Degree Offered
- Master of Science
Nature of the Program
The Master of Science in Physical Education Teacher Education (delivered online) is designed for success-oriented professional learners who aspire to further their career advancement. The curriculum is aligned with the advanced teaching standards (Professional Knowledge, Practice and Leadership) from the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE). The program develops advanced teacher candidates in three areas: Professional Knowledge, Practice, and Leadership. The four guiding principles that underlie these standards include (1) focus on learning rather than teaching; (2) development of an integrated knowledge base; (3) the importance of systematic inquiry; and (4) the role of teachers as leaders in schools.
The Physical Education Teacher Education program offers a unique combination of professional courses and advanced labs. Professional courses are followed by advanced lab experiences allowing for the timely application of the knowledge and skills learned in K-12 school settings. Across the curriculum, students evaluate their teaching effectiveness using research-informed methods to further extend their understanding of school physical activity and physical education. The ultimate measure of student learning remains its positive impact on youth in the schools and communities in which they serve. Please note that despite its emphasis on practical application, this is not an initial licensure program in physical education. Individual states and districts, however, may provide an endorsement for certified teachers upon completion. We highly encourage students to discuss this option with their employer before enrolling.
Admissions for 2025-2026
M.S. Physical Education Teacher Education
Required criteria for PETE program admission include the following:
- Resume: highlighting professional background, experience, and qualifications
- Personal statement: 1-2 written pages on professional goals and reasons for seeking admission
Note: Students who do not meet the 2.75 grade point average requirement may be admitted as a provisional graduate student only if their GPA is between 2.50 and 2.75. Provisional graduate students are required to attain a 3.0 GPA in their first 9 hours of adviser approved course work in order to remain in the program and to be reclassified as a regular graduate student.
No more than twelve graduate hours may be taken toward the master's degree as a non-degree seeking graduate student.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until August 1st for a fall term start, December 15th for a spring term start, and May 1st for a summer term start.
Accelerated B.S./M.S. Physical Education Teacher Education
Students must complete an internal application for admission to the accelerated B.S./M.S. (ABM) program. Students may apply for regular admission to the ABM in PETE in the fall semester following the completion of 60 credits. Only enrolled WVU PEK majors may be considered for regular admission to the program. Transfer students must complete at least 24 credit hours as degree-seeking students at WVU before applying. The minimum GPA requirement for regular admission is a GPA of 3.0, with no provisional admissions allowed. Additional criteria include acceptable performance on the Praxis Core Exam and the program's Professionalism Assessment, used to monitor undergraduate student dispositions each semester in the major by a designated faculty member. Regular admission will not be offered to students with less than 2 semesters to complete the bachelor’s degree. The ABM in PETE is not available to students seeking a second (or subsequent) bachelor’s degree. The internal application is due by October 1 with program admissions decisions communicated by December 15. Applications will be reviewed by a three-member work group and presented to the program faculty for a final admissions decision.
Major Code: 5531
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PET 573 | Instructional Technology in Physical Education | 3 |
| PET 575 | Principles of Effective Teaching in Physical Education-Advanced Laboratory | 3 |
| PET 576 | Adapted Physical Education-Advanced Laboratory | 3 |
| PET 577 | School Physical Activity Programs-Advanced Laboratory | 3 |
| PET 580 | School Physical Activity Programs | 3 |
| PET 581 | Adapted Physical Education | 3 |
| PET 583 | Principles of Effective Teaching in Physical Education | 3 |
| PET 585 | Physical Education Supervision and Advocacy-Advanced Laboratory | 3 |
| Required Area of Emphasis | 6 | |
Curriculum and Instruction | ||
Interscholastic Sport Administration | ||
Models-based Physical Education | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Areas of Emphasis
Curriculum and Instruction Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| C&I 602 | Curriculum and Teaching Principles | 3 |
| C&I 688 | Classroom Organization and Management | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Interscholastic Sport Administration Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SM 571 | Interscholastic Sport Organization and Administration | 3 |
| SM 578 | Leadership in Interscholastic Athletic Administration | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Models-based Physical Education Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PET 565 | Models-based Physical Education | 3 |
| PET 574 | Models-based Physical Education-Advanced Laboratory | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Accelerated Program
- B.S. Physical Education and Kinesiology and M.S. Physical Education Teacher Education
Accelerated B.S./M.S. Degree Requirements
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 35 | |
| Physical Education and Kinesiology Major Requirements | 73 | |
| M.S. Physical Education Teacher Education Degree Requirements | 30 | |
| Total Hours | 138 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8 | 28 | |
| CAHS 191 | First-Year Seminar | 2 |
| General Electives | 5 | |
| Total Hours | 35 | |
Physical Education and Kinesiology Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | 16 | |
| Games in American Culture (GEF 5) | ||
| Human Body: Structure and Function | ||
| Principles of Human Movement | ||
| Motor Development | ||
| Motor Learning and Performance (C- or higher required) | ||
| Adapted Physical Education (C- or higher required) | ||
| Exercise Physiology 1 | ||
| PEK Block of Courses | 45 | |
All students must earn a minimum grade of C- required in all PET CORE Block courses. | ||
And all students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher each semester. | ||
| Instructional Models and Curriculum in Physical Education (Fulfills Writing and Communication Skills Requirement) | ||
| Pedagogy Theory and Application | ||
| Pre-Residency Laboratory 1 | ||
| Teaching of Invasion Games | ||
| Teaching of Net and Wall Games | ||
| Residency 1 Teaching Elementary Physical Education | ||
| Residency 1 Teaching Elementary Physical Education Laboratory | ||
| Technology in Physical Education | ||
| Pre-Residency Lab 2 | ||
| Standards-Based Assessment in Physical Education | ||
| Teaching of Lifetime, Fitness, and Rhythmic Activities | ||
| Adapted Physical Education Practicum | ||
| Reading in the Content Areas | ||
| Special Education in Contemporary Society | ||
| Foundations of Health Education | ||
| Core Concepts in Health Education | ||
| Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation for Health Educators | ||
| Area of Emphasis | 12 | |
| Students complete one of the following required Areas of Emphasis: | ||
Physical Education Teaching Licensure | ||
Sport Pedagogy | ||
| Total Hours | 73 | |
M.S. Physical Education Teacher Education Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PET 573 | Instructional Technology in Physical Education | 3 |
| PET 575 | Principles of Effective Teaching in Physical Education-Advanced Laboratory | 3 |
| PET 576 | Adapted Physical Education-Advanced Laboratory | 3 |
| PET 577 | School Physical Activity Programs-Advanced Laboratory | 3 |
| PET 580 | School Physical Activity Programs | 3 |
| PET 581 | Adapted Physical Education | 3 |
| PET 583 | Principles of Effective Teaching in Physical Education | 3 |
| PET 585 | Physical Education Supervision and Advocacy-Advanced Laboratory | 3 |
| Choose ONE Area of Emphasis | 6 | |
| Curriculum and Instruction | ||
| Curriculum and Teaching Principles | ||
| Classroom Organization and Management | ||
| OR | ||
| Interscholastic Sport Administration | ||
| Interscholastic Sport Organization and Administration | ||
| Leadership in Interscholastic Athletic Administration | ||
| OR | ||
| Models-based Physical Education | ||
| Models-based Physical Education | ||
| Models-based Physical Education-Advanced Laboratory | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| PET 101 | 3 | PET 125 | 2 | ||
| PET 124 | 2 | PET 175 | 2 | ||
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | ENGL 102 | 3 | ||
| CAHS 191 | 2 | GEF 3 | 3 | ||
| GEF 7 | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 | ||
| General Elective | 2 | GEF 8 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| PET 244 | 2 | EXPH 365 | 3 | ||
| PET 276 | 2 | SPED 404 | 3 | ||
| PET 401 | 3 | RDNG 422 | 3 | ||
| GEF 2B | 4 | PET 402 | 3 | ||
| GEF 6 | 3 | General Elective | 3 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| PET 228 | 3 | PET 346 | 3 | PET 573 | 3 |
| PET 233 | 3 | PET 347 | 3 | PET 585 | 3 |
| PET 233L | 1 | PET 441 | 3 | ||
| PET 403 | 3 | PET 441L | 1 | ||
| PET 449 | 3 | PET 565 | 3 | ||
| GEF 8 | 3 | PET 574 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | 6 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| PET 369 | 3 | Area of Emphasis | 12 | PET 575 | 3 |
| PET 369L | 1 | PET 576 | 3 | PET 583 | 3 |
| PET 445 | 3 | PET 581 | 3 | ||
| PET 477 | 3 | ||||
| PET 577 | 3 | ||||
| PET 580 | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 18 | 6 | |||
| Total credit hours: 138 | |||||
Major Learning Outcomes
Physical Education Teacher Education
Following the completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
- Understand advanced disciplinary knowledge and the primary modes of inquiry that form the basis for evidence-informed practice in their field. (Professional Knowledge)
- Apply evidence-informed strategies in their professional practice to meet the differentiated needs of the client groups and key stakeholders whom they serve. (Professional Practice)
- Contribute to the leadership of communities of professional practice as collaborative learners who can facilitate their own continued development and that of others. (Professional Leadership)