Physical Education

The following teaching endorsements are available:

• Coaching
• Driver Education

To receive a coaching endorsement, a candidate must possess or simultaneously receive teaching certification.

Physical Education majors must complete the requirements for K-12 endorsement, among other requirements.

Non-Physical Education majors must possess or simultaneously receive teaching certification and other requirements.

Curriculum and full endorsement requirements can be found in the most current Undergraduate Bulletin.

Visit the bulletins page >>

Graduates in physical education with teaching certification are generally employed as elementary or secondary health and/or physical education teachers and athletic coaches. PETE graduates have the skills, knowledge, and dispositions that professional associations have identified as critical for beginning teaching to be successful in the work place.

All PETE majors will be able to:

1. Assess fitness, prescribe exercise, develop appropriate programs for K-12, and demonstrate physical education knowledge
2. Understand the importance of integrating all dimensions of health and wellness into healthy behaviors
3. Demonstrate competency in a variety of movement activities
4. Analyze movement
5. Identify cultural, social, psychological, historical impacts on physical education
6. Understand and apply principles of motor development (how children learn movement)
7. Generate activities (skill progressions) that are developmentally appropriate and safe for K-12 grades
8. Interpret research relevant to physical education
9. Demonstrate quantitative competency relevant to physical education
10. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills in ways relevant to physical education
11. Develop confidence in working with diverse populations
12. Develop skills in leadership and professional networking

Graduates are employed in a number of settings. Below are just a few examples of the range of employment opportunities that are available.

• Physical Activities Specialist
• Adaptive Physical Education
• Athletic Coach
• Athletic Director
• Dance Instructor
• High School Sports Coach/Manager
• Intramural Director
• Movement Education Specialist
• Physical Education Teacher
• Professional Sports
• Referee
• Coach/Manager
• Recreation Manager
• Sports Fitness Instructor/Coordinator
• Youth/Sports Camp Director
• Youth Sports Coach
• Umpire

Arkansas Department of Education Teacher Salary Schedule Analysis for 2013-2014 reported that physical education teachers made a median annual salary of $29,244 for a Bachelor’s Degree with zero experience.  Physical education teachers who double as sport coaches tend to earn additional pay. There are no employment growth statistics for physical education teachers specifically, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates a 17% growth for middle, kindergarten and elementary school teachers for the years 2010 through 2020. Rural or urban school districts may have more career opportunities than other areas for this position.

View a detailed salary report for counties in Arkansas >>

Students seeking to obtain degrees in teaching must be admitted into the Teacher Education Program. Admission into the Teacher Education Program normally needs to take place prior to the end of the sophomore year. This process involves meeting all requirements of admission and satisfactory completion of the admissions process.

In order to be eligible to be admitted into the Teacher Education Program, you must meet the following requirements:

• Attain a minimum passing scores on the Core Academic Skills for Educators Exams (reading >/= 156, writing >/=162 and math >/=150).
• Overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) in non-remedial coursework of no less than 2.5 (4.0 scale) until Fall 2015 and 2.7 (4.0 scale) beginning in Fall 2015. Program of Study students must have a minimum of 3.0 in all coursework and a minimum 3.0 major grade point average for their Program of Study.
• Complete specific courses with a grade of "C" or better in each of the following: ENG 1003 Freshman English I, ENG 1013 Freshman English II, MATH 1023 College Algebra, ECH/MLED 2002 Intro to Educational Technology, ECH/MLED 2022 Introduction to Teaching, and SCOM 1203 Oral Communications or their equivalents from another university/college.
• Complete a minimum of 30 semester hours.
• Complete an evaluation of Career Decision Awareness (aptitude test).
• Write a two-page double-spaced typewritten philosophy of education. This normally will be completed as one of the requirements for the Introduction to Teaching class.
• Complete the On-line Registration for Screening form to schedule where and when you will screen.
• Complete the Application for Admission form with all required supporting documents.
• Fill in your portion of the Application for Admission Screening Checklist and attach it to the front of your Application for Admission packet.
• Read the Professional Behavior Plan. Include a signed copy of the signature page in your packet.
• Schedule a time to meet with your advisor and have him/her check over your Application for Admission packet and fill in his/her portion of the Application for Admission Screening Checklist.
• Turn in your completed and signed Application for Admission packet (packet should include the application page, a completed career awareness assessment, current transcripts, and philosophy of education). Packets should be turned into the Screening Coordinator as designated on the campus you will be attending no later than 5 working days prior to your appointment date.
• You will receive a reminder about day/time/location of the interview prior to the date IF your packet has been received by the Coordinator AND you provide a working email address.
• Appear before the Department Screening Committee at your scheduled location, date and time for your screening interview.
• If you are from campus other than A-State, you must go through admissions into A-State, prior to being allowed to register for Teacher Education classes after successful admission into the Teacher Education Program. For those students entering into A-State and entering into the Teacher Education program at the same time, recognize you will need TWO sets of official transcripts – one for the A-State Registrar for your admission to the University and one for your admission to Teacher Education packet.