Health & Physical Education

Physical Education majors will receive a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree and will meet teacher licensure requirements for Health and Physical Education PreK-12. The Health and Physical Education program is accredited by the Department of Education in Virginia and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

The major offers course work and field experiences, including student teaching. Participation in student organizations, professional associations, and other experiences related to the major, such as the Department-sponsored Majors' Club, Healthy Hamptonians, or American Red Cross Club, is strongly encouraged. Requirements for student teaching and graduation include a grade of "C" or higher in all Departmental courses (prefixes of HEA, PED, and REC); an overall Grade Point Average of 2.5 or higher; successful completion of required certification examinations, and other Department, Division, School, and University requirements.

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities for health and physical education majors include positions in public and private schools as health and physical education teachers, interscholastic coaches, or directors of intramural activities; in businesses as corporate health or fitness directors; in recreation centers as program directors, trainers, or instructors; in government agencies as education specialists; and in other settings related to health, physical fitness, and exercise science. Graduates may also pursue graduate study in a variety of fields such as exercise science, physical therapy, physical education, health education, or educational administration. The Department has an impressive track record of students finding employment and entering prestigious graduate schools.

Scholarships & Financial Assistance

Scholarships are awarded for qualifying students through the University Scholarship Program. These include Presidential Scholars, Academic Achievers, and various Departmental scholarships as obtained through grants, projects, internships, Army and Navy scholarships, government agencies, industry, and other organizations. Information on other sources of financial assistance (e.g., Pell Grant, Work-Study, Federal Direct Loan Programs, etc.) is available through the University Financial Aid Office.

Accreditation

The Department is accredited by the Department of Education of the state of Virginia, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE).

For more information on our curriculum, please see our Curriculum Outline.
The Health endorsement offered through the Department consists of the following courses:

HEA 203 - Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
HEA 204 - School Health Issues
HEA 550 - Sexuality Education
EDU 323 - Methods and Materials for Teaching Health

Admission Requirements

Upon the completion of 45 credit hours at Hampton University, each student must apply for acceptance into the Department of Education. Acceptance into the Department of Education requires a 2.5 cumulative GPA, completion of Praxis I and two letters of recommendation from faculty. In order to remain in the Professional Preparation track, the student must maintain the 2.5 GPA throughout remainder of the program.

Other Requirements

Purchase a majors uniform
Become members of both the state and national professional associations.

*The state association: The Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
*The national association: The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance