Administration

The administration of the Department, from its foundation in 1983 up to 1992, has been carried out by appointed Professors from other Departments or University Schools, who were members of the Rector's council. In 1992-93 the first independently elected administration of the Department took over.

Previous Heads of Department

	1986-1987 Stavros Savidis Professor of the Department of Civil Engineering		1987-1988 Dimitrios Papadopoulos Professor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
	1988-1992 Giannis Panousis Professor of the Law School		1992 Asterios Liolios Professor of the Department of Civil Engineering
	1992-1994 & 2005-2006 Efthimios Kioumourtzoglou Professor of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science		1996-2000 & 2004-2005 Georgios Godolias Professor of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science
	2000-2004 Kyriakos Taxildaris Professor of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science		2006-2009 George Mavromatis Professor of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science
	2009-2012 Nikolaos Agelousis Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science		2013-2017  Maria Michalopoulos Professor of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science
	2017-today Douda Helen Professor of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science

General information

The Democritus University of Thrace was founded in June 1973 by means of Legislative Decree 87/27.71973 and began operating in the 1974-1975 academic year. It takes its name from Democritus, the ancient Greek philosopher who was born at the ancient city of Abdera in Thrace.

Administration of the Democritus University of Thrace is located in Komotini, capital city of the Region of Eastern Macedonia - Thrace. Today, the Democritus University of Thrace is comprised of two Faculties and eighteen Departments located in four cities; seven of those Departments are in Komotini, five in Xanthi, four in Alexandroupoli and two in Orestiada with a total student population of 19,000.

The Democritus University of Thrace plays a significant role in reinforcing the national and cultural identity of the area of Thrace. Thanks to the top class studies it provides, the quality of its teaching and excellent research conducted by its teaching and research staff, it has ensured a place for itself among the best universities in Greece.

Mission and degrees

The mission of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science encompasses the following main objectives:

- to cultivate and promote the Science of Physical Education and Sport through academic and applied teaching and research.
- to provide its graduates with adequate knowledge that will ensure their integrated proficiency for their scientific and professional career.
- to contribute to the development of sports in Greece and at the same time to cultivate and propagate the athletic ideal all over Greece.
- to raise public awareness regarding the importance of physical education as a crucial factor contributing to the improvement of their standard.

The offered degrees are:

1. The Department of Physical Education and Sports Science awards the relevant degree of Physical Education and Sports.
2. All issues relevant to the Academic procedures and requirements of the Undergraduate and Graduate programs of study are determined according to arrangements regarding relevant University Departments. The minimum numbers of semesters required for obtaining a degree is eight.
3. Graduates of the Department of Physical Education can undertake:
   a. The teaching of Physical Education and Sport Science in every level of education, in athletic clubs and in all relevant prossesional and social settings.
   b. The teaching of courses relevant to the science of Physical Education.