Vision and Mission

Our Mission

The Appalachian State University Health and Physical Education (HPE) program provides a comprehensive, innovative educational experience that is grounded in the synergy of teaching, scholarship and service.

The HPE program aims to graduate learned physical education teachers who are:

  • Capable of and committed to improving school-aged children's health and wellness;
  • Prepared to assume the challenging role of 21st century educators.

Graduates of HPE program will:

  • Be licensed K-12 Health and Physical Education Teachers;
  • Be competen instructors, ethical leaders, and reflective practitioners committed to lifelong professional development;
  • Employ empirically validated planning, instruction and assessment behaviors;
  • Own the ability to impact school-aged children's health and wellness in positive, meaningful, and sustainable ways; and
  • Work to resolve, in a proactive, collaborative and responsible fashion, community, state, and national health issues.

Our Vision

The Appalachian State University Health and Physical Education (HPE) program aspires to be the premier health and physical education teacher training program in the nation.

Our Goals

The HPE program goals are aligned with the HPE program mission and are organized around six critical themes representing what majors should know and be able to do upon completing the program.

  • Scientific and Theoretical Knowledge: Graduates know and apply discipline-specific scientific and theoretical concepts critical to the development of physically educated individuals.
  • Skill-Based and Fitness-Based Competence: Graduates are physically literate individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to demonstrate competent movement performance and health-enhancing fitness as delineated in the NASPE K-12 Standards.
  • Planning and Implementation: Graduates plan and implement developmentally appropriate learning experiences aligned with local, state and national standards to address the diverse needs of all students.
  • Instructional Delivery and Management: Graduates use effective communication and pedagogical skills and strategies to enhance student engagement and learning.
  • Impact on Student Learning: Graduates use assessments and reflection to foster student learning and inform decisions about instruction.
  • Professionalism: Graduates demonstrate dispositions essential to becoming effective professionals.