The Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with teacher certification prepares the student to teach health and physical education in a P-12 school setting. The program provides strong theoretical and applied knowledge for working with children at all stages of developmental in both health and physical education.
As a health and physical education program, we view health and physical education as the vehicle to help create a healthier society. Within our program, we equip teacher candidates with the necessary concepts and skills they will need to enable their students to make healthy choices both in school and at home. We model a positive learning environment where ALL candidates can experience success and develop feelings of competence about themselves. We empower our candidates to be health and physical education teachers that will foster predispositions in their students to engage in lifelong physical activity, whatever that may be. The program brings the union of excellent professional and academic standards, multiple opportunities for planned professional hands-on experiences, and a rigorous high quality student centered curriculum. Working with local school districts we provide our candidates with numerous opportunities to develop their skillsets in real life experiences therefore truly honing their craft.
Our health and physical education teacher candidates will use physical education as an opportunity to help their students grow and stretch boundaries making healthy, informed decisions in a safe manner. Through critical thinking and growth opportunities, our teacher candidates will promote student wellness; physically, socio-emotionally, and mentally to help create a healthier society.
Montclair State University’s Teacher Education Program is one of the most highly-regarded teacher preparation programs in the country. It has been consistently recognized both nationally and regionally for its unique features, including its structure, partnerships, and curricular emphases. The program is considered a model for other colleges and universities and has continuously been accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), formerly the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1954.
The Teacher Education Program’s professional course sequence and field experiences emphasize teaching for critical thinking and culturally responsive teaching. The undergraduate program reflects a balance of a liberal education and professional preparation by combining rigorous general education, subject matter specialization, and professional training. The professional component for both undergraduates and graduate students addresses four broad areas:
- Student development and learning
- The classroom and the school
- The curriculum
- Effective teaching skills
Students who wish to pursue P-12 teacher certification must apply to and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program. Once admitted, students will be matriculated into the B.A. in Secondary Education program as a second major.
Please visit the Teacher Education Program website for the required professional sequence of courses and other important Program requirements, guidelines, and procedures. Students also are strongly advised to review the Teacher Education Program Handbook.
120 credits of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA. Major GPA requirements differ depending on the field of study. Consult the Teacher Education Program Handbook for more information.
Degree Requirements Overview
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| New Student Seminar (fulfilled in the major) | ||
| SEEDS General Education Requirements | 24-27 | |
| Major Requirements | 51 | |
| Co-Major in Secondary Education | 39 | |
| Free Elective | 6-3 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Theory Courses | ||
| HLTH 208 | Study of Human Diseases | 3 |
| HLTH 215 | Drug Education in the Schools | 3 |
| HLTH 222 | Mental Health in the Schools | 3 |
| HLTH 295 | Sexuality Education in the Schools | 3 |
| HPEM 199 | Freshman Seminar in Health and Physical Education | 1 |
| HPEM 352 | Development and Philosophy of Health and Physical Education | 3 |
| HPEM 356 | Management of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Fitness Programs | 3 |
| PEMJ 320 | Physiology of Exercise | 4 |
| PEMJ 321 | Kinesiology | 3 |
| PEMJ 324 | Basic Motor Learning | 3 |
| PEMJ 351 | Adapted Physical Education | 3 |
| Required Skills Courses | ||
| PEMJ 131 | Fitness Activities | 3 |
| PEMJ 152 | Introduction to Fielding and Target Games | 3 |
| PEMJ 153 | Introduction to Invasion and Net Games | 3 |
| PEMJ 235 | Movement Experiences in Physical Education | 3 |
| PEMJ 335 | Teaching of Elementary Physical Education | 3 |
| Collateral Course | ||
| BIOL 244 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| Total Credits | 51 | |
Co-Major in Secondary Education
SEEDS General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill the SEEDS requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | ||
| Effective Writing I | ||
| Complete one Effective Writing I course. | 3 | |
| Effective Writing II | ||
| Complete one Effective Writing II course. | 3 | |
| Interactive Communication | ||
| Complete one Interactive Communication course. | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Complete one Quantitative Reasoning course. | 3 | |
| Political and Civic Life | ||
| Fulfilled by SASE 210 in the pre-professional sequence. | ||
| World Language | ||
| Complete two sequential classes in one World Language when starting at the Beginner I or Beginner II level. Complete one class when starting at the Intermediate/Advanced Level. | 3-6 | |
| Exploration | ||
| Complete one course from four different Exploration categories: | 9 | |
| Analyzing Cultures and Societies | ||
| Creative Expression | ||
| Ethical Inquiry | ||
| Historical Thinking | ||
| Literary and Artistic Analysis | ||
| Scientific Reasoning | ||
| Fulfilled by BIOL 244 in the major. | ||
| Total Credits | 24-27 | |
Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion
This recommended degree plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years and 120 credits. This plan is a recommendation and MUST be used in consultation with their academic advisor. Important note: Students should be aware this plan assumes no pre-requisite coursework is required. If pre-requisite coursework is needed, students may have additional requirements to fulfill which do not appear on the plan.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| New Student Seminar | 1 | SEEDS: Effective Writing II - WRIT 106 recommended | 3 |
| SEEDS: Effective Writing I - WRIT 105 recommended | 3 | SEEDS: Interactive Communication - CMST 101 recommended | 3 |
| SEEDS: Quantitative Reasoning - MATH 104, MATH 106 recommended | 3 | SEEDS: World Language 1 | 3 |
| PEMJ 131 | 3 | PEMJ 153 | 3 |
| BIOL 244 (Fulfilled SEEDS: Exploration - Scientific Reasoning) | 4 | EDFD 200 | 3 |
| NUFD 182 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SEEDS: World Language 2 | 3 | SEEDS: Exploration 2 | 3 |
| PEMJ 235 | 3 | PEMJ 320 | 4 |
| HLTH 295 | 3 | HPEM 352 | 3 |
| PEMJ 152 | 3 | HLTH 222 | 3 |
| SASE 210 (Fulfills SEEDS: Political and Civic Life) | 3 | HLTH 208 | 3 |
| Apply to Teacher Education Program* | |||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SEEDS: Exploration 3 | 3 | SEEDS: Exploration 4 | 3 |
| PEMJ 321 | 3 | PEMJ 324 | 3 |
| PEMJ 335 | 3 | HPEM 455 | 3 |
| PEMJ 351 | 3 | HPEM 356 | 3 |
| HLTH 215 | 3 | SASE 322 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PEMJ 457 | 3 | SASE 452 | 3 |
| SASE 450 | 3 | SASE 453 | 9 |
| SASE 451 | 3 | ||
| PEMJ 431 | 3 | ||
| HLTH 401 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||