Thesis (Ed.D.)--Teachers College, Columbia University. / Typescript. Sponsor: H. A. Scott. Dissertation Committee: F. W. Cyr, J. L. Hutchinson, . Type C project. Includes bibliographical references.

"The purpose of this study is to make an investigation of the amount and type of recreation provided by the towns and communities in Eastland County, Texas, to determine the extent to which the recreation programs meet or fail to meet criteria for such community recreation programs." -- leaf 1

This study was to determine physical education program offerings at the junior colleges in Texas and to present them in such a manner that comparisons could be made between these programs and recommendations of the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

The problem was to identify the differences in attitudes toward physical activity of students and faculty within a health, physical education, and recreation professional preparation program.

The study conducted consisted of an interview with forty-eight varsity baseball coaches of the University Interscholastic League high schools within the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Overall the coaches were found to be a highly qualified group of physical educators. Findings of the study included data on the playing experience, coaching experience, and educational backgrounds of the coaches. Physical education/ coaching areas investigated included: 1) medical-legal, 2) sociological and psychological, 3) kinesiological, 4) physiological, and 5) theory and techniques of coaching. Recommendations included continued professional involvement of coaches, further studies on professional preparation, a course in legal liability, and implementation of a "coaching endorsement".

This study investigates different factors related to master's degree graduates 1965-1976 in Physical Education at North Texas State University in order to gain information about the master's degree program's relevance to the subsequent career. The findings of the study support the following conclusions: 1. Approximately two-thirds of the graduates thought the program had satisfactorily prepared them for their current positions. 2. Seventy per cent of the graduates suggested there should be a core of courses required in the master's degree program in physical education. The courses most often included in the responses regarding core courses were Research Perspective in Physical Education, Thesis, Mechanical Analysis of Motor Skills, Professional Preparation in Physical Education, Administrative Problems in Physical Education, and Testing in Physical Education. 3. The greatest strengths of the master's degree program in physical education at North Texas State University as reported by the graduates were faculty, research work for students, teaching resources and courses available. 4. The greatest weakness of the master's degree program in physical education at North Texas State University as indicated by the graduates was availability of facilities. 5. The majority of the graduates suggested the following: candidates should be free to select a variety of courses, should have the opportunity to select a specialized track, candidates should be involved in the procedures for preparation of degree plan, should increase physical education facilities and equipment, and should supplement the library in the department in order to facilitate research of relevant periodicals and journals.