2022 Best Online Master's in Physical Education

What can you do with a master's in physical education degree?

With a master’s degree in physical education, possible career paths include teaching PE, coaching, and scouting. Teachers can be employed in a K-12 grade setting, after acquiring a public school teaching certificate, or at a university teaching health and physical fitness. Coaches and scouts can work for teams or individual athletes. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for kindergarten and elementary school teachers is $60,660. Middle school teachers earned a median salary of $60,810 a year, while high school teachers earned a median annual salary of $62,870. By contrast, coaches and scouts earned a median salary of $36,330 and employment outlook is expected to grow 26% through 2030. Other career opportunities in physical education could involve working in recreational sports settings, community outreach programs, and fitness centers.

Employment outlook for teachers in general is 10% through 2030, according to the BLS. For coaches and scouts during this same period, job growth is expected to increase much faster than average at 26% though a master's degree is not required to enter these fields. However, career opportunities for graduates with a master's degree in physical education could involve working in recreational sports settings, community outreach programs, and fitness centers.

Online Master's in Physical Education Degree Overview

Graduate-level physical education degrees include Master of Arts, Master of Science, and Master of Education programs. Master of Arts programs focus on artistic and social aspects of health and wellness, such as dance theory or community programs, while Master of Science programs focus more on the scientific aspects of health and wellness, such as anatomy and physiology. Master of Education programs focus on providing advanced teaching methods to prepare graduates to become skilled educators.

Program Requirements

Students who are interested in pursuing a career in athletics as a teacher, personal trainer, or coach should consider a master's degree in physical education. Admission requirements will vary depending on the program; some programs require a bachelor’s degree in education, physical education, or a related field such as kinesiology or athletic training, while others simply require a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college. Other program requirements may include a minimum GPA, GRE or other test scores, letters of recommendation, or a background in teaching. Most online programs require 30–36 credits, which can be completed in one to two and a half years.

Curriculum

The curriculum for a physical education program will also vary depending upon the focus but may cover health and wellness, teaching methods, curriculum development, physical education assessments, social psychology, or controversial health issues. Programs may include courses such as Motor Learning, Risk Management in Physical Education and Athletics, Sport Psychology, and Statistics in Education and Health Professions. Students may be required to complete some type of final research project, and students in teaching programs may be required to complete fieldwork in the classroom.

How to Choose a Program

When looking for an online master’s in physical education program, it is important to consider program and school accreditation, class flexibility, the variety of credits offered, fieldwork or on-site requirements, and support and resources available for graduates. The ability to tailor credits to fulfill your specific career aspirations, such as a focus on sports management or coaching, can also be an important factor in choosing a program.

Students should also ensure they have a plan for completing any required fieldwork or student teaching, and that it can be done at a convenient location. Alumni networks and career services offered through the school can also benefit graduates interested in networking or finding assistance with job placement.

The Importance of Accreditation for Master's in Physical Education Programs

Accreditation is a thorough and ongoing review that signals to schools, students, professionals, and employers that a program meets universal standards of quality. Students who attend accredited programs are more likely to be eligible for scholarships, grants, federal student aid, licensure, certification, and to transfer credits or continue their education.

Students should pursue programs with national or regional accreditation to ensure their credentials will be considered legitimate in their chosen field. While institutions seek accreditation as a whole, there are organizations that grant accreditation to specific programs as well.

Students looking to pursue a career as a physical education teacher will need to check licensure requirements for their state. Some states simply require students to complete an accredited program, while some require programs to be accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), formerly known as NCATE and TEAC.

Some programs were previously accredited by SHAPE America, formerly known as NASPE, which is no longer evaluating curriculums. The main accrediting body for physical education programs is now CAEP, but some program pages still have SHAPE or NASPE listed as a programmatic accreditor. These programs will remain accredited through CAEP until their status expires and they must renew accreditation.

Other physical education programmatic accreditors include the Commission on Sports Management Accreditation (COSMA) and the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). For students who would like to check that their program is accredited by a legitimate organization, a full list of approved accrediting bodies can be found here.

What kinds of master's in physical education specializations are available?

While most physical education programs prepare students to be PE teachers in the K-12 school system, there are a few concentrations for people to pursue particular interests. Seeking a specialized degree can uniquely prepare students for a career in their chosen field, and can differentiate them from other job candidates by their credentials and experience.

Adapted physical education: Teachers trained in adapted physical education specialize in inclusive curriculums and coaching methods for students with disabilities. This degree will prepare graduates to work in general and adapted physical education settings, such as elementary schools or with adapted sport teams. Programs will cover physical education and activities for students with disabilities, design and implementation of effective curriculums, and may include courses on development of motor skills or legal issues in special education.

Sport coaching: Coaching programs equip students with the skills necessary to meet the needs of school, community, and club sport teams. Graduates will be ready to enter the changing field of athletics with the experience needed to train teams and athletes. Coaches can work with professional teams or individual athletes, and may focus on specific sports such as football or basketball. Programs may cover coaching techniques, sport psychology, motor development, and creating healthy competitive environments.

Sport management/administration: Sport management programs are geared towards students interested in the business side of athletics. These programs prepare students for a wide range of positions in the sport industry. Graduates may pursue careers in sales, marketing, event management, or athletic administration, for example, and may work for college or professional sport teams. Coursework may include sports marketing and finance, public relations, social, cultural, and ethical aspects of sports, and legal issues in sports administration.

Curriculum development: Programs with an emphasis on leadership and the use of research to enhance teaching methods will prepare students to create effective physical education programs. While most physical education degrees include courses on curriculum development, some programs focus on how to conduct, interpret, and implement research to improve student learning. Courses will likely cover leadership, curriculum construction, research methods, and technology use in physical education.

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