Why Major in Physical Education and Coaching at Erskine?
Are you interested in teaching Physical Education in K-12 public schools? Do you want to become a coach or fitness instructor? If so, the Physical Education and Coaching major at Erskine College could be right for you!
Depending on your career goals, you may choose to add an education minor to your PE and Coaching major and pursue teaching certification, or you may opt for the PE and Coaching major only and prepare for careers in coaching, recreation, and fitness. Examples of jobs in PE and Coaching include:
- Physical Education teacher at a public school, grades K-12 (with Education minor)
- Physical Education teacher at a private school
- Recreation Director
- After-School Recreation Program Director
- Fitness Trainer
- Coach
Degree Details: Physical Education and Coaching
Choose Your Path
Within the PE and Coaching major, Erskine offers two options to prepare you for your future career:
OPTION 1: Physical Education and Coaching Major with an Education Minor
With this option, you will complete the coursework for a Physical Education and Coaching Major. To earn teacher certification, you will complete additional requirements, including a sequence of education courses, field experiences at both the elementary and secondary levels, and student teaching. This option will prepare you to meet the certification requirements of the State Board of Education and CAEP for teaching physical education in the public school setting, grades K-12.
OPTION 2: Physical Education and Coaching major only
This program of study prepares you to work in a recreation- or fitness-related business or to coach in various settings. With this option, you will not earn certification to teach Physical Education in K-12 public schools.
Coursework
In the major, you will take a minimum of 45 hours of physical education and health science courses, including:
- Foundations of Health and Wellness
- Introduction to Physical Education
- Team Sports I and II
- Individual Sports
- Adaptive Physical Education
- Management of Sport, Fitness, Health, and Physical Education
- Theory and Psychology of Coaching
- Elementary PE Methods, Materials, and Assessment
- Materials, Methods, and Assessment in Middle School and Secondary Physical Education
- Field Experience in Coaching a Major Sport
- Emergency Response
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Kinesiology
- Physiology of Exercise
- Nutrition Counseling
- Essentials of Human and Sport Performance
Preparation
Through your studies, you will acquire scientific knowledge of the structure and function of the human body and movement concepts. You will also learn teaching methods that will prepare you as a future physical educator.
In addition to completing coursework, you will be expected to maintain a high level of fitness through participation in the Fitnessgram Physical Fitness test. You will also be expected to meet sports-related competency levels.
More Info
Erskine College Admissions
Learn about the application process or get in touch with the Admissions Office.
