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LVC student smiles by projector screen in education classroom

Health and Physical Education

Great Health and Physical Education teachers are multifaceted—they change the lives of their students through highlighting fitness, health and wellness, and leadership. Earning an LVC Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education will lead you to a rewarding teaching career with additional opportunities to become a head athletic coach, fitness instructor, health teacher, or athletic director. This teacher preparation program combines health education, physical education, and hands-on teaching experience to prepare you to teach health and physical education in K–12 schools. You will get into the classroom during your first year and gain over 200 hours of field experience before your student teaching semester.

³¢³Õ°ä’s Health and Physical Education degree meets all content requirements mandated by the . In addition to their teacher certification, though not required, students can pursue certification in several areas, including personal training, group fitness, and strength and conditioning. And there is a strong alumni network of head coaches at the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels. These additional credentials can help expand career opportunities in education, coaching, fitness, and health promotion.

The program combines the expertise of faculty in our Education and Exercise Science departments with the life experience of our lecturers, who are often practicing Health and Physical Education teachers and coaches.ÌýThis collaborative approach gives students valuable teaching experience while preparing them for careers as physical education teachers, health educators, and coaches.

Need-based departmental scholarships are available.ÌýÌý

Learn More About the Program

³¢³Õ°ä’s Health and Physical Education program prepares you to be a well-rounded teacher through classes that enable you to become knowledgeable about classroom management, anatomy and physiology, adaptive physical education, health promotion and fitness management, long- and short-range planning, ethical standards, professional development, and working with students of all abilities and backgrounds. ³Û´Ç³Ü’l±ô develop the skills and knowledge to be a teacher, coach, and eventually, an administrator if that is your chosen path.

Health and Physical Education student performs step-training exercise in a fitness training exercise in Arnold Sports Center Arena

Hands-On Experience

³¢³Õ°ä’s program will have you in the classroom your first year, observing professional educators from local school districts. This early immersion gives you experience in the education field as early as possible. As part of this teacher preparation program, you’ll gain teaching experience in real classroom settings while learning from experienced health and physical education teachers.ÌýDuring your final semester in the Health and Physical Education program, you can decide if you want to pursue student teaching or a practicum experience. You will then take the PRAXIS exam to become a certified Health and Physical Education Teacher or sit for one of the various certifications available through the Exercise Science Department.

What skills will you learn at LVC to become an excellent Health and Physical Education Teacher?

  1. Establishing a welcoming learning space.Ìý
  2. Helping students gain a passion for fitness, health, and wellness. Ìý
  3. Focusing on each student’s unique abilities and talents.Ìý
  4. Teaching through lessons, games, and activities that promote engagement and opportunities to inspire every student. Ìý
  5. Becoming a creative thinker, strong writer, and excellent communicator with your students, colleagues, administrators, and families. Ìý
$64,580
2024, Median salary for high school teachers (Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS)
66,200
New job openings per year by 2034 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
6%
projected growth for coaches and scouts, 2024–34 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

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