Dr. Yung-Ju 'Ruth' Chen
Assistant Professor
Office: Swain 108C
Email: ruth.chen@minotstateu.edu
Phone: 701-858-3277
Education
Ph.D. Kinesiology, The Ohio State University
Specialization: Physical Education Teacher Education, Motor Development
M.Ed. Physical Education, National Taiwan Normal University
Specialization: Adapted Physical Education, Physical Education Teacher Education, Olympic Education
B.Ed. Physical Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University
Specialization: Secondary School Physical Education
Courses Taught at MSU
KIN100 Concepts of Fitness and Wellness
KIN 215 Methods of Teaching Sport Activities
ED 260 Educational Psychology
KIN 301 Psychomotor Development
KIN 310 Organization and Administration in PE & Athletics
KIN 340 Elementary Methods and Activities
KIN 341 Practicum for Elementary Physical Education
KIN 442 Adapted Physical Education
KIN 550 Research Methods and Analyses in Sports
KIN 595 Capstone Experience
Dr. Ruth Chen earned her doctoral degree at the Ohio State University before joining Minot State. She was a graduate teaching associate in the physical education teacher education program during her doctoral studies. She taught and supervised pre-service physical education teachers in elementary physical education content and methods classes and coordinated the motor development and adapted physical education labs. Dr. Chen also earned the endorsements of curriculum design and inclusive teaching from the University Institute of Teaching and Learning at OSU.
Dr. Chen has a wide range of research interests. Her research primarily focuses on fundamental movement interventions in early childhood, physical education teacher education, and elementary school children’s physical activity and sedentary behavior on the school playground. Dr. Chen enjoys collaborating with scholars from different disciplines, educators, and undergraduate and graduate students. Her work has been presented at local, national, and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
During her time at Minot State, Dr. Chen has served on multiple committees at the university and in the profession, including co-chairing the Faculty Research Committee at Minot State and the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee at The North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA). She also serves as a consultant and reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals and professional organizations.
Ruth earned her master’s degree in physical education with an emphasis in adapted physical education at National Taiwan Normal University. During her master’s study, she worked with people with disabilities from age 2 to 65 in physical activity and education settings, including special education schools, university service-learning programs, early intervention centers, and community-based daycare centers for adults with disabilities. Her master’s thesis explored the curriculum development process of adapted physical education in higher education. Ruth also spent a summer at the International Olympic Academy, attending the postsecondary sports education program, and a semester at Korea University as an exchange student. While in South Korea, she volunteered at the adapted physical activity programs at Seoul Nation University and Gachon University (Medical campus).
Ruth is originally from Kaohsiung, Taiwan. She went to National Kaohsiung Normal University for her bachelor’s degree in secondary physical education. While being trained to be a secondary physical education teacher, Ruth also worked at World Gym and other fitness centers as an indoor cycling and Les Mills Body Balance instructor and refereed volleyball at local and national levels.
