Online Education (bachelor's Degree In Physical-education)

By Author: John Srob
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Physical education bachelor's degree programs are typically offered through a college or university's teaching or education department. Students learn developmentally appropriate physical activities that can improve the quality of life of their students. P.E. bachelor's programs generally include a student teaching experience.

Program Coursework

Most bachelor's degree programs in physical education instruct students in the areas of student diversity and growth, classroom management, motivation, instruction and assessment. Students also complete general education requirements. Core courses might include the following:

Exercise psychology
Motor skills development
Anatomy and physiology
Physically adapted activities
Nutrition
Kinesiology
Injury prevention and first aid
Psychomotor skills
Physical education teaching methods
Physical education organization and administration

Employment Outlook and Salary Info

Job prospects for elementary, middle and high school teachers in general were expected to grow ...
... by approximately 13% in the decade 2008-2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS); however, the BLS also noted that physical education was among teaching specialties with an adequate number of teachers. In July 2010, physical education teachers made an average of $48,000.
The BLS also reported that coaching and athletic scouting positions were expected to increase by 25% from 2008-2018 as schools expanded their athletic programs. Coaches and scouts earned a median annual salary of $28,380 in May 2009, according to the BLS.

Positions for fitness workers, including trainers and aerobics instructors, also were forecast to have strong growth, increasing by 29% in the period spanning 2008-2018. The BLS reported a medial annual salary of $30,670 for this occupational division in May 2009.

Continuing Education

In addition to earning a bachelor's degree, aspiring physical education teachers will need to acquire their state licensure. Requirements vary by state, but typically include graduation from an accredited university, work experience in a school setting and passage of a basic competency exam, as well as a Praxis test specific to physical education.

Most states require teachers to amass a certain number of continuing education hours to renew their licensure, and some require teachers to complete a graduate program within a set number of years to be eligible for tenure. Master's programs in physical education help teachers advance their instructional skills while keeping current in P.E. curricula. Most offer areas of concentration, such as teaching, athletic administration, sports psychology or adaptive physical education.

Ph.D. programs are typically available through kinesiology programs, which generally offer specializations in areas of adaptive physical education, applied biomechanics, exercise physiology or sports medicine. Ph.D. graduates often find work as researchers or clinicians.
Careers in Physical Education.
Your Bachelor of Physical Education degree offers many career options:

teacher (you’ll need an additional degree in education for this career option – see the BPE/BEd combined degree program),
fitness instructor,
community recreation programmer,
fitness consultant,
coach,
administrator,
athlete,
cardiac rehabilitation specialist,
exercise physiologist,
personal fitness trainer,
performance enhancement consultant,
director of community sports, or
organizer of provincial, national, or international sporting events.

As a physical educator you may be hired by a variety of organisations, including:

government agencies,
public health agencies,
hospitals,
rehabilitation units / programs,
school boards,
private health and wellness clubs,
fitness facilities,
disease-specific agencies,
provincial or national sports teams,
schools (you will need an additional degree in education to be hired in a school setting as a physical education teacher – see the BPE/BEd combined degree program).

You May Qualify For Financial Aid.