College of Education > Middle Grades and Secondary Education > Health and Physical Education B.S.Ed.

Health and Physical Education B.S.Ed.

Format: In person on the Statesboro Campus
Credit Hours: 124

The Bachelor of Science program in Health and Physical Education Certification track is designed for students who are seeking initial teacher certification in the P-12 teaching field in health and physical education. The program consists of:

Coursework in the major field of study
Methodology courses addressing academic instruction
Core coursework in professional education

Program Format

During the Health and Physical Education degree program, you will have many experiences in public school classrooms prior to the student teaching semester. All field experiences, including student teaching, take place within a 70 mile radius of the Georgia Southern campus. This program is offered on the Statesboro Campus.

Upon meeting the program requirements and physical education college outcomes for the Certification Track, and passing the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) exam in Health and Physical Education, you will qualify for Georgia’s health and physical education teacher induction certification. The program is accredited by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and is recognized through reciprocity in many other states in the U.S. Graduates of this program are prepared to teach in public or private school systems. Other examples of career opportunities available to graduates of this program include camps, churches, recreation, and youth services.

Courses and Curriculum

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Non-Certification Track

The Health and Physical Education B.S.Ed. Professional Studies (Non-Certification) degree provides students who are interested in education the opportunity to take coursework with planned minors and concentrations. The degree allows for choice in several areas leading to a broad background. This track does NOT lead to teacher certification.

Upon meeting teacher education program admission requirements, those seeking teacher certification in Health and Physical Education will move into the Health and Physical Education B.S.Ed. Certification Track.

Courses and Curriculum

Admission Information

The Georgia Southern University Office of Undergraduate Admissions oversees the application process for undergraduate students. During the admission process, ALL students interested in either the certification or non-certification program must declare the Health and Physical Education B.S.Ed. Professional Studies (Non-Certification Track) as their intended major. When accepted to the university, ALL undergraduate education majors are admitted into the Health and Physical Education B.S.Ed. Professional Studies (Non-Certification Track). Admission to the B.S.Ed. Health and Physical Education program will be structured into annual cohorts beginning each fall semester. For university admission information, please visit the Georgia Southern University Admissions website.

At the completion of all courses, through area F in the program of study, students seeking initial teacher certification would then apply to the Teacher Education Program. (See admission requirements for admission into the Teacher Education Program). If accepted into the Teacher Education Program, the student would move into the Health and Physical Education B.S.Ed. Certification Track. Those students who are NOT seeking initial teacher certification, would complete the remainder of the program requirements for the Health & Physical Education B.S.Ed. Professional Studies Non Certification Track program

Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s (ABM) program

Qualified students of the Health and Physical Education B.S.Ed. Certification Track program also be eligible for an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s (ABM) program. ABM programs allow you to begin graduate studies in your senior year so you can accelerate completion of a graduate degree. You’ll earn both a bachelor’s and a graduate degree faster. And since any graduate courses taken as an undergraduate are billed at the undergraduate tuition rate, you’ll save money too.

Learn more about accelerated bachelor’s to master’s programs.

Undergraduate Advising

All B.S.Ed. Health and Physical Education majors are assigned to a professional advisor in the College of Education (COE) Advisement Center for program planning and course scheduling. Undergraduate students are advised each term by appointment and/or walk in hours. Please visit the COE Advisement Center web page for a list of program advisors.

For advisement, change of major or transfer questions, please contact the College of Education Advisement Center directly at 912-478-0698.

Spotlight Story

“After applying for and earning numerous college scholarships, Haggins chose Georgia Southern University to pursue a degree in health and physical education. “I was at home at Georgia Southern”.
Tendai Haggins, “93

Georgia Southern alumnus encourages his students to stay active from home. Read the full spotlight story for the Health and Physical Education B.S.Ed. program.

Program Outcomes

1: Scientific and Theoretical Knowledge
From the junior year through completion of the BS in Health & Physical Education, teacher candidates will identify and apply discipline-specific content knowledge in Health and Physical Education. Content knowledge components include the following: Mental and Emotional Health/Professional Issues; Personal Health and Wellness, Sexual Health, and Nutrition; Safety and Injury Prevention, and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs; Basic Sciences of Physical Education; Motor Learning and Motor Development; Sports, Activities, and Fitness; as well as Instructional Principles and Professionalism in Physical Education.

2: Skill and Fitness Based Competence
From the junior year through completion of the BS in Health & Physical Education, teacher candidates will plan using appropriate learning standards, effective strategies, and knowledge of learner development to address the needs of all students.

3: Planning and Implementation
From the junior year through completion of the BS in Health & Physical Education, teacher candidates will implement planned instruction, assess student learning, and create a safe learning environment to meet the needs of diverse learners.

4: Instructional Delivery and Management
From the junior year through completion of the BS in Health & Physical Education, teacher candidates will apply professional skills and dispositions required for initial teacher certification in P-12 learning environments.

5: Impact on Student Learning
From the junior year through completion of the HPE program, teacher candidates will be physically literate (identify knowledge of fitness, rules, strategies, and teaching cues) individuals who can perform sports skills in physical education content areas and health-enhancing levels of fitness. (SPA Standard #2 – NASPE)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I complete the Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education degree (B.S.Ed.) through part-time, evening or distance learning/internet coursework?

The Health and Physical Education (HPE) undergraduate program is available only through on-campus, day coursework. This degree program can be completed on the Statesboro Campus. Currently there are no internet or distance learning programs in place for undergraduate education degrees at Georgia Southern. The HPE program also requires certain combinations of courses to be taken concurrently, so steady progression through the program requires full-time enrollment.

What is TEP?

TEP is the abbreviation for the Teacher Education Program. Admission into TEP is dependent on the satisfaction of specific requirements. Declaring Education as a major does not automatically admit you into the Teacher Education Program. Until all teacher education program requirements are met, students are classified as Professional Studies Health and Physical Education B.S.Ed. Non-Certification Track majors and may not enroll in junior and senior level education courses.

What is the Pre-Professional Block (PPB)?

The Pre-professional Block, or PPB, is a set of three courses with a field experience component:

Investigating Critical and Contemporary Issues in Education (EDUC 2110)
Exploring Socio-Cultural Perspectives on Diversity in Educational Contexts (EDUC 2120)
Exploring Learning and Teaching (EDUC 2130)

The three PPB courses, totaling nine semester hours, are taken concurrently preferably during the fourth semester at Georgia Southern.

During the PPB experience, students will begin the construction of a Folio, which will be a part of the admission process to the Teacher Education Program. Students will also have a common field experience with the three courses which will provide them with exposure to actual classrooms and school settings. During the PPB, students will be evaluated by committees on a set of established criteria including intrapersonal behaviors, interpersonal behaviors, oral communication, written communication and professional behaviors.

Prior to enrolling in the PPB, students should have all other requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program satisfied in order to progress in the program after the PPB is completed. Successful completion of the PPB, including the field experience and Folio review, is required for admission to the Teacher Education Program.

What is the GACE Test?

The Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators®(GACE™) is a series of exams developed by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) with the assistance of the National Evaluation Systems, Inc. (NES®). The purpose of GACE is to assess the knowledge and skills of prospective Georgia public school educators. The series of exams includes the GACE Program Admission Assessment and GACE Content Assessment exams.

The GACE Program Admission Assessment is a requirement for entry into the Teacher Education Program at Georgia Southern. The appropriate GACE Content Assessment must be taken for admission to Student Teaching.

For more GACE information, including test dates, locations, study hints, and on-line registration, use these links:

• GACE website
• PSC’s Educator Testing web page
• Exempting the GACE Basic Skills Assessment

How do I find out who my advisor is?

All B.S.Ed. in Health and Physical Education majors are advised by staff in the College of Education Advisement Center.

Where can I student teach? May I student teach in my home town?

Check the Clinical Practice Experience web page for information on student teaching locations and factors considered for student teaching placements. Also, see region for field experience placements.

Are the Teacher Education Programs at Georgia Southern accredited, and if so by what agencies?

Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, bachelor, master, specialist, and doctorate degrees. In addition, the College of Education’s programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GAPSC) which oversees teacher preparation and certification in Georgia.

What type of financial aid is available for undergraduate students?

Check with the Office of Financial Aid for complete financial aid information including loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study programs. You may wish to explore Georgia’s highly successful HOPE Scholarship Program. Also, check the College of Education Undergraduate Scholarship information for scholarships available within the College of Education through the Georgia Southern Foundation with applications due Jan. 31 each year.

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Last updated: 12/5/2023