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 integrated knowledge base; (3) Importance of systematic inquiry; and (4) 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 own 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
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.
Admission Requirements 2024-2025
The Admission Requirements above will be the same for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
Major Code: 5531
Degree Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
PET 515 | Research Methodology in Physical Education | 3 |
PET 545 | Standards-Based Assessment in Physical Education | 3 |
PET 565 | Curriculum in Physical Education | 3 |
PET 573 | Instructional Technology in Sport and Physical Education | 2 |
PET 574 | Curriculum in Physical Education - Advanced Laboratory | 2 |
PET 575 | Effective Teaching in Physical Education - Advanced Laboratory | 2 |
PET 576 | Motor Development for Special Populations - Advanced Laboratory | 2 |
PET 577 | School Physical Activity and Technology - Advanced Laboratory | 2 |
PET 580 | School Physical Activity | 3 |
PET 581 | Motor Development in Special Populations | 3 |
PET 583 | Principles of Effective Teaching | 3 |
PET 585 | Physical Education Supervision and Advocacy | 2 |
Total Hours | 30 |
Suggested Plan of Study
First Semester | Hours | ||
---|---|---|---|
PET 565 | 3 | ||
PET 574 | 2 | ||
5 | |||
Second Semester | Hours | ||
PET 515 | 3 | ||
PET 585 | 2 | ||
5 | |||
Third Semester | Hours | ||
PET 580 | 3 | ||
PET 577 | 2 | ||
5 | |||
Fourth Semester | Hours | ||
PET 581 | 3 | ||
PET 576 | 2 | ||
5 | |||
Fifth Semester | Hours | ||
PET 545 | 3 | ||
PET 573 | 2 | ||
5 | |||
Sixth Semester | Hours | ||
PET 583 | 3 | ||
PET 575 | 2 | ||
5 | |||
Total credit hours: 30 |
Accelerated Program
- B.S. Physical Activity and Kinesiology and M.S. Physical Education Teacher Education
Accelerated B.S./M.S. Degree Requirements
Degree Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
University Requirements | 30 | |
Physical Education and Kinesiology Major Requirements | 82 | |
M.S. Physical Education Teacher Education Degree Requirements | 26 | |
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 | |
PASS 191 | First-Year Seminar | 2 |
Total Hours | 30 |
Physical Education and Kinesiology Major Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Foundations | 16 | |
Games in American Culture (GEF 5; C- or higher required) | ||
Human Body: Structure and Function (C- or higher required) | ||
Principles of Human Movement (C- or higher required) | ||
Introduction to Physical Education (C- or higher required) | ||
Motor Development (C- or higher required) | ||
Motor Learning and Performance (C- or higher required) | ||
Special Physical Education (C- or higher required) | ||
PEK CORE Block * | 54 | |
All students must earn a minimum grade of C- required in all PET and PASS CORE Block courses. | ||
And all students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher each semester. | ||
Curriculum in Physical Education (Fulfills Writing and Communication Skills Requirement) | ||
Pedagogy Theory and Application | ||
Teaching Physical Activities 1 | ||
Teaching Physical Activities 2 | ||
Health-Optimizing Physical Education | ||
Teaching Primary Physical Education | ||
Teaching K-2 Physical Education | ||
Teaching 3-5 Physical Education | ||
Technology in Physical Education | ||
Teaching Physical Activities 3 (Fulfills Writing and Communication Skills) | ||
Teaching Physical Activities 4 | ||
Adapted Physical Education Practicum | ||
Exercise Physiology 1 | ||
Reading in the Content Areas | ||
Special Education in Contemporary Society (GEF 4) | ||
Foundations of Health Education | ||
Core Concepts in Health Education | ||
Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation for Health Educators | ||
Capstone Experience | 12 | |
Students complete one of the following tracks: | ||
Track 1 Physical Education Teaching ** | ||
Student Teaching: K-5 Physical Education | ||
Student Teaching: 6-12 Physical Education | ||
Student Teaching Seminar | ||
Track 2 Sport Pedagogy **** | ||
Professional Field Experience | ||
Total Hours | 82 |
M.S. Physical Education Teacher Education Degree Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required. | ||
PET 515 | Research Methodology in Physical Education | 3 |
PET 545 | Standards-Based Assessment in Physical Education | 3 |
PET 565 | Curriculum in Physical Education | 3 |
PET 573 | Instructional Technology in Sport and Physical Education | 2 |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Curriculum in Physical Education - Advanced Laboratory and School Physical Activity and Technology - Advanced Laboratory | ||
Effective Teaching in Physical Education - Advanced Laboratory and Motor Development for Special Populations - Advanced Laboratory | ||
PET 581 | Motor Development in Special Populations | 3 |
PET 583 | Principles of Effective Teaching | 3 |
PET 580 | School Physical Activity | 3 |
PET 585 | Physical Education Supervision and Advocacy | 2 |
Total Hours | 26 |
Suggested Plan of Study
First Year | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
PET 101 | 3 | PET 125 | 2 | ||
PET 124 | 2 | PET 244 | 2 | ||
PET 167 | 3 | GEF 3 | 3 | ||
ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | GEF 7 | 3 | ||
PASS 191 | 2 | GEF 8 | 3 | ||
GEF 6 | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 | ||
16 | 16 | ||||
Second Year | |||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
PET 175 | 2 | PET 228 | 3 | ||
PET 276 | 2 | PET 233 | 4 | ||
ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | PET 349 | 3 | ||
SPED 304 | 3 | EXPH 365 | 3 | ||
GEF 2 | 4 | PET 403 | 3 | ||
14 | 16 | ||||
Third Year | |||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
PET 350 | 2 | PET 346 | 3 | PET 545 | 3 |
PET 369 | 3 | PET 347 | 3 | PET 565 or 581 | 3 |
PET 379 | 3 | PET 441 | 3 | PET 573 | 2 |
RDNG 422 | 3 | PET 402 | 3 | ||
PET 401 | 3 | PET 576 or 574 | 2 | ||
PET 581 or 565 | 3 | ||||
14 | 17 | 8 | |||
Fourth Year | |||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
PET 447 | 3 | PET 587 or CI 491 | 5 | PET 515 | 3 |
PET 449 | 3 | PET 588 or CI 491 | 5 | PET 580 or 583 | 3 |
PET 477 | 3 | PET 589 or CI 491 | 2 | PET 585 | 2 |
PET 575 or 577 | 2 | ||||
PET 583 or 580 | 3 | ||||
GEF 8 | 3 | ||||
17 | 12 | 8 | |||
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)