Physical Education with Teacher Certification in Health and Physical Education (Preschool-Grade 12) (B.S.)

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:

  1. Student development and learning
  2. The classroom and the school
  3. The curriculum
  4. 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.

Program Requirements Overview

General Education Requirements27
World Languages and Cultures Requirements3
Major Requirements51
Teacher Education Program Requirements 39
Total Credits120

Major Requirements

Required Theory Courses
HLTH 208Study of Human Diseases3
HLTH 215Drug Education in the Schools3
HLTH 222Mental Health in the Schools3
HLTH 295Sexuality Education in the Schools3
HPEM 199Freshman Seminar in Health and Physical Education1
HPEM 352Development and Philosophy of Health and Physical Education3
HPEM 356Management of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Fitness Programs3
PEMJ 320Physiology of Exercise4
PEMJ 321Kinesiology3
PEMJ 324Basic Motor Learning3
PEMJ 351Adapted Physical Education3
Required Skills Courses
PEMJ 131Fitness Activities3
PEMJ 152Introduction to Fielding and Target Games3
PEMJ 153Introduction to Invasion and Net Games3
PEMJ 235Movement Experiences in Physical Education3
PEMJ 335Teaching of Elementary Physical Education3
Collateral Course
BIOL 244Anatomy and Physiology I4
Total Credits51

Second Major in Secondary Education

Secondary Education (B.A.)

General Education Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.

A. New Student Seminar
Freshman Seminar in Health and Physical Education (Fulfilled in the major.)
C. Communication
1. Writing
WRIT 105College Writing I3
2. Literature
WRIT 106College Writing II3
3. Communication
CMST 101Fundamentals of Speech: Communication Requirement3
F. Humanities
1. Great Works and Their Influences3
2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives 3
G. Computer Science
Complete a 3 credit Computer Science course.3
H. Mathematics
STAT 103The Development of Statistics3
or MATH 104 Fractals and Infinity
or MATH 106 Creative Thinking through Mathematics
or STAT 109 Statistics
or STAT 110 Statistics for the Biological Sciences
I. Natural Science Laboratory
Anatomy and Physiology I (Fulfilled in the major.)
K. Social Science
1. American and European History 3
2. Global Cultural Perspectives3
3. Social Science Perspectives
Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.
Psychological Foundations of Education
L. Interdisciplinary Studies
Fulfilled in the major or in the Teacher Education sequence.
Sexuality Education in the Schools
Public Purposes of Education: Democracy and Schooling
Total Credits27

World Languages and Cultures Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.

World Languages
Based on placement exam complete one World Language course.3
Total Credits3

Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion

This four-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years.  This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar1GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature3
GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing3MATH 104, 106, STAT 103, or STAT 1093
GENERAL EDUCATION: (F1) Humanities – Great Works and Their Influences3EDFD 2003
World Language 13HLTH 2953
BIOL 2444PEMJ 1523
PEMJ 1313 
 17 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CMST 1013CSIT 1003
GENERAL EDUCATION: (F2) Humanities – Philosophical and Religious Perspectives3HLTH 2223
GENERAL EDUCATION: (K1) Social Science – American and European History3HPEM 3523
PEMJ 1533PEMJ 3204
PEMJ 2353SASE 2103
 Apply to Teacher Education Program*
 15 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION: (K2) Social Science – Global Cultural Perspectives (choose a course that also fulfills the World Cultures requirement)3HLTH 4013
HLTH 2083HPEM 4553
HLTH 2153HPEM 3563
PEMJ 3213PEMJ 3243
PEMJ 3353SASE 3223
PEMJ 3513 
 18 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PEMJ 4313SASE 4523
PEMJ 4573SASE 4539
SASE 4503 
SASE 4513 
 12 12
Total Credits 120
* Requirements to apply to the Teacher Education program at the end of the sophomore year:

1. Successfully completed EDFD 200, EDFD 220, EDFD 221 and SASE 210.

2. Pass PRAXIS Core (Reading, Writing, Mathematics).

3. Completed nine (9) credits of major courses.

4. 3.00 GPA overall and 3.00 GPA in major courses.

5. Valid American Red Cross First Aid Card.