The discipline, Physical Education as an academic subject thrived in the Faculty of Education from 1968/1969 to 1972/1973 academic sessions. The Senate of the University later constituted the unit into a separate Institute (Institute of Physical Education) outside Faculty of Education with its own Academic Board of Studies. During 1975/1976 academic session, the institute became an integral part of the Faculty of Education. When Obafemi Awolowo University Sports Council was created in 1996, the Institute was purely responsible for academic programme.
This change prompted the new designation of Department of Physical and Health Education. Currently, all the students in the Department pursue a B.A. Ed. (Physical and Health Education) degree. Three other new programmes: B. Ed. (Health Education); B. Sc. (Physical and Health Education) and B. Ed. (Physical Education) were approved by the Senate to be run in the Department.