The Physical Education, Health, and Coaching graduate program prepares you for physical education, health education, and coaching responsibilities in elementary, middle, and secondary schools and colleges, youth agencies, fitness and social service organizations, as well as community associations. Our graduate curriculum includes study in teaching physical education (kindergarten through college level), pedagogy, coaching, health, fitness, sports management, and sport theory. Students who are seeking licensure in health or physical education can meet the necessary requirements in our state-approved program. You do not need an undergraduate degree in health or physical education to enter our licensure track master’s degree programs.

Health Education Licensure Program
This 38-credit program provides you with the knowledge of content in health education with a state-approved initial license to teach grades K-12. You do not need to hold an undergraduate degree in health education to enter this licensure program, however, you must complete a university course in anatomy and physiology, and have evidence of first-aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. Required classes include human development, curriculum planning, nutrition, sexuality, special education, research design, and a Foundation of Education class, which includes a pre-practicum experience in the schools. Our students are placed in two class settings for their final student-teaching experience.

As a health education student, you are encouraged to complete a five-hour community service with the Alexander Hamilton Elementary School children who come to Boston University for the Tuesday-Thursday Physical Education Program; this past semester, one student worked with a classroom teacher to teach nutrition with hands-on activities. You may plan a health lesson, provide a packet of materials for classroom teachers or design a project of your choice.

Requirements for Licensure Track (Grades K-12)

Course descriptions

Health Education Licensure Courses

Health Education Licensure Additional Information



Health Education Non-Licensure Program
If you choose to enter the 36-credit Master of Education program (Ed.M.), you may already have a license to teach or may want to have the opportunity to design a program of study around your health education interests. One course in anatomy and physiology, exercise science, kinesiology or a related human science class would meet the science course requirement. You are required to take any three health education classes at the School of Education, one research design course, and then plan your remaining courses as electives with your advisor.

There is a great deal of flexibility in this program, and you and your advisor work closely to select classes around personal educational content areas as community health, nutrition, physical fitness or other wellness and health themes.

Health Education Non-Licensure Courses

Health Education Non-Licensure Additional Information



Practicum
Boston University enjoys long-standing relationships with many inner city and suburban school systems in Greater Boston that offer our students rewarding field experiences under the guidance of expert teachers and faculty. The School of Education reserves the right to determine whether a student is fully prepared to enter any professional field experience, including passing the SED Literacy Test prior to starting the practicum.

Community Service
For the past three decades children from the Boston Public Schools have been brought to the gymnasiums at Boston University for physical education and movement classes. The program, know as the Tuesday-Thursday Physical Education Program, offers a positive teaching and learning environment. All graduate and undergraduate physical education licensure students are required to teach as part of this valuable community service project to service the needs of children who do not have regular physical education classes in their schools. Our students plan, teach, implement and evaluate movement lessons for children grades K-6. A faculty member and doctoral student administer this program and mentor the students who teach the children as part of their practicum requirements. Beginning in the fall of 2006, BU students will be teaching the 4th and 5th graders how to accurately assess their heart rate with the use of heart rate monitors. This research project is one component of a BU funded technology grant titled, “TECH HEARTS in PE: Teaching and Educating Children through Health & How to Exercise And Reach Target Scores in Physical Education.

Prerequisite
Candidates are required to have completed an introductory course in one the following areas. A minimum of 4.0 academic credits is required.

• Human Anatomy/Human Physiology
  
• Kinesiology SED PE 720 Seminar in Kinesiology or Motor learning and control or Biomechanics
  
• Exercise Physiology or SED PE 505 Foundations of Sports Science

Candidates may take these courses at another university or institution, but to do so they must first get approval from their advisor.

Selected Health Education Electives for Non-Licensure Track and for those Licensure students who have room for electives (not a complete list):

Course descriptions

Admissions
There is a rolling admissions policy and students may complete up to (a maximum of) 8 credits in the program before applying for admission to the degree program. Applicants must submit a GRE or MAT score. For full-time student financial aid information, please contact Joe Stein at jrstein@bu.edu or 617-353-4238.

Download a description of this program