Physical Education

A major in Physical Education emphasizes principles, problems and procedures for the improvement of individual and community health. The program provides an introduction to the Physical Education profession, and includes historical and philosophical implications and modern trends in program design with an emphasis on the study of the human body. Professional ethics, client privacy and liability issues are stressed throughout the program. Students have access to the facilities and equipment of the Department of Health and Human Performance.  There are various courses designed to develop the students’ interest in both pedagogy and the fitness related field.

Goals

• Prepare students for teaching Physical Education in both elementary and secondary schools

• Show commitment to a standards-based approach in the development of beginning educators

• Recognize and incorporate safe programs and facilities, such as risk management and liability considerations within school-based programs

• Develop and implement assessment plans consistent with national and/or state standards

• Be knowledgeable in the area of accommodations for physical education programs to meet the needs of all individuals

Degree with Recommendation for License

Students fulfill all of the course requirements of the endorsement area including application to, and completion of Student Teaching. In order to be eligible for Student Teaching, students must meet all Praxis requirements for their endorsement area(s), and they must meet the GPA requirements set forth by the Vermont Agency of Education. Students must declare the Licensure option prior to application to Student Teaching.

Admission to Student Teaching for Licensure Seeking:

Prior to being allowed into Student Teaching, students have senior standing, have completed all required courses for the endorsement areas being sought, have fulfilled GPA requirements (see below), and have been recommended by faculty in both Education, and the major / concentration, have passed Praxis requirements (see below), and completed the Application to Student Teach by the required deadline.

Grade Point Average Requirements for Licensure Seeking:

In order to successfully complete the Licensure option at Norwich University, students are required to have a 3.0 GPA. This GPA requirement must be attained by Licensure option students before being placed in Student Teaching and before graduation. In order to be recommended for licensure, all Licensure option candidates must earn a B or better for Student Teaching.

Praxis Requirements for Licensure Seeking:

A recommendation for licensure is required to take the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) test and the Praxis II Content Tests before they will be admitted into Student Teaching. The Praxis Core tests “measure academic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics deemed by teacher educators to be essential for all candidates preparing to be a teacher, no matter what content area or grade-level they aspire to teach” (ETS, 2019). Praxis Core should be taken and passed before the conclusion of the sophomore year. Praxis II is an assessment of content-specific material and instructional pedagogy. For Elementary Education majors, this includes mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies. Praxis II should be taken around the spring of the junior year. Both Praxis tests are to be passed, with results received by the Director of Education Teacher Licensure prior to placement in Student Teaching. Other licensure requirements, such as the licensure portfolio and fingerprints, are articulated in the Student Teaching Handbook. All students preparing to Student Teach must apply by a specified deadline set forth by the Director of Education. The Student Teaching Application is available upon request, it will be sent via email to all Education students who have declared an Education major, and it will be discussed each fall at the Education Advising Plenary.

Potential Careers

• Elementary/Secondary Physical Education Teachers (Physical Education Major – Teacher Education Concentration)

• Parks and Recreation program instructor/manager (Physical Education Major – Recreation Management Concentration)

• After-school activities program instructor/manager (Physical Education Major – Recreation Management Concentration)

There are no additional criteria to declare this major.