Physical Education Majors
Physical educators influence the well-being of future generations by ensuring involvement in human movement. The physical education major in the School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services at the University of Northern Iowa will prepare you to work in any of several venues with specialties in human movement. Students can select areas such as fitness specialist, sport psychology, or personal trainer, to name just a few options.
All our programs have a proud tradition at UNI. The physical education-teaching faculty look forward to helping you become an excellent teacher. The physical education faculty look forward to helping you become a true specialist in the field of human movement and sport. All our faculty will ask you to be actively involved in your major and encourage you to be engaged in additional outside experiences.
Major:
Physical Education-teaching, B.A.
Minors:
Physical Education (K-6), B.A.-teaching
Coaching, B.A.-teaching
Dance, B.A.
(Click major/minor/certificate title to see typical courses for the program)
Physical education graduates often continue their education at the graduate level or are employed in related fields, such as commercial and industrial fitness, personal training and sports management. Physical education-teaching graduates from UNI are highly recruited by school districts throughout the state of Iowa and across the nation. Recent graduates are employed as teachers at the elementary, middle school and secondary levels.
Web sites for career exploration
American College of Sports Medicine
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Excellent teaching faculty recognized for their contributions to the field, nationally and internationally
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Opportunities to participate in state and national organizations for physical educators
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Opportunity to participate in the student Physical Education Club
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National recognition by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance of an outstanding physical education major and dance minor selected annually by the Physical Education Division faculty
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Kappa Delta Pi international honor society for education students with cumulative grade point averages above 3.25
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Student can build a program to meet their career goals
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Excellent laboratory facilities to support student research and independent study
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Opportunities to pursue research in a direction of the students choosing, with faculty guidance
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Experiential learning opportunities with participants of all age groups
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Excellent teaching major
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Endorsement in all states
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Teacher education induction convocations to honor students admitted to teacher education
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Variety of student teaching sites, including 10 centers in Iowa, plus centers in Omaha; San Antonio; and Okinawa, Japan, as well as other state and international sites
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Opportunities to student teach in major and minor without additional time requirement
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All-Iowa Teacher Recruiting Fair and the UNI Overseas Recruiting Fair, regarded worldwide as one of the foremost teacher recruiting events
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Student Outcomes Assessments developed to ensure that students meet outcomes faculty feel are important in becoming a quality physical educator
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Endorsement to be a head coach of any sport upon completion of teaching degree
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Experiential learning opportunities with students from preschool through high school
The Wellness/Recreation Center (WRC) serves as
the primary instructional and research center of the School of Health,
Physical Education and Leisure Services. In addition, the WRC provides
a focus for the recreation/wellness needs of students, faculty and staff
members of the university. The WRC integrates these two functions in
a way that allows the simultaneous use of the facility, without compromising
the integrity of either function.
This bold new facility provides state-of-the-art space for classrooms,
laboratories, and faculty and staff offices. Space designed for research,
teaching, and public service includes the exercise physiology laboratory,
biomechanics laboratory, psychomotor behavior laboratory, athletic training
laboratory, and the wellness resources laboratory. Activity areas include
five aerobic/dance studios, six handball/racquetball courts, two multipurpose
courts, a one-tenth mile jogging track, fitness/conditioning areas,
a nearly 40-foot high climbing wall, leisure pool, instructional pool
with seating for 300, and an outdoor pursuits center.
The Physical Education Division offers several undergraduate scholarships available for both men and women who exhibit promising ability and who need financial assistance to prepare for physical education. Recently established scholarships also provide money to a limited number of students who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship.
More information on department scholarships can found at Financial Aid.