Physical Education Pedagogy

A Master of Education in Physical Education provides post-baccalaureate teacher certification in physical education. The program offers opportunities to become involved in nationally-recognized research and to work hand-in-hand with local schools to promote health and fitness.You might also work with our Center for Ethics, where you can study the topics of morals and ethics in sport.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education with an emphasis in sport pedagogy and character education, prepares individuals to lead, serve and research learning and teaching as they apply to character and value-laden issues in physical activity. The department also participates in the interdisciplinary Ph.D. Neuroscience.

Prepare for Success

A physical education (P.E.) degree provides graduates with the opportunity to help a sedentary generation plagued with increasing obesity. If you want to be on the forefront of a field that increasingly needs trained professionals, you should consider a graduate degree in P.E. pedagogy.

Your First Year

Here are some of the courses you might take:

• Neuromechanics of Human Movement
• Health and Community Development
• Competition and Social Values
• Pedagogy Applied to Health, PE, Recreation and Dance
• Fitness Assessment and Prescription

What You Can Do

With a graduate degree in Physical Education Pedagogy, you can become a:

• Physical education teacher
• Recreational sports director
• Coach
• Athletic department administrator
• College physical educator
• Education administrator

Opportunities

A degree in physical education pedagogy trains you for jobs in sports, fitness, leisure and sport administration. Jobs in this field are in high demand and salaries vary from state to state.

Current Research

Some of the exciting faculty research in the field of physical education pedagogy includes a collaboration with the City of Moscow on a Safe Routes to School initiative, which provides education to the community on ways to encourage children to walk or bike to school.

Other research, by Justin Barnes, Grace Goc Karp and Sharon Stoll is about “Fair Play – Influences on Intentional Rule Violation.”

Activities

In addition to a number of recreational and sport organizations, students become involved in graduate and professional organizations, special interest organizations and professional/career organizations.

Hands-On Experience

With research opportunities imbedded within the community public schools, graduate students in physical education pedagogy have extensive opportunities to conduct intensive research and to learn hands-on and teach within the University of Idaho community. Students involved in character education are involved in creating curriculum for sports teams or in gathering data from our new servant leadership online certificate course for coaches.

Faculty Involvement

A small student-to-faculty ratio provides a unique opportunity for students to interact closely with faculty.

Grace Goc Karp
Program Coordinator, Physical Education
Research Interests: Physical Education Teacher Education, Assessment in Physical Education; Technology use in Physical Education, School to Community Physical Activity Enrichment
» View Grace Goc Karp's Profile

Philip W. Scruggs
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Pediatric physical activity measurement & interventions
» View Philip Scruggs' profile

Sharon Stoll, Ph.D
Research Interests: Moral reasoning in Competition, Moral development in competition and physical activity; Servant leadership in physical activity; sport ethics.
» View Sharon Stoll's Profile