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2023-24 Undergraduate Academic Catalog | School of Education and Social Work | Teacher Education | Majors

Physical Education, B.S.

[Physical Education - 0835]

The Physical Education major is offered through the Department of Teacher Education.  It provides pedagogical opportunities and experiences for students who are interested in obtaining certification to teach physical education and coach in public and private elementary and secondary schools.  This program of study leads to initial New York State teaching and coaching certification for Kindergarten through grade 12.

Admission Criteria:

  • Completed application
  • Demonstrated academic competence at RWU
    • Successful completion of two courses in the Department of Teacher Education
    • A minimum overall GPA of 2.7
    • A “C+” or better in TEDU 1850 and TEDU 1950
    • A “B-“ or better in all required 2000 and above education courses
  • Demonstrated proficiency in writing
    • “C” or better in Principles of Writing
    • “C” or better in Principles of Speech
    • Successful completion of a “writing sample” as part of the application process.
  • Resume
  • Acknowledgment and commitment to professional standards

Once admitted, students must maintain the overall minimum GPA (2.7) and earn the minimum grade required for each course (B- in TEDU courses, usually a C in all major courses) in order to progress through the program. They must also meet the behavioral expectations described in the Professional Dispositions and meet the Technical Standards in order to progress through the program and be allowed to student teach.


SPECIFICS OF THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION, B.S. DEGREE

Minimum Total Hours: 127

Total Liberal Arts Hours Required: 64 - Please note that it will be necessary to complete several liberal arts elective courses in order to reach the State requirement of 64 liberal arts credits.

General Education Requirements:   Per Core Curriculum Requirements list (see General Education Council). Exceptions: FNAR 1200 must be taken to fulfill the fine arts requirement; PSYC 1010 must be taken to meet the behavioral science requirement; CGEO 2100 must be taken to meet the history, economics, or social sciences requirement; BIOL 1040 with lab must be taken to meet the lab science requirement; MATH 2400 must be taken to meet the mathematics proficiency requirement; special PHST 1300 section for Physical Education majors must be taken.

Minimum Requirements: Overall and major GPA of 2.7; no grade less than C in 30 of the 38 credit hours of major content related courses (BIOL, PHST, and PEDU courses that are not methods courses); no grade less than a C- in the remaining 11-13 credit hours in the major content related courses; no grade less than C+ in 1000 level TEDU/PEDU methods courses; no grade less than B- in 2000 and above level TEDU/PEDU methods courses (PEDU 3100, 3150, 3200, 3250, 3300, and 4510); minimum grade of C in COMM 1105, COMP 1010, and MATH 2400.

Major Requirements: 56 hours

  • 8 hours of biology courses: BIOL 1030 with lab,  BIOL 3230 with lab
  • 4 hours of physical education courses: PHST 1060, 1250, 2010, and 2060
  • PSYC 2030 - Child and Adolescent Development (3)
  • 41 hours of professional physical education courses (PEDU 1500, 2250, 2350, 2500, 2600, 2700, 3100, 3150, 3200, 3250, 3300, 3400, 3600, 4430, 4500, and 4510)
  • Fieldwork hours in conjunction with PEDU 3150*, 3200*, 3250*, and 4510*

Professional Education Requirements: 24 hours

  • TEDU 1850 Education in a Changing World (3)
  • TEDU 1950 Foundations of Special Education (3)
  • TEDU 2940 Integrated Literacy Practices Across the Curriculum (3)
  • TEDU 4050* & 4051* - Physical Education Student Teaching (6+6)
  • Professional conference attendance

Field Experience Requirement | Students must complete 120 hours of fieldwork

Student Teaching Practicum | 14 Weeks

*Additional requirements must be met for these courses. Please see the Fieldwork Handbook for more information.


In order to obtain New York State certification, the following requirements must be met:

  • EAS | Educating All Students Exam
  • CST | Content Specialty Test in Physical Education
  • TPA | Teacher Portfolio Assessment
  • SAVE | Mandatory Workshop
  • Child Abuse | Mandatory Workshop
  • DASA - Dignity for All Students | Mandatory Workshop
  • Autism Training | Mandatory Workshop
  • Fingerprinting clearance

Upon successful completion of all academic requirements and completion of all required workshops, the student will be recommended to New York State by RWU. A student who has not completed the required workshops will not be recommended to New York State until successful completion of the required workshops. Six months after the student's conferral date, if a student has not completed all the successful workshops, the student must apply for certification himself or herself through individual evaluation. RWU will not recommend the student for certification.


Transfer Requirements: See institutional transfer policies.