Physical Education 

Meet the Faculty | Departmental Information Sheets

Academic Program
Instruction in the Emory & Henry Physical Education Department is distinctive for several reasons. First is our commitment to a well-rounded liberal arts education. We believe that students who gain wide exposure to history, literature, and culture have the potential to show the greatest leadership and management skills in physical education teaching, coaching, athletic training, sport management, recreation, or any other chosen area of physical education.

A second commitment is to instill in our students the motivation to condition mind and body and to relate knowledge and experience in achieving lifetime wellness.

Third, we believe students need to understand the major underlying issues in the field while also gaining specific experience. In class, students grapple with significant issues in areas such as medical rehabilitation, liability, wellness, and ethical behavior. Outside class, many forms of hands-on experience are available for teaching practical applications.

Degree Program
Students majoring in physical education at Emory & Henry may earn a B.A. or B.S. degree. The department offers a general major and four specific majors: Teacher Preparation, Physical Education, Sport Management, and Athletic Training. Teacher preparation majors work with public school students in a variety of settings culminating in the
student teaching experience. Physical Education majors prepare to enhance wellness, fitness and sport oppportunities for youth and adults.

The Sport Management major prepares students for business-related careers in the sport field. Sport management majors choose from a variety of on- and off-campus internship opportunities.

The Athletic Training Education major is designed to prepare students for entry level positions in athletic  training. Athletic training majors observe and assist the athletic trainers in preventive and rehabilitative care in both a clinical and athletic training room setting.Other courses that combine well with a physical education major include business management, psychology, chemistry, biology, mass communications and sociology.

Facilities
The King Health and Physical Education Center serves as the focal point for the Physical Education Department and the varsity sports program at Emory & Henry. Having undergone a $2 million addition in 2000, the King Center features a 2,200-seat gymnasium used extensively for basketball and volleyball, a junior Olympic swimming pool, the state-of-the-art Gibson Fitness Center, two handball courts, areas for training, locker rooms, classrooms, offices, and the Porterfield Lounge.
 
Other campus athletic facilities are the Fred Selfe Stadium, DeVault Baseball Field, the Richardson Tennis Courts, an outdoor beach volleyball court, measured fitness trails, disc golf course, and a nine-hole Charles Lynch Golf Links. A renovated Martin-Brock Student Center provides an additional gymnasium, a game room, and two wellness areas.

Career Options
The career programs of study in the Physical Education Department at Emory & Henry may prepare you to become a coach, teacher, athletic trainer, or a business leader. Students also prepare for graduate study in physical therapy and for varied types of work in settings such as municipal recreation departments, retirement communities, fitness centers, resort areas, and hospitals.

Those seeking graduate course work in athletic training, teaching, counseling, sport management, or administration have continued their studies at East Tennessee State University, Indiana University, Radford University, Ohio University, the University of Tennessee, the University of Virginia, Duke University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Alumni
Eric Coley, ’04, physical therapy doctoral program, Duke University, Abingdon Therapy Services, Abingdon, Va.

Brittany Benefield, ’07, physical therapist, Shenandoah

Kari Arnold, ’07, athletic trainer, Radford High School

Mark Arrington, ’02, physical education teacher and coach, Charlottesville, Va.
   
Kelly Smith Housewright, ’02, teacher and basketball coach, Gate City , Va.
   
Jamie Harris, ’98, special education teacher, Richmond, Va.

D.C. Cobler, ’95, athletic training program director, Emory & Henry College, Emory, Va.

Korey Townsend, ’07, sports adminstration program, East Tennessee State University.

Doug Reavis, ’90, director, Carroll Wellness Center, Hillsville, Va.

Faculty
Department Chair
Beverly Sheddan Hatch, bshatch@ehc.edu
B.A., Emory & Henry College; M.Ed., East Tennessee State University. Professional interests: Adapted physical education, recreation, wellness.

Rebecca Buchanan, rbuchanan@ehc.edu       
B.S., University of North Carolina: M.S., Ph.D., University of Tennessee. Professional Interests: Sociology of sports, wellness of children.

Dennis Cobler, dccobler@ehc.edu
B.A., Emory & Henry College; M.A. and Ed.D., East Tennessee State University. Athletic training program director.

Beth Funkhouser, bfunkhouser@ehc.edu
M.Ed., University of Virginia. Certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS).

Joy Scruggs, jscruggs@ehc.edu
B.S. and M.S., University of Tennessee. Professional interests: Health and wellness, swimming and international sports.

Major Checklists
Athletic Training
PHED Major
PHED Sports Mgt.