Leading toward a healthier tomorrow by cultivating confident and competent health,
fitness, and recreation professionals who enhance the health and well-being of people
and communities.
Welcome to the Department of Health, Physical Education & Recreation (HPER), the most
active department on UAA’s campus. HPER is committed to excellence in offering courses
related to physiology, biomechanics, and motor control/development. Our professional
programs prepare students for leadership roles in health and fitness, physical education,
kinesiology, and recreation fields. Our recreational courses offer the opportunity to
learn new skills, reduce stress, meet people, and stay active.
Taking courses toward the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, students will explore principles of physical activity, exercise science, recreation
and wellness. Courses focus on leadership development, research-based practices, and
experiential learning through community engagement. The program is recognized as a gold-level campus for Exercise is Medicine by the American College of Sports Medicine, and the practicum and internship experiences increase the ability to compete for jobs in growing
fields such as therapeutic recreation, exercise science, and wellness.
Two minors are available to help you personalize your education based on your interests
and career goals: Minor in Athletic Training and Minor in Outdoor Leadership.
In addition to offering two minors, the Department of HPER also offers a concentration
in therapeutic recreation for students who wish to pursue a career as a recreational
therapist with the necessary courses and experiences. At its core, therapeutic recreation
is a healthcare field focused on improving the quality of life for people who may
have experienced a significant or life-changing injury, or who may be living with
a disability that changes the way they are able to participate in leisure and recreation.
The concentration in therapeutic recreation includes specific psychology courses,
anatomy and physiology, and six courses specific to therapeutic recreation; all of
which fit within the BS in Kinesiology degree requirements.
You will find that the Department of HPER is a very exciting department offering a
wealth of challenging and exciting learning experiences both inside and outside the
classroom.
As a neonatal nurse practitioner at Providence Alaska Children’s Hospital and adjunct faculty member for the UAA School of Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice alumna and graduate student hooding ceremony speaker for the fall Class of 2025 Stacy Brunquist weaves education into everything she does — training new caregivers, guiding parents learning to care for their newborns, and sharing knowledge with professionals from Utqiaġvik to Sitka.
Master of Nursing Education and Leadership student Wendy DeGraffenried reflects on her educational and professional journey. As a school nurse and adjunct instructor, Wendy found her passion in mentoring other nursing professionals – something that she hopes to carry forward with her as she starts a new chapter.
School of Nursing alumna Kristen Alcorn turned clinical expertise into entrepreneurial success. In this spotlight, Kristen shares a few of the experiences that shaped her journey in nursing, the things she loves about her job, and how her education at UAA helped her achieve her goals.
SON student Angelene Ketah is dedicated to serving Alaska Native communities while proudly representing her culture on the world stage through roller derby.
