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WVU Morgantown

School of Sport Sciences

  • Overview
  • Administration
  • Faculty

Degrees Offered

  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Science

Students in athletic training, coaching and performance science, physical education and kinesiology, sport and exercise psychology, and sport management examine the relationship of play, games, sport, athletics, fitness, and dance to our culture and cultures throughout the world. Their preparation includes the acquisition of knowledge and skills from a vast array of movement activities in addition to an understanding of associated physiological, biomechanical, sociological, psychological, historical, philosophical, and pedagogical principles.

Athletic training graduates often work in high school, college, professional, and health/medical facilities to help treat and prevent injury.  Coaching and performance science graduates are employed as coaches, strength and conditioning specialists or applied sport scientists, and work in the health and fitness industry.  Graduates in physical education and kinesiology are generally employed in educational, community, and private organizations as health and/or physical education teachers, sport instructors and/or physical activity specialists. Graduates in sport and exercise psychology and sport management are employed with professional and collegiate sport enterprises, fitness centers, recreation programs, sporting goods stores, or commercial sporting goods manufacturers, or pursue graduate training. 

Physical Education Basic Instruction

Physical education classes are open to all students at the University.  A wide variety of team, individual, and leisure sports and recreational activities are offered. The motto of the Basic Instruction Program is "Play to be fit, and be fit to play" so the aims of the program are to develop:

  • An appreciation of the body and its capacity to move
  • Movement skills of games and sport
  • An appreciation of the value of continued activity throughout all age periods in an individual’s life
  • An understanding of the cultural significance of sport
  • Concepts of the physiological characteristics of sport and movement

All courses numbered PE 101–293 are at a beginner’s level unless otherwise specified.  Repeating an activity is not allowed except at a more advanced level.


Administration

School Director

  • Dana Voelker - Ph.D. (Michigan State University)

Associate Director

  • Andrea Taliaferro - Ph.D. (University of Virginia)

Faculty

Professors

  • Gonzalo Bravo - Ph.D. (The Ohio State University)
    Sport Management
  • Sean Bulger - Ed.D. (West Virginia University)
    Physical Education and Kinesiology
  • Damien Clement - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
    Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology
  • Kristen Dieffenbach - Ph.D. (University of North Carolina - Greensboro)
    Coaching and Performance Science
  • Peter Giacobbi - Ph.D. (University of Tennessee)
    Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology
  • Sam Zizzi - Ed.D. (West Virginia University)
    Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology

Associate professors

  • Jeanette Garcia - Ph.D. (University of Virginia)
    Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology
  • Cindy Lee - Ph.D. (The Ohio State University)
    Sport Management
  • Dana Voelker - Ph.D. (Michigan State University)
    Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology
  • Valerie Wayda - Ed.D. (West Virginia University)
    Coaching and Performance Science

Assistant professors

  • Ashley Coker-Cranney - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
    Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology
  • William (Guy) Hornsby III - Ph.D. (East Tennessee State University)
    Coaching and Performance Science
  • Emi Tsuda - Ph.D. (The Ohio State University)
    Physical Education and Kinesiology
  • James Wyant - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
    Physical Education and Kinesiology

Service professor

  • Eloise Elliott - Ph.D. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)
    Physical Education and Kinesiology

Teaching associate professor

  • Gary Lhotsky - Ed.D. (Florida State University)
    Sport Management

Teaching assistant professors

  • Patrick Hairston - Ed.D. (Delaware State University)
    Sport Management
  • Peter McGahey - Ed.D. (Minnesota State University - Mankato)
    Coaching and Performance Science
  • David Rice - Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh)
    Coaching and Performance Science
  • Michael Ryan - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
    Coaching and Performance Science
  • Justin Wartella - Ph.D. (University of Nevada - Las Vegas)
    Sport Management
  • Joni Williamson - Ed.D. (East Tennessee State University)
    Sport Management

Professors emeriti

  • William Alsop
  • Dana Brooks
  • J. William Douglas
  • Edward Etzel, Jr.
  • Andrew Hawkins
  • Lynn Housner
  • Andrew Ostrow
  • Robert Wiegand

Associate professors emeriti

  • Dallas Branch
  • Linda Carson
  • Bruce Wilmoth
  • Daniel Ziatz
  • School of Counseling and Well-​being
  • School of Education
  • School of Sport Sciences
    • Coaching and Performance Science
    • Health and Well-​being
    • Physical Education and Kinesiology
    • Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology
    • Sport Leadership
    • Sport Management
  • Multidisciplinary Studies

WVU Morgantown

Undergraduate Catalog Information

  • Academic Standards
  • Admissions
  • Advising, Enrollment and Grades
  • Calendar
  • Co-​Curricular Programs
  • Courses
  • Degree Regulations
  • FERPA
  • Financial Aid
  • Minors
  • Programs, Courses and Credits
  • Tuition, Fees and Residency
  • Undergraduate Certificates
  • Veterans

Office of the University Registrar
P.O. Box 6878
Morgantown, WV 26506
Email: registrar@mail.wvu.edu
Phone: 304-293-5355

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