Physical Education

The mission of Health and Physical Education is to develop exemplary practitioners. The emphasis of the program is on building skills for teaching student learners in K-12 health and physical education programs. The program focuses on the promotion of lifetime health, wellness, and physical activity.

  • Program Information

    The Teacher Education Program in Physical Education (PHED) prepares students to become successful teachers in the field of health and physical education at the elementary, middle and high school levels. The program includes:

    • Theory to practice-based curriculum in which students gain knowledge about effective teaching by studying best practices and research, then by applying that knowledge in practical teaching experiences.
    • Integrated curriculum in which courses are carefully designed to allow students to gradually build their teaching skills by reviewing and applying teaching concepts and strategies throughout the program.
    • Practical experience which enhances classroom work by involving students in "real world" educational situations each semester.
    • Advanced technology, giving students access to the latest in physical education and sport technology. Students learn to integrate technology into their teaching using hand held devices, monitors, software, and internet programs. Teaching and biomechanical analysis are performed using sophisticated software.
    • Student-centered teaching by faculty members who are committed to students and who strive to discover and enhance the unique potential of every student as a future teaching professional.
    • Assessment to demonstrate pre-service teacher candidate and K-12 student learning.
  • Program Requirements

    A student may receive a Bachelor of Science in Education degree which, with the recommendation of the College of Education, qualifies the graduate for an early childhood (grades P-5), a middle grades (grades 4-8), a business education (grades 7-12), a special education (grades P-12), or a physical education (grades P-12) teaching certificate by meeting the following requirements:

    1. A minimum or 120 semester hours of academic college work in an approved program and three (3) semester hours of physical education are required, including PWLA 1600. The approved program must include 60 semester hours in the Core Curriculum.

    2. A minimum or 39 semester hours of work in courses numbered 3000 or above. Twenty-one to 33 of these hours must be in the major field and 18 of these hours in the major must be taken at West Georgia.

    3. Complete Political Science 1101 and History 2111 or 2112. Exemption from these courses may be earned by passing appropriate tests.

    4. Thirty semester hours must be completed in residence.

    5. Attain the admission requirements for the major (see Admission to Teacher Education Requirements and Retention Requirements, see Undergraduate Catalog).

    6. Complete other requirements for the major as listed by individual departments.

    7. Students must pass the Regents' Test before being admitted to Teacher Education.

    8. Make application for admission to the teacher education program (see Undergraduate Catalog).

    9. Make application for all practicum, internship, and block courses with the Office of the Assistant Dean prior to enrollment in the courses. These deadlines apply (see Undergraduate Catalog):

    Application for               Deadline
    Fall Semester                First Monday in February
    Spring Semester           First Monday in May

    10. Satisfactorily complete a course of 3 or more semester hours in the identification and education of children who have special needs (SPED 3715) as required by Georgia House Bill 671 for teachers, principals, and counselors.

    11. Not more than 30 hours of the entire program and none of the professional education sequence may be done by extension or correspondence, nor may more than 30 hours be completed at an off-campus site with the exception of external degree programs

    12. The appropriate certification assessments(s) required by the Professional Standards Commission must be completed and passed before a candidate can be recommended for certification.

    Program Coordinator: Dr. Brian Mosier, 678-839-5424, bmosier@westga.edu

  • Program Sheets