Lodge director of athletics and physical education at Oberlin College in Ohio. She served on the North Coast Athletic Conference diversity committee and helped develop Oberlin College's varsity student-athlete transgender inclusion policy. Women in Sports and Events has called her an industry influencer.

FACULTY

Cory Beaumont

Assistant Professor
Ph.D., The University of Tennessee

Cory Beaumont

Jaimy M. Dyer

Program Director, M.S. in Exercise Physiology
Ph.D., The Ohio State University

Jaimy M. Dyer

Megan Frank

Associate Professor
Ph.D., Kent State University

Megan Frank

Wendy Hyde

Assistant Professor
M.Ed., Springfield College

Wendy Hyde

Amy Jo Sutterluety

Chair, Department of Allied Health, Sport and Wellness
Ph.D., The Ohio State University

Amy Jo Sutterluety

Full-Time Faculty

Amy Jo Sutterluety
Chair, Department of Allied Health, Sport and Wellness
Professor
Ph.D., The Ohio State University

Jaimy M. Dyer
Program Director, M.S. in Exercise Physiology
Professor
Ph.D., The Ohio State University

Cory Beaumont
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., The University of Tennessee

Megan Frank
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Kent State University

Karyn Gentile
Associate Professor
Assistant Athletic Trainer
M.S., Syracuse University

Wendy Hyde
Assistant Professor
M.Ed., Springfield College

Alexander Morgan
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee