Health and Physical Education
| Degree: | Bachelor of Science (B.S.) |
| Major: | Health and Physical Education |
| Specializations: | Fitness and Sport Coaching Physical Education Physical Education Teacher Education |
| Minor: | Athletic Sport Coaching |
| Department: | Movement Sciences and Health Building 72, Room 241 (850) 474-2592 https://uwf.edu/ukcoh/departments/movement-sciences-and-health/ |
| College: | Usha Kundu, MD College of Health |
| CIP Code: | 31.0501 |
| Semester Hours Required For Degree: 120 | |
The B.S. in Health and Physical Education prepares students for positions in teaching, the health and fitness industry, recreation services, and for graduate study.
Program Requirements
In addition to the university’s general requirements, students seeking the B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education must meet the requirements listed below.
Students interested in the Exercise Science program should check the Exercise Science section of this catalog.
Students in the Fitness and Sport Coaching specialization will complete an internship during their senior year. Requirements for admission to the internship are as follows:
- Grade of “C-” or higher in all courses used to fulfill major requirements
- At least a 2.00 GPA in the major
- Recommendations of academic advisor prior to registration for internship
Students in the Physical Education Teacher Education specialization will complete a student teaching experience during their senior year. Requirements for admission to the student teaching program are as follows:
Grade of “C-” or higher in all major-related courses
- At least a 2.50 or greater major GPA
- Passing scores on the Professional Education Test, General Knowledge Exam, and the Physical Education Subject Area test of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam
- Approval by the Physical Education Teacher Education Program Committee
Students in the Physical Education specialization will complete an internship during their senior year. Requirements for admission to the internship are as follows:
- Grade of “C-” or higher in all courses used to fulfill major requirements
- At least a 2.00 GPA in the major
- Recommendations of academic advisor prior to registration for internship
- CPR/First Aid/AED Red Cross certificate
Fitness and Sport Coaching Specialization
The Fitness and Sport Coaching Specialization prepares students with a foundation of health, coaching, and pedagogical knowledge to pursue careers in fitness and sport coaching. Employment settings include high school and collegiate sport coaching, community and recreational athletics, physical activity and sport enhancement programs, public and private fitness related organizations, and corporate wellness settings. Coursework within the Fitness and Sport Coaching Specialization will focus on developing sport coaching leadership skills, content related to physical and cognitive sport performance, and overall health and wellness. Courses will involve hands-on, activity-based learning and experiences which will culminate in an internship designed to develop specific employment related skills.
General Education
In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the Gordon Rule, multicultural, and foreign language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the "University Requirements" section of this catalog.
General Education Curriculum:
Fitness and Sport Coaching majors should take BSC 1085 Anatomy and Physiology I to fulfill the natural science component.
Multicultural Requirement
Civic Literacy Requirement
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
| Cohort 1: Students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2018 – summer A 2021 | Complete a course or exam |
| Cohort 3: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2021 (on or after July 1, 2021) and thereafter | Complete both a course and exam |
Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.
There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan.
Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website.
Common Prerequisites
State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.
| BSC 1085+L | Anatomy and Physiology I (+Lab) * | 4 |
| or APK 2100C | Applied Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Laboratory | |
| BSC 1086 | Anatomy and Physiology II * | 3-4 |
| or APK 2105C | Applied Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Laboratory | |
| EDF 1005 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
| Additional common prerequisite requirement: 4 credit hours of skill development in Physical Education ++ | 4 | |
| Total Hours | 14-15 | |
- *
Indicates common prerequisites which can be used to satisfy General Education requirements. Note the alternatives APK 2100C and APK 2105C do not satisfy General Education requirements.
- †
Students must earn a C- or better in all common prerequisite courses.
- ++
PET 4434 Youth Sport Pedagogy and PET 4820 Adolescent Sport Pedagogy will fulfill this requirement.
Lower Division Electives
| Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 sh in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4000) to meet this elective requirement. | 3-18 | |
| Total Hours | 3-18 | |
Major
| ATR 2000 | Basic Care and Prevention Principles of Athletic Training * | 3 |
| PET 2501 | Sports Performance Analytics | 3 |
| PET 2001 | Introduction to Sport Performance Studies | 3 |
| PEO 2510 | Theory and Practice of Coaching Soccer * | 1 |
| PET 3123 | Historical Foundations of Sport and Fitness | 3 |
| PET 3351C | Applied Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| PET 4310C | Mechanics of Human Motion | 3 |
| PET 4434 | Youth Sport Pedagogy | 3 |
| PET 4820 | Adolescent Sport Pedagogy * | 3 |
| ATR 3132 | Functional Kinesiology | 3 |
| PET 3556C | Designing Resistance Training Programs | 3 |
| PET 4801 | Sport Skill Acquisition and Motor Development | 3 |
| HUN 2201 | Fundamentals of Human Nutrition | 3 |
| PET 3344C | Athletic Coaching Methods * | 3 |
| PET 3640 | Adapted Physical Education and Sport | 3 |
| PET 4765 | Theory and Practice of Coaching *,** | 3 |
| HSC 4300 | Changing Health Behaviors | 3 |
| HSC 4581 | Health Promotion and Planning | 3 |
| HLP 3300 | Organization and Administration of Professional Programs * | 3 |
| PET 4940 | Internship ^ | 1-6 |
| Total Hours | 56-61 | |
- ‡
All major courses included in the major GPA.
- †
Students must earn a C- or better in all major courses (UWF cumulative 2.00 GPA with a major GPA of 2.00).
- *
These courses count towards a minor in Athletic Sport Coaching.
- **
These courses count towards a minor in Sport and Exercise Psychology including PSY 2012.
- ^
Students must get approval from their academic advisor prior to registering for the internship.
Major-Related
| Choose two to three elective courses: | 6-9 | |
| PSY 4832 | Sport and Exercise Psychology ** | 3 |
| SPM 4012 | Sociology of Sport ** | 3 |
| HSC 4104 | Health Aspects of Stress Management | 3 |
| HSC 3406C | Advanced First Aid and Emergency Care | 3 |
| APK 4114C | Physiological Basis of Strength Development | 3 |
| APK 4610C | Applied Resistance Training and Conditioning | 3 |
| HSC 4572 | Nutrition and Health | 3 |
| EEX 3070 | Methods in Inclusion and Collaboration | 3 |
| APK 4163 | Sports Nutrition | 3 |
- †
Students must earn a C- or better in all major-related courses.
- **
These courses count towards a minor in Sport and Exercise Psychology including PSY 2012.
Physical Education Specialization
Students interested in pursuing Physical Education careers beyond the public K-12 education system will be able to do so by enrolling in the Physical Education specialization. Graduates from this specialization will be able to pursue careers as teachers and sport coaches within private school physical education settings, early childhood physical education settings, and adult physical education, recreation, and fitness settings. Although the Physical Education specialization does not specifically prepare students for a state license as a certified physical education teacher, it may prepare students to pursue alternative state certification opportunities after they graduate.
In addition to the university’s general requirements, students graduating with the B.S. in Health and Physical Education/Physical Education specialization must have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or greater in all previously attempted college work.
For admission to their final internship, students must meet the requirements listed below:
- Grade of “C-” or higher in all courses used to fulfill major requirements
- At least a 2.00 GPA in the major
- Recommendations of academic advisor prior to registration for internship
- CPR/First Aid/AED Red Cross certificate
General Education
In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the Gordon Rule, multicultural, and foreign language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the "University Requirements" section of this catalog.
General Education Curriculum:
Multicultural Requirement
Civic Literacy Requirement
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
| Cohort 1: Students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2018 – summer A 2021 | Complete a course or exam |
| Cohort 3: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2021 (on or after July 1, 2021) and thereafter | Complete both a course and exam |
Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.
There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan.
Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website.
Common Prerequisites
State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.
| BSC 1085+L | Anatomy and Physiology I (+Lab) * | 4 |
| or APK 2100C | Applied Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Laboratory | |
| BSC 1086 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 3-4 |
| or APK 2105C | Applied Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Laboratory | |
| EDF 1005 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
| Additional common prerequisite requirement: 4 credit hours of skill development in Physical Education ++ | 4 | |
| Total Hours | 14-15 | |
- *
Indicates common prerequisites which can be used to satisfy General Education requirements.
- **
Indicates a success marker course for the major, a grade of "C" or higher is required.
- ++
PET 4434 Youth Sport Pedagogy and PET 4820 Adolescent Sport Pedagogy will fulfill this requirement.
Major
| PET 2001 | Introduction to Sport Performance Studies | 3 |
| PET 3351C | Applied Exercise Physiology + | 3 |
| PET 3123 | Historical Foundations of Sport and Fitness + | 3 |
| HLP 3300 | Organization and Administration of Professional Programs + | 3 |
| PET 4434 | Youth Sport Pedagogy + | 3 |
| PET 3344C | Athletic Coaching Methods + | 3 |
| PET 4310C | Mechanics of Human Motion + | 3 |
| PET 4820 | Adolescent Sport Pedagogy + | 3 |
| PET 4801 | Sport Skill Acquisition and Motor Development + | 3 |
| PET 3640 | Adapted Physical Education and Sport + | 3 |
| PET 4940 | Internship + | 3-6 |
| Total Hours | 33-36 | |
Major-Related
| Choose from the following elective courses: | 24-27 | |
| Personal Health | ||
| Sports Performance Analytics | ||
| Applied Foundations of Education | ||
| Methods of K-12 Literacy Instruction | ||
| ESOL Principles and Practices | ||
| Methods in Inclusion and Collaboration | ||
| Basic Care and Prevention Principles of Athletic Training | ||
| Functional Kinesiology | ||
| Fundamentals of Human Nutrition | ||
| Changing Health Behaviors | ||
| Health Promotion and Planning | ||
| Sport and Exercise Psychology | ||
| Physical Education and Coaching Field Experience with PK - 12 | ||
| Total Hours | 24-27 | |
- +
Courses included in the major GPA
Electives for Graduation
| Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 sh in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4999) to meet this elective requirement. Students must also complete sufficient 3000/4000 level electives to meet UWF’s requirement of 48 semester hours in the upper division or complete all departmental requirements at the 3000/4000 level, whichever is greater. | ||
Physical Education Teacher Education Specialization
Students interested in becoming certified Physical Education teachers in grades K-12 will be able to do so by enrolling in the Physical Education Teacher Education Specialization. The Physical Education Teacher Education specialization is a Florida Department of Education approved program and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
In addition to the university’s general requirements, students seeking admission to the B.S. in the Health and Physical Education/Physical Education Teacher Education specialization must have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or greater in all previously attempted college work and have passing scores on the General Knowledge test of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam.
For admission to student teaching, students must meet the requirements listed below:
- Grade of “C-” or higher in all major-related courses
- 2.50 or greater cumulative GPA
- Passing scores on the Professional Education Test, General Knowledge Exam, and the Physical Education Subject Area test of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam
- CPR/First Aid/AED Red Cross certificate
- Approval by the Physical Education Teacher Education Program Committee
General Education
In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the Gordon Rule, multicultural, and foreign language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the "University Requirements" section of this catalog.
General Education Curriculum:
Physical Education Teacher Education Specialization majors should take BSC 1085 Anatomy and Physiology I to fulfill the laboratory science component.
Multicultural Requirement
Civic Literacy Requirement
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
| Cohort 1: Students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2018 – summer A 2021 | Complete a course or exam |
| Cohort 3: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2021 (on or after July 1, 2021) and thereafter | Complete both a course and exam |
Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.
There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan.
Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website.
Common Prerequisites
State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.
| BSC 1085+L | Anatomy and Physiology I (+Lab) * | 4 |
| or APK 2100C | Applied Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Laboratory | |
| BSC 1086 | Anatomy and Physiology II * | 3-4 |
| or APK 2105C | Applied Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Laboratory | |
| EDF 1005 | Introduction to Education ** | 3 |
| Additional common prerequisite requirement: 4 credit hours of skill development in Physical Education ++ | 4 | |
| Total Hours | 14-15 | |
- *
Indicates common prerequisites which can be used to satisfy General Education requirements. Note the alternatives APK 2100C and APK 2105C do not satisfy General Education requirements.
- **
Indicates a success marker course for the major, a grade of "C" or higher is required.
- ++
PET 4434 Youth Sport Pedagogy and PET 4820 Adolescent Sport Pedagogy will fulfill this requirement.
Major
| PET 3351C | Applied Exercise Physiology + | 3 |
| PET 3123 | Historical Foundations of Sport and Fitness + | 3 |
| HLP 3300 | Organization and Administration of Professional Programs + | 3 |
| PET 4434 | Youth Sport Pedagogy + | 3 |
| PET 3344C | Athletic Coaching Methods + | 3 |
| PET 4310C | Mechanics of Human Motion + | 3 |
| PET 4820 | Adolescent Sport Pedagogy + | 3 |
| PET 4948 | Physical Education and Coaching Field Experience with PK - 12 + | 3 |
| PET 3640 | Adapted Physical Education and Sport + | 3 |
| PET 4801 | Sport Skill Acquisition and Motor Development + | 3 |
| PET 2001 | Introduction to Sport Performance Studies | 3 |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Major-Related
| EDF 3234 | Applied Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDG 4323 | Methods of K-12 Literacy Instruction | 3 |
| TSL 4080 | ESOL Principles and Practices | 3 |
| EEX 3070 | Methods in Inclusion and Collaboration | 3 |
| PET 4744 | Student Teaching in Physical Education + | 12 |
| ATR 2000 | Basic Care and Prevention Principles of Athletic Training | 3 |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
- +
Courses included in the major GPA
Electives for Graduation
| Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 sh in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4999) to meet this elective requirement. Students must also complete sufficient 3000/4000 level electives to meet UWF’s requirement of 48 semester hours in the upper division or complete all departmental requirements at the 3000/4000 level, whichever is greater. | ||
| Recommended electives: | ||
| Functional Kinesiology | ||
| Personal Health | ||
| Changing Health Behaviors | ||
| Health Promotion and Planning | ||
| Sport and Exercise Psychology | ||
| Sports Performance Analytics | ||
| Fundamentals of Human Nutrition | ||
Athletic Sport Coaching
The 16-hour Minor in Athletic Sport Coaching is offered by the Department of Movement Sciences and Health. The minor is designed for those students interested in the practical, methodological, and psychological aspects of coaching athletic sports. This minor is available to all students. No directed study may be taken to fulfill the requirements for the minor. Completion of this minor may allow students to be eligible for FLDOE certification in Athletic Sport Coaching.
Required Courses:
| ATR 2000 | Basic Care and Prevention Principles of Athletic Training | 3 |
| HLP 3300 | Organization and Administration of Professional Programs | 3 |
| PET 3344C | Athletic Coaching Methods | 3 |
| PET 4765 | Theory and Practice of Coaching | 3 |
| PET 4820 | Adolescent Sport Pedagogy | 3 |
| PEO 2510 | Theory and Practice of Coaching Soccer | 1 |
| Total Hours | 16 | |