The physical education major is designed to provide an exemplary educational environment and experiences leading to the acquisition of skills, knowledge, and dispositions within domains for human movement, growth, and development of individuals; and the application of physical, biological, and behavioral sciences to the teaching/learning process. Competence within these areas contributes to the development of our students under state and national standards and prepares them for leadership positions in public and private schools.

Who should major in Physical Education?

Students interested in teaching physical education or would like the opportunity to coach athletes in junior varsity and varsity sports. The physical education degree is for students who enjoy an active lifestyle and teaching/coaching students to achieve motor performance goals.

What can you do with a degree in Physical Education (Noncertification)?

• Teaching Positions: Become a physical education teacher at elementary, middle, or high schools.

• Coaching Roles: Coach school or community sports teams across various age groups.

• Fitness Training: Work as a personal trainer or fitness instructor in gyms, wellness centers, or private practice.

• Recreation Management: Manage recreational programs or facilities, such as community centers or parks.

• Health Promotion: Engage in health education and promotion roles within schools, organizations, or public health agencies.

• Sports Administration: Pursue administrative positions in sports organizations, clubs, or educational institutions.

• Therapeutic Services: Assist in physical therapy or rehabilitation programs (additional certifications may be required).

• Research and Development: Participate in research related to physical education, kinesiology, or sports science.

• Curriculum Development: Design and develop physical education programs and materials for educational institutions.

• Corporate Wellness: Implement and manage wellness programs within corporate environments.

Physical Education Program Outcomes (SHAPE America Standards, 2017)

1. Content Knowledge and Design

a. Microteaching: (Application of Content Knowledge)
Students will apply content knowledge in a series of microteaching experiences, which includes planning, teaching, and writing a reflection. Microteaching assessments are embedded in courses throughout the program.

2. Skill- and Fitness-Based Competence

a. Skill-Based Competence:
Students must demonstrate mastery of foundational motor skills and competency in a wide variety of sports and physical activities.
b. Fitness-Based Competence:
Students will achieve and maintain health-related fitness relative to their age and gender. The FitnessGram (or appropriate assessment) is administered throughout the program (fall and spring) to evaluate and monitor student progress.

3. Internship Performance - Capstone Experience

a. Internship Performance Evaluation (Consensus Results)
During the internship, students will effectively apply the knowledge and skills developed in the program to provide an exemplary learning experience for students or clients enrolled in the setting.

4. Physical Education Dispositions

a. Student dispositions (attitudes, values, and beliefs) will be assessed throughout the program to ensure they meet or exceed the minimum standard to become a certified physical education teacher in South Carolina.

5. Intern Performance

a. Students will earn a minimum rating of Competent on at least 4 evaluations conducted during the Capstone experience.
b. The College Supervisor (2) and Cooperating Teacher or Host (2) conduct four official evaluations during the internship.
c. Interns receive feedback after each teaching evaluation and during the Midterm and Final conferences.

6. Internship Presentation to Program Faculty

a. Students will present their body of work from the internship to program faculty at the end of the semester. Students must earn at least a C on the presentation to successfully complete the internship and graduate from the program.

Assignment to Pre-Physical Education

Students interested in physical education are first assigned to Pre-Physical Education (Teaching Track). Students can choose to pursue either the Physical Education Noncertification Major or the Physical Education Teacher Education (Certification) Major by the end of the sophomore year. The coursework is the same for both options, but students choosing the certification option must meet the additional requirements of State teacher certification, PRAXIS Core, PRAXIS II (PE), and the PLT. All undergraduate courses at The Citadel with a subject prefix of EDUC, EXSC, PHED, and RPED will count towards the major GPA.

Admission to Physical Education (Non-certification) Major

To be fully admitted to the Physical Education Noncertification Major a student must have the support of their advisor relative to suitability and professional ethics required in education, sport, and fitness industries. The student must also successfully complete the following:

1. Professional dispositions evaluation;

2. Maintained a cumulative Grade Point Ratio of 2.50 or higher on at least 45 credit hours of coursework taken at The Citadel;

3. Successfully completed PHED 101 , EXSC 200 , PHED 201 , PHED 335  and PHED 350  with a grade of “C” or better.

Students who have yet to meet all these requirements by the end of their sophomore year will not be permitted to register for upper-level courses in the major. Students may contact the Physical Education Program Coordinator to request permission to continue in the program when there is a realistic plan to achieve the minimum G.P.A. requirement (e.g., grade replacement). The Citadel School of Education Guidelines and Policies regarding transition points and common assessments must be met.

Internship (PHED 499 ) Admission Requirements

Students must formally apply for admission by May 1st of the previous academic year for access to the spring internship in teaching. This internship is not generally offered to students in fall semesters. The Department of Health and Human Performance faculty will review this application. It will include, among other things, recommendations from professors in completed professional education courses and an evaluation by the student’s advisor regarding the student’s suitability and interest in physical education, sport, or fitness. In addition, a student must have the following:

1. Completed (with a GPA of at least 2.50) all required coursework except PHED 421  and PHED 499 ;
2. Completed the following professional education courses with the cumulative GPA of at least 2.50: EDUC 202 , EDUC 206 , EDUC 301 , EDUC 306 , EDUC 307 , EXSC 200 , EXSC 314 , PHED 101 , PHED 201 , PHED 303 , PHED 335 , PHED 350 , PHED 433 , PHED 460 , and HLED 407 ;
3. Successfully completed a minimum of 100 field experience hours;

The HHP Department Head (or PE Coordinator) will be informed of the results of this review. They will send an official notice of admission or rejection to the student. Without significant extenuating circumstances, a student not eligible for the Internship in Teaching will be required to earn additional course credits to meet graduation requirements (123 credit hours).

Major Academic Map

Click here to view the Academic Map for this major, which shows the courses and sequence.