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Health and Physical Education

  • Bachelor of Science

Prepare to positively impact future generations of students.

Children and youth, more than ever before, need role models who live healthy and active lives, and graduates from a small, Catholic, Benedictine college will be well-positioned to help pupils have life-long physical success and spiritual health. Additionally, due to the unique SVC offerings in athletics and club sports (i.e., lacrosse, rugby, hockey, equestrian), graduates with the health and physical education certification will possess the experiences necessary to broaden and support regional sports that are popular within a community. As a result, graduates will be attractive to private academies and public schools alike.

One Degree, Many Possibilities

The bachelor of science in health and physical education program will prepare students to teach grades PK-12 or to work in a variety of fields including coaching aquatics, specialized physical education, health and wellness programs and correctional settings for youth health and fitness.

The health and physical education program is designed to produce qualified and competent educators who meet the health and physical education needs of students in a diverse society; provide educational experiences that promote physical and health literacy, fitness and skill proficiency for PK-12 students; and prepare students with the knowledge and skills required to sit for licensure exams in both disciplines and to qualify to teach health and physical education at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Curriculum Requirements

  • Specified Health and Management Courses (28 Credits)

    BL 150/150 General Biology I and Lab – 4 credits

    BL 245 Exercise Physiology – 3 credits

    NU 110 Wellness – 3 credits

    INTS 250 or NU 106 - Fundamentals of Nutrition or Nutrition – 3 credits

    PY 250 Addictive Behaviors – 3 credits

    BA 209 Sports Administration – 3 credits

    PY 275 Sport Psychology – 3 credits

    PY 322 Health Psychology – 3 credits

    PS 374 Sports Law – 3 credits

  • Specified Physical Education Courses (21 Credits)

    HPE 120 ER Care and Prevention of Injury – 3 credits

    HPE 125 Gymnastics and Systematic Exercise – 1 credit

    HPE 130 Swimming and Water Safety – 1 credit

    HPE 135 Racquet Sports – 1 credit

    HPE 140 Baseball and Softball – 1 credit

    HPE 210 Volleyball and Basketball – 1 credit

    HPE 215 Soccer and Lacrosse – 1 credit

    HPE 220 Football and Rugby – 1 credit

    HPE 225 Wrestling and Track and Field – 1 credit

    HPE 230 Strength and Weightlifting – 1 credit

    HPE 315 Dance and Aerobics – 1 credit

    HPE 320 Games, Athletic Activities and Recreation – 1 credit

    HPE 325 Adaptive Physical Education – 3 credits

    HPE 330 Alternative Sport – 1 credit

    HPE 340 Customized Training and Assessment – 3 credits

  • Teacher Certification Courses (38 Credits)

    ED 142 Mathematics for Teachers – 3 credits

    ED 103 Field Experience I: K-12 – 1 credit

    ED 115 Educational Psychology – 3 credits

    ED 205 Strategies and Techniques of Instruction – 3 credits

    ED 206 Field Experience II: Strategies and Techniques of Instruction – 1 credit

    ED 290 Psychology of the Exceptional Student – 3 credits

    ED 208 Classroom Partnerships and Inclusion – 3 credits

    ED 220 Reading, Writing and Differentiation in the Content Area – 3 credits

    ED ??? Teaching of Health and Physical Education K-12 – 3 credits

    ED 322 Field Experience III: Secondary Instruction/K-12 and Theory – 3 credits

    ED 400 Field Experience IV: Pre-Student Teaching Practicum – 2 credits

    ED 410 Field Experience V: Student Teaching – 9 credits

    ED 411 Professional Seminar – 3 credits

  • Core Requirements

    Tier I

    CORE 1400 – Listening Seminar – 3 credits

    CORE 1100 – Theological Foundations – 3 credits

    CORE 1200/ED 100 – Education Foundations – 3 credits

    CORE 1200/HI 263 – Play Ball – 3 credits

    CORE 1300 – Investigating and Reasoning – 3 credits

    CORE 1500 – Core Writing – 3 credits

    CORE 1510 – Effective and Charitable Communication – 3 credits

    CORE 1600 – Ethics and Service - 3 credits

    Tier II

    CORE 2400 – Listening Seminar – 3 credits

    CORE 2100 – Theological Foundations – 3 credits

    CORE 2200/PY 214 – Adolescent Development – 3 credits

    CORE 2300/NSCI – Human Anatomy and Kinesiology with Lab - 4 credits

    CORE 2500 – Effective and Charitable Communication – 3 credits

    CORE 2600/ED 390 – Promoting Youth Cultural Competence and Diversity – 3 credits

    Tier III

    CORE 3400 – Loving Seminar – 3 credits

94%

of recent education graduates (2019-20) have seen success since graduating.

38

recent graduates have accepted full-time teaching positions.

24

recent graduates enrolled in graduate school or fellowship programs.

13

recent graduates hold long-term or building substitute positions.

98%

of the entire class of 2020 is employed or furthering their education.

Student Learning Outcomes

Student-teacher candidates will:
  • Achieve passing scores and successfully complete the teacher certification exams for each teaching area.
  • Demonstrate thorough knowledge of content and pedagogical skills in planning and preparation for teaching.
  • Establish and maintain a purposeful and equitable classroom environment for learning, in which pupils feel safe, valued and respected, by instituting routines and setting clear expectations for pupil behavior.
  • Through knowledge of content, pedagogy and skill in delivering and evaluating instruction, effectively engage students in learning by using a variety of instructional strategies.
  • Demonstrate the desired qualities that characterize a professional person in aspects that occur inside and beyond the classroom.

Education Program Highlights

Pennsylvania Teacher Reciprocity Agreements

Through the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, Pennsylvania allows individuals who have completed a teacher preparation program, or who have already become teachers in other states, to be awarded Pennsylvania teaching certification through reciprocity. Requirements of candidates through reciprocity are the following:

  • Been awarded a baccalaureate degree.

  • Completed a state-approved teacher education program, including a supervised student teaching experience, leading to a comparable or broader certificate in the member state.

  • Received the recommendation from the certification officer at the college or university on an application form designated by this Bureau.

  • Complied with all ancillary requirements, including Pennsylvania tests and 3.0 GPA. Six credits in math and six credits in English are also required for full certification.

  • Met all Pennsylvania requirements related to citizenship as well as moral, ethical and physical/mental fitness.

For more information about the process of earning teaching certification through reciprocity, explore the Pennsylvania Department of Education website, or call 717-728-3224. Information about Interstate agreements can be found here: PDE Interstate Certification Agreement.

Transferring a PA Teaching Certificate to Another State

Students holding a Pennsylvania teaching certification can also transfer their teaching certificate to any of the states listed below without completing a teacher education program within that state. Each state may have different testing and application requirements, but PA certified candidates can apply to transfer their certificate, and if need be, take the specific state’s licensure exam(s).  Students need to check each state's department of education website for specific information on what is needed to transfer a PA certificate. 

The following are member states of the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement that have signed reciprocity agreements with Pennsylvania:

Alabama; Arizona; Arkansas; California; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Idaho; Illinois; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Mississippi; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Utah; Vermont; Virginia; Washington; West Virginia; Wisconsin; Wyoming