Physical Education and Recreation

Drawing upon concepts that include human anatomy, physiology, and behavioral processes, this degree prepares you for a career in a number of fields related to exercise, fitness, and athletics.

• Explore key physical education concepts as you build fundamental skills in critical thinking and creative problem solving.
• Take physical education courses in a variety of fields like kinesiology, exercise and nutrition, aquatics, dance, weight training, body conditioning, self-defense, and cardiovascular fitness.
• Consider careers in fitness and personal training, nutrition and exercise, sports officiating, adaptive physical education, and more.
• Develop the passion for healthy living and well-being of others that is essential to a physical education career.

If you’re planning to complete a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology or a similar major at a CSU campus, the Associate of Arts for Transfer (AA-T) is for you. When you’ve completed the AA-T you’ll be given priority consideration for admission to CSU, but not to a particular campus or major.

• Build a foundation for the study of diverse dimensions of exercise science, sport, and movement studies.
• Explore a variety of kinesiology fields, such as adapted physical education, athletic training, coaching, exercise science, fitness specialist, kinesiotherapy, and teaching.
• Experience instructional programs that utilize learning in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains.
• Develop competencies that will allow you to solve problems in exercise science, design exercise programs, and evaluate movement skills and strategies.
• Learn how to sustain regular, lifelong wellness/fitness as the basis for a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life.

El Camino’s recreation degree program puts you on the right track for a career in recreation and leisure management. Whether your passion is outdoor recreation, sports management, or the hospitality industry, you’ll be ready to start a career following graduation or to continue your education at another college or university. It’s an accessible, affordable path to a rewarding, in-demand career.

• Acquire the historical, philosophical, and theoretical foundations of recreation.
• Apply administrative, leadership, planning, supervision, and counseling skills in diverse commercial, municipal, and camp recreation settings.
• Develop organizational skills and competency in solving problems within recreation and leisure program design.
• Consider careers in sports management, therapeutic recreation, outdoor recreation, and tourism and hospitality management.

The Recreation Aquatics Specialist Certificate of Achievement provides students with knowledge, ability and skills in the field of recreation with specialization in aquatics.

• Develop the ability to plan, coordinate, schedule and instruct a variety of programs specific to aquatics and recreation.
• Obtain certification in Basic First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Lifesaving, and Water Safety Instruction (WSI).
• Gain the necessary aquatics certification and knowledge needed for employment in occupations such as lifeguarding, pool management and instruction of recreational aquatic courses.

If you’re interested in finding entry-level employment as an athletic coach, the Athletic Coaching Certificate of Accomplishment is for you. You can also build on the foundation this certificate creates by expanding your studies into a degree in kinesiology or transferring to a university.

• Develop your expertise in athletic coaching through courses in kinesiology, physical education, athletics, and nutrition.
• Prepare yourself to coach a variety of sports and fitness programs.
• Learn the basics of training and fitness, prevention of injuries, nutrition, and the fundamental skills of the sport in your area of emphasis.
• Equip yourself with skills needed for employment as a sport coach at the high school, collegiate, recreational, and club levels.

If you’re interested in finding entry-level employment as a fitness trainer, the Fitness Trainer Certificate of Accomplishment is for you. You can also build on the foundation this certificate creates by expanding your studies into a degree in kinesiology or transferring to a university.

• Develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities you need to become a certified personal trainer or a group fitness instructor.
• Prepare yourself for employment in settings such as fitness studios, gyms, and community fitness programs.
• Learn the basics of training and fitness, prevention of injuries, nutrition, and weight training and conditioning.

El Camino College’s certificate of accomplishment in recreation leadership prepares you for entry-level work in a recreation leadership role and to continue your education toward transfer and a degree in kinesiology/physical education.

• Develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities you need to become a leader in the recreation, parks, tourism and hospitality industries.
• Prepare yourself for employment in settings such as sports venues, ski resorts, camps, theme parks, golf courses, and more.
• Learn the basics of first aid and kinesiology, recreation and recreational leadership, and sports officiating.