How To Get A Physical Education Degree Online in 2023

To begin with, do you have an interest in getting a physical education degree online? Would you like to teach physical education classes, coach school sports teams, or pursue a career in the sports industry?

If you answer yes, then a physical education degree may be an excellent choice.

This article will explore the different types of physical education degrees available to distance learners. Also, the details they need as they consider degree options and future career paths will be available.

What is Physical Education?

Before we get into how to get a physical education degree online, let’s quickly talk about physical education.

To begin with, Physical education is an academic subject. It is the foundation of a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP). Hence, it demands the same educational attention to detail as other core subjects.

Again, physical education provides students with well-planned, sequential, K-12 standards-based programs of curricula and instruction.

These programs are designed to develop these students’ motor skills, knowledge, and behaviors. This prepares them for active living, physical fitness, sportsmanship, self-efficacy, and emotional intelligence.

Benefits of a Physical Education Program

There are quite a good number of benefits of a physical education program. Some of these benefits include the following:

It improves physical fitness.
Physical education develops skills and motor skills.
Again, it provides regular physical activity, which promotes healthy living.
Furthermore, it teaches self-discipline.
Also, it facilitates the development of student responsibility for health and fitness.
It influences moral development, leadership, and teamwork.
As an outlet for releasing tension and anxiety, it helps to release stress and tension.
It strengthens relationships among peers.
In certain cases, physical education can improve self-confidence and self-esteem.
It affords people the experience they need to set goals

About Physical Education Degree Programs

Firstly, a physical education degree program combines the College of Education and Science, Engineering, and Technology programs.

Usually, a physical education degree program attracts teacher candidates who have a strong passion for sports, wellness, and physical fitness.

Sometimes, physical education (PE) teachers can serve as significant role models and motivators for the next generation.

These teachers could guide them properly as they strive to make healthy choices and reach their full potential.

Physical Education Degree Online Overview

The minimum requirement to become a licensed physical education teacher is an online bachelor’s degree.

Also, online master’s degree programs are available for those already working as teachers and who want to add to their skill set. It is also available for people looking to switch careers to teaching.

Thus, if you already have a bachelor’s degree and wish to go into teaching, an online certificate may be a good choice.

Interestingly, there are many accredited online schools to get a physical education degree online.

Hence, prospective physical education degree students should ensure their program is accredited regionally.

Again, students looking to teach should ensure their programs have programmatic accreditation from CAEP. This ensures the program meets high standards of academics and professional preparation.

Additionally, aspiring physical education teachers must check on their state’s specific teacher licensing requirements.

Physical Education Online Bachelor’s Degrees

Students who want to pursue an online physical education bachelor’s program fully can expect the program to take four or five years to complete.

However, this depends on whether the student is enrolled in a program with teacher licensure.

Again, the credit hours required could be as much as 154. The tuition varies depending on an individual’s program, but students can expect to pay around $18,000 yearly.

Furthermore, admission often requires a high school diploma or GED, SAT or ACT scores, and an application.

In addition, the curriculum consists of general education courses and major-specific courses. These courses, by design, are there to teach students how to be effective educators.

Examples of these classes include:

Lifespan Motor Development
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Secondary School Physical Education Methods
Elementary School Physical Education Methods
Adapted Physical Education
Educational Psychology

Also, students will require student teaching. They may have the option to specialize in Health and Physical Education, Athletic Coaching, or Physical Activity and Sports Performance.

Ordinarily, upon completing their degree, graduates will qualify to handle physical education classes for elementary, middle, and high school students.

What you need to know about Accreditation

To begin with, you must make sure the school you wish to attend has obtained accreditation.

Quickly, let us explain what accreditation is about. It involves an independent, outside organization vetting a school or program and determining that it meets certain educational standards.

Furthermore, there is also regional accreditation. This is when one of six regional agencies assesses a school as a whole. The aim is to make sure it is living up to certain academic standards.

Usually, regional accreditation is offered to non-profit, degree-granting schools. Additionally, attending a regionally accredited school is important. A few of the benefits of this are:

the ease of transferring credits
access to federal financial aid
higher assurance that the student is spending money on an education that will prepare them for their future profession.

Again, another type of accreditation is programmatic accreditation. Certain fields like teaching have independent agencies that accredit programs in that field. This helps students choose schools that adequately prepare them for the profession.

Thus, students interested in teaching at the elementary, middle, or high school level looking at physical education degrees should look for programs accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

This accreditation means the program is academically strong. Also, it implies that students who graduate from it will have the skills needed to be successful teachers.

Accredited Online Schools for Physical Education Bachelor’s Degrees

This section shall mention the top ten most popular online schools for physical education bachelor’s degrees.

1. Arkansas State University

To begin with, this university has eighty-six (86) programs with one bachelor’s (BGS in physical education). And the tuition at the Arkansas State University for undergraduates is about $15,860.

2. Averett University

This university has twenty-two (22) programs with one bachelor’s (Bachelor of Science in Physical Education – Sports Management). Furthermore, the tuition at Averett University is around $23,710.

3. William Carrey University

They have a total of thirty-five (35) programs with three bachelor’s programs in physical education as listed below:

BS – Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
BS – Physical Education
Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) – Physical Education.

Additionally, the tuition at William Carrey University is approximately $12,750.

4. Athens State University

They have forty-nine programs, with one bachelor’s program in physical education (B.S.Ed. in Educational Studies – Physical Education).

And the tuition for this program at Athens State University costs around $13,224.

5. East Central University

They have eighteen (18) programs, with one bachelor’s program in physical education (Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology). Furthermore, the tuition at East Central University goes for around $16,412.

6. Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus

They have seventy-two (72) programs with one bachelor’s program in physical education (Bachelor of Science in Physical Education – Sports and Recreation Management).

In addition, the cost for this program at Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus is around $8,448.

7. Eastern Oregon University

There are a total of seventy-six (76) programs at this institution, with two bachelor’s programs in physical education as listed below:

BA in Health & Human Performance: Physical Education and Sports
BS in Health & Human Performance: Physical Education and Sports

And the tuition for these programs at Eastern Oregon University is approximately $21,729.

8. Fort Hays State University

Firstly, they have two hundred and forty-one (241) programs with one bachelor’s program in physical education (Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance).

Furthermore, the tuition for this program at Fort Hays State University costs about $15,360.

9. University of Wisconsin-Superior

In like manner, this university has a total of forty-two (42) programs with eight bachelor’s programs in physical education as listed below:

Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science, Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, Bachelor of Arts in Public Health, Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Bachelor of Arts in Public Health – Maternal Child Health, Bachelor of Science in Public Health – Maternal Child Health, Bachelor of Arts in Public Health – Public Health & Bachelor of Science in Public Health – Public Health

Additionally, the approximate cost for tuition at the University of Wisconsin-Superior for any of these programs is $15,705.

10. Kansas State University

This institution has one hundred and forty-five (145) programs, with one bachelor’s program in physical education (Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology).

And the tuition for this program at Kansas State University is about $26,316.

Job Opportunities with a Physical Education Degree

Meanwhile, let us quickly talk about the job opportunities getting a physical education degree online can get you.

After getting your physical education degree online from a bachelor’s program, you can turn your passion for fitness and sports into a rewarding career, inspiring students.

Furthermore, BS in physical education graduates can become instructors in elementary, middle, or high school PE programs.

On the other hand, other career possibilities that require a background in physical education include:

PE teacher for individuals with special needs
Camp or summer program PE teachers
Physical activity director
Sports team coach
Athletic director
Club sports organization leaders
Community recreation director
Fitness trainer
Strength and conditioning coach

Again, the Bachelor of Science in Physical Education degree program leads to initial teacher licensure.

In addition, PE teacher candidates are responsible for getting all the certifications the state in which they wish to teach requires.

Conclusion

Firstly, getting your physical education degree online is not as difficult as it seems. However, make sure the school you wish to attend has obtained accreditation.

Also, students who want to pursue an online physical education bachelor’s program fully can expect the program to take four or five years to complete.