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Physical Education

Physical Education Major

The Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program provides opportunities for students to become critical thinkers, creative planners, and effective practitioners.

To be successful in the field, a physical education student must like to work with people, be adequately skilled in physical activities, have a commitment to fitness, and be interested in the physical, biological and social sciences.

The PETE program emphasizes teaching and provides students with skills and techniques necessary to begin a successful career in K-12 physical education. The program is aligned with the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America) PETE Standards. The courses are strategically structured to be sequential in nature.

Students initially take courses through the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences (HNES) and complete their degree requirements through the School of Education . Application to the School of Education will occur during the student's sophomore year. Completion of the degree requirements for a physical education major in the School of Education certifies a graduate to teach physical education from kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12).

Students majoring in Physical Education will be studying the art and science of human movement, which includes classes in elementary, middle, and high school activities; motor learning, physiology and psychology of human movement; the art of teaching and motivating students; and performance-based assessment.

Students must earn a grade of 'B' or better in all core physical education courses and must maintain a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade-point average to stay in full standing in the program.

Graduates leave prepared to teach in a professional manner, while demonstrating exemplary ethical behavior and displaying current "best practices". Graduates are expected to be positive role models for K-12 students in the area of physical education, physical activity, and sports.

Double Major

It is strongly recommended that Physical Education students double major in Health Education .

Major Requirements

Major: Physical Education

Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 122

General Education Requirements

First Year Experience (F):
HD&E 189Skills for Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take HD&E 189.)1
Communication (C):
ENGL 110College Composition I3
ENGL 120College Composition II3
ENGL 358Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences3
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Quantitative Reasoning (R): Select from current general education list3
Science & Technology (S): Select from current general education list10
Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (B):
PSYC 111Introduction to Psychology3
SOC 110Introduction to Sociology3
Wellness (W):
HNES 217Personal and Community Health *3
Cultural Diversity (D): Select from current general education list
Global Perspectives (G): Select from current general education list
Total Credits41

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree – An additional 6 credits of Humanities and Social Sciences and proficiency at the second year in a modern foreign language are required. See School of Education for admission requirements.

Major Requirements

General Education Requirements40
Teaching Speciality Requirements
HDFS 230Life Span Development3
or PSYC 250 Developmental Psychology
HNES 110Introduction to Health and Physical Education *3
HNES 154Professional Preparation in Elementary School Activities *3
HNES 254Curriculum, Standards and Assessment in Physical Education *3
HNES 255Professional Preparation in Middle School Physical Education *3
HNES 256Professional Preparation in High School Physical Education *3
HNES 301Motor Learning and Performance *3
HNES 336Methods Of Coaching *3
HNES 350Fitness Education Activities and Materials *3
HNES 353Adapted Physical Education *3
HNES 367Principles of Conditioning *3
HNES 461Administrative and Social Aspects of Physical Education and Athletics *3
College Requirement
HD&E 320Professional Issues1
Physical Education Requirements
EDUC 321Introduction to Teaching3
EDUC 322Educational Psychology3
EDUC 451Instructional Planning, Methods and Assessment3
EDUC 481Classroom Practice Methods of Teaching I: (PE)3
EDUC 485Student Teaching Seminar1
EDUC 486Classroom Management for Diverse Learners3
EDUC 487Student Teaching9
EDUC 488Applied Student Teaching3
EDUC 489Teaching Students of Diverse Backgrounds3
Degree Requirement: Potential of 13 credits to reach 12213
Total Credits122
*

Students must earn a grade of 'B' or better.

Degree Requirements and Notes

  • A GPA of 2.75 or better in the teaching specialty is required to stay in full standing in the program, for placement in student teaching, and to exit from the program.
  • A GPA of 2.75 or better in the professional education requirements, as well as passing the Exit Portfolio, are required to exit the program.
  • Courses taken Pass/Fail will not be used to satisfy any requirements other than total credits.
Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 110 (w/Engl 100 lab)3ENGL 1203
HD&E 1891COMM 1103
HNES 110*3HNES 255*3
Hum/Fine Arts3Science/Tech3
PSYC 1113SOC 1103
Quant Reason3 
 16 15
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
EDUC 3213EDUC 3223
HNES 100, 111, or 217*2-3HNES 154*3
HNES 254*3PSYC 250 or HDFS 2303
HNES 256*3Science/Tech3
Science/Tech w Lab4Elective3
 15-16 15
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 3583EDUC 4893
HNES 301*3EDUC 451 (PE section)3
HNES 336*3HNES 350*3
HNES 367*3Hum/Fine Arts3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
EDUC 4813EDUC 4851
EDUC 4863EDUC 4879
HD&E 3201EDUC 4883
HNES 461*3 
Electives (as needed to reach 122 credits)8 
 18 13
Total Credits: 122-123

*Students must earn a "B" or better in all courses identified with an asterisk (*).

**Global Perspectives and Diversity requirements can be obtained through careful selection of electives, Humanities/Fine Arts, and/or Science/Technology categories. 

The following combinations of courses are suggested semester schedules that allow the student to complete the Physical Education/Health Education double major in a four-year span. The arrangement of courses is based on which semesters the course is offered, the classification and the prerequisites or co-requisites required for successful completion of the course. The 4-Year Plan should be used with the curriculum guide. Remember, this is only a guide and circumstances may change the plan. 

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 110 (w/Eng 100 lab)3COMM 1103
HD&E 1891ENGL 1203
HNES 110*3HDFS 1353
Hum/Fine Arts3HNES 255*3
PSYC 1113Science/Tech3
Quant Reason3SOC 1103
 16 18
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
EDUC 3213HNES 200 or 250*3
EDUC 3223HNES 217*3
HNES 254*3HNES 154*3
HNES 256*3HNES 341*3
Hum/Fine Arts3PSYC 2103
Science/Tech w lab4Science/Tech3
 19 18
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 3583EDUC 451 (PE Section)3
HNES 301*3EDUC 4893
HNES 336*3HNES 345*3
HNES 367*3HNES 350*3
PSYC 2123HNES 353*3
 PSYC 250 or HDFS 2303
 15 18
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
EDUC 481 (HE Section)3EDUC 4851
EDUC 481 (PE Section)3EDUC 4879
EDUC 4863EDUC 4883
HD&E 3201 
HNES 445*3 
HNES 461*3 
 16 13
Total Credits: 133

* Students must earn a "B" or better in all courses identified with an asterisk (*).    

** Minimum 133 total credits for double major

*** Global Perspectives and Diversity requirements can be obtained through careful selection of Humanities/Fine Arts, and/or Science/Technology categories.