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.

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.