Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to footer content

About Health, Physical Education, and Recreation

The Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER) program at Independence Community College provides students with a foundational education in human health, wellness, fitness, and sports. This interdisciplinary degree combines classroom learning with hands-on experience in areas such as physical education, athletic training, personal health, and sports management. Students explore key topics like injury prevention, nutrition, wellness, and behavioral health, preparing them for careers that promote physical activity and well-being in a variety of settings.

Why ICC?

The program is ideal for students pursuing transfer to a four-year institution or preparing for entry-level positions in fitness, coaching, recreation, or health-related services. With a broad-based curriculum and flexible electives, graduates gain the knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in schools, community programs, health organizations, and beyond.

Students graduating with a degree in HPR will:   
  1. Demonstrate information literacy through the gathering of health-related statistics and applying them to real-world experiences.  
  2. Exercise effective written communication in the expression of one’s personal health journey and to demonstrate an understanding of health-related components of physical fitness.    
  3. Analyze connections between various wellness dimensions and one’s personal experiences.   

Explore the Degree Map to see how you can complete your degree in just two years.

  • Personal Trainer
  • Wellness Coach
  • Recreation Leader
  • Fitness Center Assistant
  • Youth Sports Coach
  • Physical Education Assistant
  • Health Promotion Assistant

Apply Now