Department of Health, Exercise Science and Sport Management
The department of Health, Exercise Science and Sport Management (HESM) offers majors in either sport or fitness management as well as certificates in coaching, sport management or wellness. In addition, the curriculum provides education in lifetime wellness and a variety of lifetime sport activities stressing awareness, knowledge and skills to promote lifelong wellness and improved quality of life. The certificates are designed to supplement an existing major with career-specific course work and enhance employment opportunities. The lifetime wellness curriculum and the new Wellness Center provide the necessary knowledge and experience to develop a personal fitness/wellness program leading to greater lifelong health and wellness.
The sport curriculum stresses individual proficiency and fundamental skills. Courses stress preparation for a healthy and productive life, recreational values and the learning of skills for continuation of activity into later life. In team-type activities, familiarization with strategy and advanced skills also will be taught. Further development of individual skills can be obtained in the recreation, club sport, and intercollegiate programs.
The Sports and Activity Center houses HESM and its curriculum and recreation and athletic programs. The facility opened in the fall of 2000 and consists of both new and remodeled spaces. Indoor space includes a gymnasium and fieldhouse containing tennis, volleyball, badminton and basketball courts as well as a 200-meter track. In addition there are classrooms, a weight room, dance studio, racquetball courts, multi-purpose room, combatives room, Wellness Center, eight-lane pool, and equipment room. Outdoor space includes eight soccer fields, baseball diamond, Case Softball Complex, 400-meter, all-weather track, six tennis courts, and cross country course.
The athletic program provides intercollegiate competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA II) and is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), with member schools in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and Wisconsin. UWParkside offers athletic scholarships with recipients determined by the head coaches of the various sports. Varsity programs are offered in:
- Men's and Women's Basketball
- Men's and Women's Cross Country
- Men's and Women's Soccer
- Men's and Women's Indoor and Outdoor Track
- Men's Golf
- Women's Volleyball
- Men's Wrestling
- Women's Softball
- Men's Baseball
UW-Parkside students have done well in national competition. In addition, more than 10 former UW-Parkside athletes have competed in the Olympic Games.
