Physical Education and Physical Activity Pedagogy

An M.Ed. degree in physical education and physical activity pedagogy has two options.

Option 1 provides certified teachers an opportunity to continue their education in the study of physical activity pedagogy.  This program is delivered all online.

Option 2 provides applicants with an undergraduate degree an opportunity to get a graduate degree plus 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 movement, physical activity, fitness and wellness.

A graduate physical education degree provides graduates with the opportunity to help a sedentary generation plagued with decreasing wellness (e.g., obesity, low levels of fitness etc.). A background in one or more of the disciplines of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance is helpful in preparing you to enter this degree program. If you want to be on the forefront of a field that increasingly needs trained professionals, you should consider a graduate degree in physical activity pedagogy.

Prepare for Success

A physical education degree provides graduates with the opportunity to help a sedentary generation plagued with decreasing wellness (e.g., obesity, low levels of fitness). A background in one or more of the disciplines of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance is helpful in preparing you to enter these degree programs. 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

What You Can Do

With a M.Ed. in Physical Education and Physical Activity Pedagogy, you can become a:

• Physical education teacher 
• School physical activity director 
• Recreational sports director
• Coach
• Athletic department administrator

Opportunities

An M.Ed. degree in physical education and physical activity pedagogy trains you for jobs in education and sports 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; School to Community Physical Activity Enrichment
» View Grace Goc Karp's Profile

Philip W. Scruggs, PhD
Associate Professor
Research Interests: Physical Activity Assessment
» 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