Skip to main content
Intellect

Physical Education Department at BYU to become Exercise Sciences

Brigham Young University's Physical Education Department is in the process of changing its name to Exercise Sciences in order to better reflect all emphases within the department.

The name change will be reflected in the class schedules by winter semester 2005 and in the class catalog by fall semester 2005.

Of the four emphases with the department, part of the College of Health and Human Performance, only the physical education teaching emphasis focused on teacher preparation, said Diane Chamberlain, Exercise Science Department chair.

"Physical education has traditionally meant teacher preparation for those going into teaching in the public schools," she said. "Exercise science better reflects and is more inclusive of all emphases rather than just physical education."

In addition to physical education, the other emphases are athletic training, exercise science and fitness and wellness. The physical education teaching emphasis is the smallest of the four. The department is comprised of about 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

The name change culminates a two-year process in which the department researched the names of other similar departments at universities across the United States and held meetings and discussions on the issue.

After the research and discussion, the department voted on the name change, which was also approved by the college and university curriculum, the BYU administration and the Board of Trustees.

Chamberlain noted the name change will not affect other aspects of the curriculum.

"We're not changing anything except the name," she said. "Our objectives for each emphasis remain the same."

As part of the change, all 100-level activity classes required for general education requirements--such as beginning volleyball, basketball and tennis--will be listed in the Exercise Science Department beginning winter semester 2005.

The classes were formerly listed in the Physical Education Department.

For more information, call Diane Chamberlain at (801) 422-3341.

Writer: Thomas Grover

Related Articles

data-content-type="article"

Wildflowers not wildfires: How BYU and Provo City are helping to restore Rock Canyon Trailhead

July 10, 2025
At Rock Canyon Trailhead in Provo, Utah, BYU researchers are fighting fires with flowers. By replacing a problematic weed called cheatgrass with wildflowers, students and faculty are working to protect and restore one of Provo’s most popular hiking spots.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Wildfires in residential areas are on the rise; why hydrants and the water system behind them were never meant to stop those fires

July 01, 2025
BYU professor Rob Sowby teaches and studies environmental engineering, urban water infrastructure and sustainability. He has particular expertise in the planning, design, construction and operation of public water systems. That expertise has been increasingly important (and regularly sought out) in the wake of apocalyptic wildfires that have taxed those public water systems.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Meet the BYU math student helping make wildfire predictions faster and smarter

June 25, 2025
Using machine learning and math, a BYU student improved a key tool firefighters rely on during wildfire season
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText=