Graduate Certificate in Physical Education, Health Education & Coaching (online)

The 16-credit all-online certificate in Physical Education, Health Education & Coaching provides students a foundation of knowledge and teaching methods, as well as research and theories in physical education, health education, and coaching. The certificate is designed for individuals who work with children or adults in physical education, physical activity, health, and coaching settings, from school, nonprofit organizations, recreational settings, and a wide variety of amateur and other coaching situations.

Whether one is licensed in physical education or health education, a first-year youth sports coach, a classroom teacher who wants to learn about physical activity, a recent graduate from college, or someone seeking professional development to enter a new field related to sports and physical activity, this certificate provides graduate-level professional development.

All classes are offered in a sequence online and all or some of the credits may be applied to a degree program, depending on the program the student chooses to enter. It is important to note that degree students cannot register for the online classes and only those in the certificate program are eligible for the online classes. A student may not be registered in two programs at one time. For more information see the Graduate Certificate in Physical Education, Health Education & Coaching section of the Distance Education website.

Community Service

For the past three decades, Boston University has partnered with Boston Public Schools to provide students with physical education. In the past, children from the Boston Public Schools have been brought to Boston University to participate in the program known as the Tuesday-Thursday Physical Education Program which is internationally renowned for its teaching-learning environment. Just this year, in order to better meet the needs of the Boston Public Schools students, Boston University took physical education to the Gardner Pilot Academy creating a positive, real-life experience for both the Boston University students and the Boston Public students. All graduate physical education licensure students are required to teach in this community service project where students plan, implement, and evaluate lessons for grades kindergarten through five. The teaching focus for the children is on cooperative physical activities, physical fitness, health, individual and team skills, and problem-solving activities. Lessons with physical activities reinforcing cognitive content are included in the teaching assignments. Non-licensure students in both physical education and health are encouraged to participate in this program as well.

Please refer to the Courses section for a complete listing of courses for this program.