Department website: https://academics.potomacstatecollege.edu/majors/two-year-programs/physical-education-teacher-emphasis
Degree Offered
- Associate of Arts
Nature of the Program
Physical educators make an impact on the health, well-being, and quality of life of future generations. The Physical Education Teacher Education program at Potomac State College prepares students to teach, motivate, and shape the lives of Pre-K through adult learners in physical education, movement, wellness, and sport-based environments.
Students in the PETE program learn to use and integrate technology into their classwork, as well as how to design and deliver physical education programs. Upon program completion, graduates are prepared to apply to four-year PETE programs to pursue their bachelor’s degree.
Career Opportunities
Program graduates are physical activity and wellness leaders in their schools, communities, and states who promote healthy, active lifestyles for children and adults alike. The program has high expectations for our students and expects them to be engaged in the major while becoming proficient teachers at all levels and in all contexts.
Faculty
Chair
- Cassandra Pritts - M.A. History (Duquesne University)
Year @ PSC (2011)
Associate professor
- Doug Little - M.S. (Eastern Kentucky University)
Year @ PSC (1999)
Assistant professor
- Donald Schafer - M.S. (West Virginia University)
Year @ PSC (2017)
Admissions
Entering freshmen are admitted directly into the major.
Benchmark Requirements
Students planning to continue at WVU-Morgantown must earn a grade of C- or higher in all courses, have at least a 2.5 overall GPA, and meet all other PETE admission requirements and deadlines. Admission is competitive.
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEF Requirements (2, 3, 5, 6, and 8) | 19 | |
| WVUE 191 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| ENGL 101 & ENGL 102 | Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research (GEF 1) | 6 |
| PET 101 | Games in American Culture (GEF 4) | 3 |
| PET 124 | Human Body: Structure and Function | 2 |
| PET 125 | Principles of Human Movement | 2 |
| PET 167 | Introduction to Physical Education | 3 |
| PET 175 | Motor Development | 2 |
| PET 244 | Motor Learning and Performance | 2 |
| PET 276 | Adapted Physical Education | 2 |
| Select one of the following tracks: | 9 | |
Track 1: | ||
| Introduction to Sport and Performance Psychology | ||
| Sport in American Society | ||
| African Americans in Sports | ||
Track 2: | ||
| Families Across the Life Span | ||
Select two of the following: | ||
| Introduction to Family Processes and Dynamics | ||
| Introduction to Parenting | ||
| Development in Early and Middle Childhood | ||
Track 3: | ||
| Families Across the Life Span | ||
Select two of the following: | ||
| Introduction to Parenting | ||
| Infant Development | ||
| Development in Early and Middle Childhood | ||
| Electives | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
- *
Students planning to continue at WVU-Morgantown must earn a grade of C- or higher in all courses and have at least a 2.5 overall GPA.
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PET 124 | 2 | ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| PET 167 | 3 | PET 125 | 2 |
| PET 175 | 2 | Elective | 3 |
| WVUE 191 | 1 | GEF 5 | 3 |
| GEF 3 | 3 | Track Elective | 3 |
| GEF 6 | 3 | ||
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | PET 276 | 2 |
| PET 101 (GEF 4) | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 |
| PET 244 | 2 | GEF 8 | 3 |
| GEF 2 | 4 | Track Elective | 3 |
| Track Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Total credit hours: 60 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
PE - Teacher Education
The goal of the program is for students to possess the skills to teach, motivate, and shape the lives of Pre-K to adult learners in physical education, movement, wellness, and sport-based environments.
- Content Knowledge – Students will demonstrate knowledge and disciplinary concepts related to the promotion of physical education and physical activity.
- Reflection and Critical Thinking – Students will demonstrate reflection and critical thinking in order to refine professional practice.
- Programming and Assessment – Students will demonstrate evidence-based knowledge and skills (and best practices) for assessing student needs and for designing, implementing and evaluating lesson plans and programs.
- Professionalism and Ethics – Students will demonstrate professional behaviors, including commitment to excellence, valuing diversity and collaboration, service to others, and techniques for lifelong learning.
- Technology – Students will be able to demonstrate the use of different forms of technology to enhance and assess student learning.