Effective today, the College of Education has a new name: the College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences (CESHS).
While the name has changed to reflect the college’s various programs, each of these programs has had a transformative legacy, some dating back more than a century.
“Our college has a deep legacy of excellence, and we are proud of the impact our programs have had for generations,” dean Karen Thomas-Brown said. “At the same time, we are looking ahead, embracing innovation, and preparing our students to meet the evolving needs of education, sport, and human sciences.”
The new name was announced earlier during a WSU Board of Regents meeting. In the coming months, the CESHS plans to feature each of its programs and show more of their respective impact on the college’s new website.
Education
Teacher education began at WSU in 1907. Ten years later, education was its own school. In May 1962, Cleveland Hall was opened and when the new academic year began in the fall, the school became the College of Education.
Since that time, WSU has become a leader in teacher education, not only preparing elementary and secondary teachers, but in educational leaders such as superintendents and principals. The College also administers the statewide doctor of education program.
Sport
This fall marks the 40th anniversary of the sport management program. Its origins are generally seen as coming out of the physical education program. The sport management founders were PE instructors (with Ph.Ds.), coaches of women’s teams, and administrators of women’s sports before men and women had athletic departments merged. This included women’s sports advocate and scholar Joanne Washburn, who was instrumental in building the program.
Current program chair Tammy Crawford said while the program has always educated students about the business aspects of sports, that was never at the core of the program’s values.
“The foundation of the sport management program has always been education, as well as intersection of sport and personal growth or personal development,” she said. “The program also educates students about the impact of sport as part of society.”
Alumni work in professional and college sports, athletic representation agencies, community-based sports, esports, and sporting goods and apparel fields.
Human Sciences
“Human sciences is a vital part of the new name because it covers programs like athletic training and kinesiology where the subject of study is the human being, not just in a mechanical sense, but also in emotional, psychological, and social dimensions,” Thomas-Brown said.
From the athletic training program’s beginning in 1974, its focus has been on comprehensive healthcare for active individuals. “This has always included injury prevention and emergency care, to rehabilitation and performance enhancement, all while having mental health at the forefront,” program chair Kasee Hildenbrand said.
In the fall, the AT program celebrated its 50th anniversary and had more than 100 alumni in attendance. That alumni base includes Jim Whitsel, the first Washington State Athletic Training Association president, as well as a longtime Seattle Seahawks trainer. Additionally, Jody Treadway was the first female athletic trainer at WSU.
Hildenbrand began with the program in 2006 and said that since that time, more than 70 percent of graduates are still certified as athletic trainers. But, for her, the real focus of the program has been on advancing the whole person.
“Our goal has always been to graduate good human beings, and if they happen to be great athletic trainers, that’s extra,” she said.
Like sport management, the kinesiology program also has early ties back to physical education.
Kinesiology is the study of human movement. Industry research has helped provide a better understanding how babies develop movement, improved athletic performance, reducing workplace injuries, giving new options to people with movement challenges, and helping older adults stay active and live longer.
“It’s important to understand that kinesiology isn’t just for athletes — human movement touches every part of life,” program chair Robert Catena said. “From helping people recover from injury to improving public health through exercise, the science of movement helps individuals thrive and communities grow stronger.”
