BSEd in Health and Physical Education / MS in Kinesiology (Adapted Physical Education - Non-Thesis) (PREVIEW)

Pair your passion for health and physical education with advanced study in meeting the needs of youth with disabilities in adapted physical education. Tailored for both future and practicing teachers and coaches, this unique Double Dawgs program will improve your knowledge of physical activity and sport instruction for disability populations in P-12 physical education and community-based contexts.

Housed in our nationally ranked Department of Kinesiology, the B.S.Ed. in Health and Physical Education combines coursework, research, and experiential learning opportunities that allow you to specialize based on your academic and career goals. At the master’s level, you will learn from experts who will prepare you to meet the needs of youth and supports for accessibility, inclusion, and motivation in physical activity for individuals with disabilities.

Graduates pursue careers in public schools as Health and Physical Education Specialists and Athletic Coaches. One of the primary responsibilities of this occupation is to plan and teach children with disabilities in school settings. In many instances, an applicant with a master’s degree can separate themselves from other applicants. Furthermore, many large school districts employ Certified Adapted Physical Education (CAPE) teachers as directors or coordinators of district-wide Adapted Physical Education Services. In almost every instance, this person must hold a master’s degree and T-5 certification. An individual with an M.S. in Adapted Physical Education would likely be more desirable than someone with a graduate degree in another educational field.

Highlights

1. Learn from established scholars in the field
2. High job placement rate
3. Increase your marketability
4. Hands-on, practical experience in on-campus, P-12, and community setting

Curriculum

Our program combines classroom lectures, student teaching, and research laboratory experiences with other service-learning courses and activities. A hallmark of the program is the 15 weeks students spend working full-time in elementary, middle, or high school classrooms in either the Fall or Spring of their final year. A degree in Health & Physical Education also prepares graduates for working outside the public-school system, such as in youth sports, recreation programs, and personal fitness.

Read a sample program of study

Admissions

Admission to the Double Dawgs Pathway

Students will be admitted into the pathway at the time of their application for entrance into the Health & Physical Education (HPE) undergraduate major. The B.S.Ed. program consists of four semesters (blocks) of coursework and typically begins in the fourth semester of the undergraduate program. Applicants must declare their major, complete the MFECOE requirements for school placement, and submit the State of Georgia applications for Preservice Certification. Students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher overall.

Admission to the Graduate Program

Students will apply to the graduate program in the spring semester of their third year, preparing them for M.S. graduate coursework in the summer of their fourth year or the fall of their fifth year (for students admitted in the spring of their undergraduate year). Admission will include submission of the Graduate School application and three reference letters. All other materials would have been collected at the time of admission to the pathway. There is no GRE requirement. The program faculty will evaluate student transcripts to determine progress in the four pathway courses before a formal entrance recommendation to the Graduate School.

Admission to Graduate Program

1. All MFECOE and State of Georgia Licensure paperwork must be submitted.
2. Unofficial transcripts from each institution of higher education attended
3. Statement of purpose that summarizes career goals and how the degree program would help attain those goals.
4. CV or resume
5. Contact information for three references

Deadline to Apply

• Fall admission: May 1
• Spring admission: Nov. 1

Visit the Double Dawgs Website