What you will study
The University of Central Missouri’s Physical Education degrees create highly skilled
educators who can develop and implement a standards-based curriculum. You’ll learn
a variety of curriculum models, including Teaching Games for Understanding and Sport
Education.
Effectively teaching physical education requires differentiated instruction. Learn
how to offer the same quality of teaching to all your students by gathering and applying
data about how they learn. When you make informed decisions about what individual
students need, you can challenge each of them to grow at the pace that’s right for
them.
Learn to teach and assess your future students across all three learning domains —
psychomotor, cognitive and affective — and how to embed social and emotional learning
within a lesson.
While earning your bachelor’s degree in Physical Education at UCM, you’ll have the
opportunity to take courses such as:
- Analysis and Teaching of Lifetime Activities
- Applied Nutrition for Healthy Living
- Assessment and Data Based Decision Making in Physical Education
- Psychology of Adolescence
Excellence in Physical Education
- UCM’s elementary-secondary option for a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education has
earned a stellar reputation among the region’s administrators.
- Top 15%: Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Elementary Education (College Factual,
2022)
- A Best Value College for Elementary Education (College Factual, 2022)
- A Most Popular College for Health & Physical Education (College Factual, 2022)
- A Most Focused College for Secondary Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 15%: Most Focused Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 4.5%: Most Popular Colleges for Secondary Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 6%: Most Popular Colleges for Education(College Factual, 2022)
- Top 6%: Most Popular Colleges for Elementary Education (College Factual, 2022)
Unique learning opportunities in K–12 Physical Education
Hands-on experiences are essential for teaching physical education. Practice with
your fellow physical education teacher candidates in class and spend 125–150 hours
in local schools — plus additional time as a student teacher — before you graduate.
During practicums, you’ll spend time in rural, suburban and urban settings so that
you can teach K–12 anywhere in the state, and beyond.
This generous time in the field with elementary and secondary students, including
students with disabilities, is designed to build your confidence teaching physical
education:
- Student teaching: Gain invaluable experience teaching physical education by spending a semester teaching
in elementary and secondary settings under the mentorship of a professional physical
educator.
- Sport or athletic coaching: Earn a stipend and gain practical experience by becoming an assistant coach while
in the UCM K–12 Physical Education program. Students in our program have helped coach
junior high and high school teams, intramural leagues and more.
- Summer coaching: Build your resume over the summer by becoming a club coach before you continue your
UCM Physical Education degree in the fall.
- Substitute teaching: As a future physical education teacher, once you have 60 credits you can be a substitute
teacher in local schools. Substitute teaching further prepares you for jobs in physical
education and is a great way to earn extra income.
What can you do with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from UCM?
Your bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Missouri will prepare you for
in-demand K–12 jobs in physical education. Teachers with a UCM degree in Physical
Education enjoy nearly 100 percent placement rates and work in school districts across
the country.
Some UCM graduates with Physical Education degrees choose to enter coaching after
graduation. Some also pursue graduate degrees in pedagogy, coaching and related fields.
Whatever academic or professional trajectory you choose, your UCM Physical Education
degree will empower you to become a change agent, leader and advocate in the field.
You’ll be in good company, too — UCM faculty occupy many leadership roles in state,
regional and national physical education organizations.
Learn more about jobs in physical education
Teaching physical education to students in K–12 settings is a highly desirable skill
in Missouri and around the country. Use our interactive tool below to explore job
trends for graduates with physical education degrees.
Financial assistance options for your bachelor’s degree in Physical Education
The experience and training to be a skilled physical education teacher is the foundation
for an excellent career. With the University of Central Missouri’s commitment to low
student debt, your bachelor’s degree in Physical Education is an even smarter investment
in your future.
UCM provides significant financial aid to the majority of our students. With a wide
array of grants, assistantships and scholarships to further offset our low tuition
fees, we will work with you to find the best option to help finance your college education.
In addition to university-wide resources, you may be eligible for the following funding
when you pursue your Physical Education degree:
- Clarence M. & Christine M. Whiteman Memorial Scholarship
- Dr. Robert Tompkins Memorial Scholarship
- Jessie B. Jutten Physical Education Scholarship
- M. Ruth Sevy Memorial Scholarship
- Teresa A. Roberts Scholarship
- L. Marlene Mawson Physical Education Scholarship
- Lyle B. and Evelyn E. Beaver Scholarship in Recreation
- William & Dorothy Brewster & Nancy Saunders-Cromer Scholarship
You can learn more about program-specific scholarships with the .
Meet Sam S.
BS Physical Education ’21
“After a lot of college tours, they all blend together...but the UCM department chair
meeting made me laugh. It made me question myself about why I wanted to be in physical
education — and I made like five friends. It felt like I was home.”
Meet Sydney S.
BS Physical Education ’21
“Getting classroom experience is important because you deal with so many different
types of people and schools. It gives you a good realization of where you want to
teach and what grade level is most important to you — you have all these options.”
Meet Emily S.
BS Physical Education ’21
“When I got to do observations and had the opportunity to be around middle schoolers,
it was interesting to see what it was like nowadays from a teacher’s perspective versus
what my experience of it had been. I’d like to spend a couple of years teaching and
then come back to UCM for a master’s degree.”
Build Lasting Networks
Active student life offers connection and growth
Gain valuable professional experience — and have fun with your fellow Physical Education
majors — by getting involved in student organizations and events. Some of the social
and professional opportunities include the Physical Education Majors Club, MOSHAPE
Convention and Future Professionals Committee and SHAPE America Undergraduate Student
Leadership Network.
New Technology for a Modern Field
Enhance your teaching with cutting-edge tools
UCM prepares future physical education teachers to utilize a wide variety of technology
tools designed to enhance teaching and learning. Classes incorporate the use of pedometers,
heart rate monitors and other technology to collect student data, provide instant
feedback and individualize instruction.
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