The tradition of the Department of Physical Education and Sport at the Faculty of Education of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice dates back to the early 1950s when the Department of Physical Education was established at the then-Czech-Budějovice branch of the Faculty of Education of Charles University in Prague. Its official establishment took place on October 1, 1952. The establishment of this department followed the gradual inclusion of physical education into the teacher training program, particularly the opening of specialized study in physical education in 1948, which initially began with the establishment of a physical education cabinet. The establishment of the Department of Physical Education reflected significant attention given to physical education in higher education institutions at the time, as mandated by Law No. 58/1950 Coll. on Higher Education (paragraph 15) and indirectly influenced by the effect of Law No. 71/1952 Coll. on the organization of physical education and sports.

At that time, the specialized study in physical education was three years long, similar to the study of other teaching subjects. However, in the following academic year, starting from September 1953, there was a significant regression in the education of primary school teachers, as higher pedagogical schools were established instead of pedagogical faculties. Although their number increased, they resembled secondary schools in character. These schools educated teachers for the second level of primary schools, and their program lasted only two years. Even greater regression occurred in the education of teachers for the first level of primary schools, as higher education was abolished for them from the academic year 1950/1951 onwards, and their education continued only at four-year pedagogical gymnasiums. These gymnasiums replaced pedagogical schools in 1953, but the module of physical education was further reduced.

In České Budějovice, the Higher Pedagogical School replaced the Faculty of Education from the academic year 1953/1954 onwards, and the Department of Physical Education became part of it. However, at the same time, the decision was made to abolish the daytime specialized study in physical education. This change continued until 1955. This significant change also affected the status of the Department of Physical Education and Sport at the school. Its management even merged the departments of pedagogy and physical education into the Department of Pedagogy and Education in the fall of 1955.

A significant and finally positive organizational change in the education of primary school teachers occurred on September 1, 1959, when the Pedagogical Institute (PI) was established in České Budějovice, as well as in other affected cities of Czechoslovakia. This change extended the duration of education for teachers of the second level of primary schools to four years and for teachers of the first level to three years. The then-independent the Department of Physical Education and Sport provided education in the field of teaching physical education for the second level of primary schools, the physical education component of education for the first level of primary school teachers, and, at that time, compulsory physical education for other study combinations offered at the institute.

Another change occurred on September 1, 1964, when the Pedagogical Institute was transformed into the newly established Pedagogical Faculty in České Budějovice. The scope of KTV's activities remained essentially the same. This concept of teacher education and thus the scope of the Department of Physical Education's activities remained practically the same until the early 1980s.

It was only with the approval of the new Law on Higher Education No. 39/1980 Coll. that unified teacher education for primary and secondary schools, lasting 5 years, was introduced, as it had been previously only for secondary school teacher training. Due to the low attention given to increasing the qualifications and scientific erudition of the Department of Physical Education teachers in the 1970s in České Budějovice, and also due to the personnel political purges that had affected it before, it did not gain authorization to teach the newly conceived specialized physical education during that time. However, this program was successfully reintroduced in the academic year 1984/1985. The opening of a new modern sports pavilion in Čtyři Dvory in 1981 significantly improved the material conditions for teaching university-level physical education in České Budějovice.

From 1984 to 1987, the department underwent partial renewal due to the introduction of specialized physical education. Nine new employees gradually joined the department during this period. With effect from September 28, 1991, the Faculty of Education became part of the newly established University of South Bohemia, and the name of the Department of Physical Education was changed to the Department of Physical Education and Sport of the Faculty of Education of the University of South Bohemia.

In the 1990s, the department's pedagogical activities significantly expanded. In the academic year 1992/1993, a three-year single-field non-teaching bachelor's degree program in physical education and sport was introduced. This was the first program of its kind opened in the Czech Republic and the first non-teaching program at the Faculty of Education of the University of South Bohemia. Additionally, the number of possible study combinations with physical education significantly increased. This was facilitated by the separation of specialized teacher training for secondary and primary schools, which began in the academic year 1993/1994. The Department of Physical Education and Sport acquired and repeatedly defended accreditations for both study programs. The total number of students enrolled in the first year of specialized and bachelor's degree programs began to exceed one hundred in some years. Besides the five-year specialized teacher training for secondary schools, the four-year program for primary schools, and the three-year single-field non-teaching bachelor's program in physical education and sport, the department also provided the physical education component of master's degree programs for the first level of primary school and bachelor's degree programs for kindergarten teachers.

From the academic year 2008/2009, the Department of Physical Education and Sport was tasked with providing elective physical education for the entire University of South Bohemia by a decision of the university's rector. This activity began to fully develop from the academic year 2009/2010 onwards and has been growing significantly ever since. Currently, the department offers around 4,500 places for elective physical education each semester for students of all faculties of the University of South Bohemia and more than 500 places in elective summer training courses.

The department also conducts significant training activities through its accredited facilities and training activities as part of further education for teaching staff. These specialized facilities of the Department of Physical Education and Sport of the Faculty of Education of the University of South Bohemia have the right to organize educational programs and grant qualifications for professional work in physical education, sports, and movement-recreational activities to students of the University of South Bohemia, teaching staff from schools, and other interested individuals from the public based on the relevant provisions of Act No. 455/1991 Coll. or decisions of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports under Act No. 563/2004 Coll.

From the academic year 2008/2009, the Department of Physical Education and Sport assumed management of the university sports pavilion and stadium. It immediately began to rebuild some unused or underutilized parts of the sports pavilion into additional spaces for physical education. This included the construction of an artificial climbing wall, a spinning room, specialized gyms for combat sports, gyms for yoga and bosu, and a new, larger gym. Technical improvements were also made to the existing halls. Additionally, two new changing rooms were built. These investments were funded by grants from the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports and internal resources of the Faculty of Education. A significant amount of equipment was also purchased from the same sources to expand the scope of elective physical education.

In the winter semester of the academic year 2011/2012, the first stage of the general reconstruction of the sports pavilion took place. This stage included the reconstruction and insulation of the roof, replacement of all windows and exterior doors, insulation of the entire outer shell, reconstruction of the entire ventilation system, and other adjustments.

On September 1, 2012, the Department of Physical Education and Sport became the only workplace for teaching all forms of physical education and sport at the University of South Bohemia following the abolition of the Department of Movement and Sports Activities of the Faculty of Agriculture and its integration into the Faculty of Education.

In 2017, the second (even more extensive and costly) stage of the general reconstruction of the sports pavilion took place, making it one of the most modern facilities of its kind in the Czech Republic. The department also has extensive outdoor facilities, which require renovation. This is included in the top priorities of the mid-term investment plan of the University of South Bohemia, according to an already prepared and approved study.

Today, the Department of Physical Education and Sport of the Faculty of Education of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice represents a significant and widely recognized institution in the Czech Republic for the education of physical education professionals. With a sixty-five-year continuous history, a wide range of accreditations, high performance in specialized and elective physical education, and very good material resources, it plays a crucial role in physical education in our region.