About the Physical and Health Education Major
Do your fondest memories of school include fitness tests, playing sports and games, or learning about healthy eating and nutrition? Are you interested in positively impacting the lives of children and young adults? If so, this program may be for you.
As a physical and health education major you’ll take courses to prepare you to teach physical education, health education and adapted physical education to students in grades Pre-K-12. Because of the requirements for the program, all physical and health education majors also pursue a minor in secondary education. You’ll study exercise physiology, fundamental motor development, team sports and officiating, nutrition and community health, which will prepare you for licensing by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. When you complete our program you’ll also have all of the licenses required to be successful in your career as a teacher.
You’ll gain skills through a wide variety of experiences, including education classes that feature activities such as hiking, archery and indoor rock climbing. Every season in Wisconsin offers an opportunity to build your fundamental knowledge as you explore the Waukesha area, from Lapham Peak State Park to Retzer Nature Center.
You’ll gain practical understanding when you work in groups to create lesson plans for sports and games, which you’ll then share with classes. You’ll also observe and participate in physical and health education classes at local schools, leading physical education classes or presenting lessons on health topics such as alcohol education and bullying prevention. These assignments will help you build a set of lesson plans to work from before you begin your student-teaching hours.
Effective teachers are highly sought after by school administrators and at the end of our program you’ll be prepared to apply for positions in desirable school districts.
Students must also successfully receive their water safety instructor or lifeguard certification on their own before completing the program and earning their licenses.