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Welcome

School of Physical Education, Performance and Sport Leadership

Through the School of Physical Education, Performance, and Sport Leadership, you’ll be prepared to help shape the world of health and wellness. We offer majors in the study of physical and health education, including applied exercise science, nutritional sciences, athletic training, physical education, recreation management, and sport management.

If your goal is a career in sport, wellness, physical education, nutrition, exercise science, athletic training or recreational activities, then Springfield College School of Physical Education, Performance, and Sport Leadership will prepare you to excel.

School Mission
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Challenge & support students, Cultivate Leaders, Forster meaningful relationships, engage students in building knowledge and skills

The mission of Physical Education, Performance, and Sport Leadership is to steward the Humanics Philosophy by engaging students in building knowledge and skills to navigate their future by challenging and supporting their growth, fostering meaningful relationships and cultivating leaders.

School Majors

Our major field of study – applied exercise science, athletic training, athletic leadership, exercise physiology, physical education, health education, adventure education, sports management, strength and conditioning, sport and exercise psychology, and recreation management – are nationally and internationally recognized as among the leading professional programs in the United States. All of our programs are accredited and/or approved by the appropriate national organizations or government agencies. Although each major is unique and prepares students to enter a variety of professions, they all have a deep theoretical foundation augmented by significant real-world experiences built into the curricula. Many of the majors require at least two practical experiences, including a full semester internship, fieldwork or student teaching.

Real World Experience

We have placed student interns with ESPN, the New England Patriots, the Boston Celtics, Disney World, Boston Children’s Hospital, Connecticut PGA, Cooper Aerobic Institute, the Buffalo Bills, Stowe Mountain Resort, National Park Service, the universities of Tennessee, Texas, Auburn, and Massachusetts, YMCAs, and with many other sites. A large majority of our graduates secured their first jobs because of their exceptional performance in these high-quality learning experiences. We place student teachers within a 90-mile radius of the College for supervision and Massachusetts teacher licensing purposes. Springfield College’s eminence in sport, wellness, physical education, nutrition, exercise science, athletic training and recreation is the result of:

  1. Excellent design of our programs
  2. Commitment and dedication of our expert faculty
  3. High quality of our students
  4. Competency and achievement of our alumni

If you’re up to the challenge of top-quality professional preparation at a truly prestigious institution, we’d like to hear from you. Thank you for your interest in the School of Physical Education, Performance, and Sport Leadership. Please let us know if we can assist you in any way.

East Campus

Outdoor adventure programs have become one of today’s most valuable resources for team-building, managerial training, and goal-oriented growth. Despite being a large city, Springfield is home to an exceptional outdoor learning center, and some pretty great people, too! The East Campus Outdoor Learning Center supports the programs of Springfield College through purposefully designed experiential learning opportunities in an out-of-doors setting with educational, recreation, business, and therapeutic groups.

Learn more about East Campus

East Campus Canoe

American Kinesiology Association Membership

The School of Physical Education, Performance and Sport Leadership is a member of the American Kinesiology Association.

An advocate for kinesiology at the national and international levels, the American Kinesiology Association supports educational opportunities in the fields of exercise science and sport studies, health education and physical education, and sport management and recreation management.

Recent News

As a team, the Springfield College Applied Exercise Science students also earned first place in the Applied Exercise Science major's College Bowl, which consists of colleges competing in jeopardy style competition against more than 20 other institutions throughout New England. They will be competing at the National American College of Sports Medicine College Bowl competition in May of 2020 in San Francisco.
Springfield College Students and Faculty Earn Accolades at New England American College of Sports Medicine Conference

The Springfield College Exercise Science Program was recently well represented at the New England American College of Sports Medicine (NEACSM) Conference with multiple Springfield College students and faculty being recognized with scholarships and awards.

Panelists included Rich Linley, a Springfield College Sport Management student, Kyle Magoffin, an administrator and coach at Mahar Regional High School, Alan Ritacco, the dean of the School of Design and Technology at Becker College, and Ariel Rodriguez, the program director of recreation management at Springfield College.
Sport Management and Recreation Graduate Program Presents Forum on eSports in the College Setting

Sponsored by the Springfield College Sport Management and Recreation Graduate Program, a forum about eSports in the college setting was presented on Wednesday, November 20. A discussion on the fast growing phenomenon in the world of competitive video gaming, this forum consisted of four panelists examining how eSports can be integrated in the college setting.

Doctoral student Longxi Li and Dr. Oliver Rick present their research at a conference
Sport Management Professionals from Springfield College Present Research at National Conference

Dr. Oliver Rick, Assistant Professor of Sport Management and Doctoral Student Longxi Li presented their research at the 2019 North American Society for the Sociology of Sport Conference in Virginia Beach, VA. Their research was entitled - Global Sport and Contemporary China: Tennis Culture and the formation of Identity. 

Jasmin Hutchinson wins award
Springfield College Professor Earns Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology Paper of the Year Award

Springfield College Associate Professor of Exercise Science and Sport Studies and Director for Sport and Exercise Psychology Jasmin Hutchinson recently had her article titled “The influence of self-selected music on affect-regulated exercise intensity and remembered pleasure during treadmill running,” selected as the Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology (SEPP) Paper of the Year for 2018.

group photo with Kristine Lilly
Springfield College Hosts U.S. Women’s Soccer Legend Kristine Lilly and Author on the History of U.S. Women’s Soccer Jeffrey Gerson

The Springfield College School of Physical Education, Performance, and Sport Leadership welcomed U.S. women’s soccer legend Kristine Lilly, and University of Massachusetts Lowell Associate Professor of Political Science Jeffrey Gerson to campus to discuss the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and the Fight for Gender Equity, at Springfield College.

At left, Springfield College School of Physical Education, Performance and Sport Leadership Dean Tracey Matthews and 2019 Peter V. Karpovich keynote speaker Judith Rink
Springfield College Hosts 2019 Peter V. Karpovich Lecture

The Springfield College School of Physical Education, Performance and Sport Leadership presented the 2019 Peter V. Karpovich Lecture featuring physical education and health education expert Judy Rink, distinguished professor emeritus at the University of South Carolina.