Teaching - Physical Education
Earn your license to teach physical education, health education, and adaptive physical education as well as a license in coaching pre-K-12.
Prepare to Teach Physical Education
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's teaching - physical education bachelor's degree prepares you to become a certified physical educator from early childhood to adolescence (pre-K-12). Graduates of the major earn four licenses: a license to teach physical education, a license to teach health education, a license to teach adaptive physical education, and a license in coaching pre-K-12.
Split into three modules, the program covers a variety of disciplines, ensuring you have the knowledge and expertise to teach multiple subjects related to health and physical education. The PE module focuses on planning, implementing, and assessing various activities, including games, dance, and sports. The adaptive physical education module teaches you how to tailor a physical education curriculum so that it is appropriate for children with disabilities and/or special needs. And the health module prepares you to teach subjects like nutrition and other health class topics.
Experiential learning and professional development are key focuses of the program. Capstone projects, practicums and student-teaching opportunities will help you to build your leadership skills, identify your preferred teaching style, and discover how to best meet the needs of your learners.
Graduates of UW-Eau Claire's teaching - physical education bachelor's degree program are highly sought after, largely due to the incredible preparation students have in all areas of physical education. Students leave UWEC empowered, inspired, and ready to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
Program Details
Licensure Information
Completion of teacher preparation programs at UW-Eau Claire meets licensure requirements in Wisconsin. Our programs may not meet requirements in other states. It is very important that individuals seeking licensure in another state obtain the most recent certification/licensure information directly from the state in which they seek employment. Find contact information on each state licensure office here.
Licensure requirements can change at any time. UW-Eau Claire’s Teacher Education Program Office ensures that our programs meet the requirements for licensure in Wisconsin. If you seek licensure in another state, be aware that their requirements could change at any time.
The United States Department of Education requires institutions to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure concerning whether each program meets state educational requirements for initial licensure or certification. Please note:
- Obtaining a Wisconsin Teaching License PRIOR to applying for a teaching license in another state is usually helpful and strongly recommended.
- "Meets requirements" means that a student is eligible for a license with stipulations, typically for 1-3 years, in that state. The stipulations are likely to be specific testing requirements and/or competency through a course or examination. In some instances, additional stipulations might be added.
- Licensure grade levels vary from state to state. Students who are eligible for a specific grade range in Wisconsin may be licensed for a narrower grade range in another state. Each state determines grade ranges for licensing differently.
- State licensure requirements may change at any time. Licensure questions should be referred to the Teacher Education Program Office (tep@uwec.edu).
Physical Education-Teaching majors can complete four Wisconsin licenses: Physical education, adaptive physical education, health, and coaching)
Physical Education-Teaching
The requirements of this program meet requirements in the following states or territories:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, American Samoa
The requirements of this program do not meet requirement in the following states or territories:
Alaska, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, Washington D.C., Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
Adaptive Physical Education (students may not get this license without another teaching license)
The requirements of this program meet requirements in the following states or territories:
California, Maine, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Wyoming, American Samoa
The requirements of this program do not meet requirements in the following states or territories:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
(Some states or territories in the “does not meet list” may not offer/require licenses in this area.)
Health
The requirements of this program meet requirements in the following states or territories:
Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, American Samoa
The requirements of this program do not meet requirements in the following states or territories:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
Coaching (Some states do not require licenses for coaches)
The requirements of this program meet requirements in the following states or territories:
Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Wisconsin, American Samoa
The requirements of this program do not meet requirements in the following states or territories:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, Washington, D.C., Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
Throughout the major, you'll have a number of opportunities to gain real-world experience in the field. You may work in our PRIDE (Physical Activity and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities in the Eau Claire Area) program, PRIDE4Adults, UWEC Home School PE Program, or with students from the Coulee Connections charter school. These programs allow you to work with all age groups and better prepare you for working with pre-K-12 students.
To help you explore career opportunities and make valuable connections, we host an annual Education Job Fair, an on-campus career fair specific for those looking to enter the field of education. This event is an excellent opportunity to make connections and submit your resume for current and future job openings.
While pursuing the teaching - kinesiology, physical education major, you'll be surrounded by people who, like you, are interested in bettering the lives of others through health and physical activity. Expert faculty throughout the program will help you to learn modern teaching techniques and the fundamentals of human movement, helping you to best teach future students in how to be physically active in a fun and safe way.
Blugold Stories
UW-Eau Claire has challenged me to develop academically and personally, leading me to be a better person and discover my passion to be an educator. I will always remember my time here and how this university helped me discover that the education path was the right choice for me.
When Chase Melton learned about an opportunity to help a fourth-grader who had been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, he jumped at the chance. Working alongside Team IMPACT, a national organization that matches children who have serious or chronic illnesses with college sports teams, Chase was one of nine appointed coordinators who helped immerse Samuel into the world of wrestling.
Justthe
facts
Where can the teaching - physical education program lead me after graduation?
Graduates of the teaching - kinesiology, physical education program are certified to teach physical education, health education and adaptive physical education. Graduates also earn a license in coaching pre-K-12 students.
Recent Graduates
Physical Education Teacher
Fall Creek High School
Wisconsin
Physical Education Teacher
Aldine Independent School District
Texas
Physical Education Teacher
School District of Bloomer
Wisconsin
Curriculum within the teaching - kinesiology, physical education program is rigorous and all-encompassing. Classes explore the musculoskeletal system and its relationship to human movement, changes in motor behavior across the lifespan, programming and assessment in the special physical education environment, and health education curriculum design.
Lab courses and field experience will provide you with hours of student-teaching experience, helping you to learn — and apply — best practices and effective teaching and classroom management techniques.
Here are a few courses in Teaching - Physical Education at UW-Eau Claire.
KINS 290
Introduction to Physical Education
Introduction to physical education including understanding the teaching/learning process, effective teaching skills, and context and reflection.
KINS 300
Planning, Implementation, and Assessment: Invasion Games
Students enrolled in this course will design comprehensive invasion games units utilizing various instructional models, such as: sport education, peer teaching and tactical games.
KINS 335
Introduction to School Health Education and Current Health Issues
A theory-and activity-based course in which students will discover the importance of health education in the schools and explore current health issues surrounding our nation's youth.
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