BSEd in Health and Physical Education

Prepare to teach health and physical education in elementary, middle, and high school through our B.S.Ed. in Health and Physical Education, which includes certification to teach in Georgia schools.

You will learn instructional methods for teaching physical activity, sport skills, physical fitness, and teamwork at various age levels. You’ll also study the latest biomechanics, physiology, and health and wellness principles.

Upon completion, you will be eligible for initial certification to teach P-12 in Georgia public schools.

If you aspire to work in the private sector or in a setting outside of schools, we offer a non-certification track that prepares professionals to work in community sport and movement settings such as sport clubs, fitness centers, recreation departments, and personal training.

Highlights

1. Leads to Georgia P-12 teaching certification in Health, Physical Education, & Adapted Physical Education
2. Non-teaching track also available
3. Accredited by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
4. Financial assistance is available through at least 18 awards

Curriculum

Learn instructional methods for teaching physical activity, sports skills, physical fitness, and teamwork-adapted physical education at various age levels.

Our program combines lectures in the classroom, student teaching, and opportunities in our research laboratories with other service-learning courses and experiences. A hallmark of our certification program is the 15 weeks you will spend working full-time in elementary, middle, or high school classrooms in either the Fall or Spring of your final year. If you’re interested in working outside the public school system, such as in youth sports, recreation programs, and personal fitness, there is a non-teaching track that does not include certification. You’ll take an additional 14 hours of coursework in lieu of student teaching.

To complete the degree, you must earn Red Cross certification in first aid and CPR and demonstrate competence in at least eight physical activities: swimming, dance, outdoor recreation, and five more of your choice.

Coursework includes:

• 52 hours of core physical education, which includes 14 hours of student teaching or additional courses for non-certification students
• 9 hours of health education, which includes drug education and human sexuality
• 9 hours of exercise science

Our faculty will prepare you to be certified to teach in Georgia upon graduation. About 80 percent of health and physical education graduates start teaching after completing the program, with most of the rest pursuing further studies in a master’s degree program.

During the program, all candidates will have an opportunity to work with children in each grade band as required by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. The grade bands are PK–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12.

Download Four-Year Plan (PDF)

Additional information and disclosures regarding state licensure for professional practice in this field can be found at the UGA Licensure Disclosure Portal .

How to Apply

Part 1: Apply to the University of Georgia

The UGA Office of Undergraduate Admissions oversees the application process required for the university. Therefore, a student must be accepted to UGA before entering a College of Education program.

Start UGA Application

Part 2: Apply to the B.S.Ed. in Health and Physical Education

Students who are declared majors in health and physical education are moved into the major on a case-by-case basis as evaluated by the program advisor. Generally, students are ready to enter the major when they have ~60 hours completed or in progress, and have their Area I-VI core courses completed or in progress. Area VI and major courses must receive a grade of C or better. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required to be eligible for student teaching for all teacher certification programs.

Students who believe they will meet all or most of these requirements within the coming semester should schedule an appointment with the program advisor so that they may be moved into the major.

Applications are now open.

B.S.Ed. Program Application FAQs

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Student Outcome Data

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