Skip to main content
Home / Academics / Programs

College of Applied Human Sciences: School of Sport Sciences

Physical Education and Kinesiology, BS

As a Physical Education and Kinesiology major, you’ll prepare to teach, motivate, and support learners from Pre-K through adulthood in physical education, wellness, and sport-based settings. This program equips you to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of future generations.

You’ll gain hands-on experience through real-world teaching opportunities and learn how to design and deliver effective physical education programs. You’ll also explore how to use technology in the classroom to support active learning and engagement.

Upon program completion, you’ll be eligible for certification in PreK–Adult Physical Education and may also pursue certification in Health Education. Graduates become leaders in physical activity and wellness, promoting healthy, active lifestyles for both children and adults in their schools, communities, and across the state.

WVU’s educator preparation programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Our Educator Preparation Provider is accredited based on standards from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the only nationally recognized accreditor for teacher education. The Physical Education licensure program is also approved by the Society for Health and Physical Educators.

Save time and money — and boost your credentials — with our four-year Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program.

Your Degree Plan

Intro

Student plays with group of Nursery School children.

Design and deliver physical education programs that engage and motivate. Integrate technology into your teaching to enhance learning. Build real experience through hands-on opportunities in schools and community settings. Graduate ready to earn certification in PreK–Adult Physical Education and Health Education.

Build a strong foundation in effective teaching, school-based physical activity, and fitness education. You’ll study adapted physical education, curriculum design, and instruction for both team and individual sports. Courses also explore how to integrate technology into physical education and sport settings. As part of your degree, you’ll also complete general education courses (GEF) in communication, math, science, English, social sciences, and the humanities.

Foundation Coursework
Understand how the body moves and develops across the lifespan. Foundation courses cover human structure and movement, motor skill development, and the characteristics of individuals with disabilities. These core concepts help you design movement-based learning experiences that meet the needs of learners of all ages and abilities.

Professional Coursework
Prepare for a career in physical education with an understanding of quality instruction. PEK students gain hands-on experience working with Pre-K through adult learners in movement, physical activity, sport, and physical education settings. These experiences help you develop the skills to become an effective teacher, using research-based curricular and instructional models that motivate learners to be active and healthy for life.

Tailor this major to your interests by focusing your coursework in one of these areas:

  • Physical Education Teaching

    Required courses:

    • PET 488: Residency 2 in Physical Education
    • PET 489: Residency 2 Seminar
  • Sport Pedagogy

    Required courses:

    • ACE 256: Principles and Problems in Coaching
    • ACE 310: Coaching Pedagogy
    • CAHS 300: Career Exploration in Applied Human Sciences
    • CAHS 489: Capstone Experience in AHS

Take advantage of special options related to this major:

The WVU Difference

What sets this program apart from its competitors?

  • Work with learners across the developmental spectrum, including students with disabilities and special needs.
  • Participate in and learn to teach outdoor adventure, lifetime leisure and team and individual sports and activities.
  • Our PEK majors have posted a 100% passage rate on the Physical Education Content Specialization test during the past five years. More than 160 students have taken the PRAXIS II test.
  • 125+ contact hours prior to student teaching.
  • Students complete an immersive residency experience under the guidance of an experienced educator, spending two semesters teaching physical education in the K–12 setting.
  • PEK majors take classes with the same cohort of students, which fosters a professional learning community.
  • Students design movement education programming for children, adolescents, teens and young adults in diverse settings.
  • WVU is a national leader in teaching current and emerging educational technologies.
  • One of the few nationally accredited physical education programs in the state of West Virginia.
  • Nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and SHAPE America.
  • Accelerated bachelor's to master's option (earn both degrees in four years).
  • The WVU School of Sport Sciences was recently recognized as one of the best in the country by Newsweek.
  • The College of Applied Human Sciences awards nearly $500,000 in scholarships to students each year.
Scholarships

93% of WVU freshmen receive grants or scholarships (2023-24).

Learn more

Learn by Doing

Learning happens outside the classroom. Get involved.

Research

  • In the Technology in Physical Education course, you’ll plan and carry out an action research project that applies instructional technology in a real-world teaching setting. This experience helps you meet state, national, and international standards for using technology in schools.
  • During your residency experience, you’ll complete an extensive self-study that focuses on instructional planning, classroom management, teaching effectiveness, and assessing student learning. The results of this project are used to meet state teaching licensure requirements.

Hands-on Learning

  • Before your residency experience, PEK majors complete more than 125 hours of hands-on teaching experience with learners across all developmental levels.
  • As part of these clinical hours, you’ll also gain experience working with individuals with special needs through our community-based Adapted Physical Education (APE) practicum. In this setting, you’ll learn how to differentiate instruction and support each learner’s unique needs.

During your teaching residency, you’ll work closely with an experienced K–12 teacher and a WVU faculty member who will guide and support you as you prepare for a full-time role in the classroom. This immersive, residency model provides you with an in-depth experience in a single school setting to help you build strong relationships and assume increasing levels of responsibility while accumulating over 500 hours of hands-on teaching experience.

Attending college will prepare you for many things. The Physical Education and Kinesiology major will give you the following skills:

  • Leadership: Influencing or guiding others in their decision-making and action.
  • Strategic Planning: Identifying outcomes and strategizing how to accomplish them.
  • Collaboration: Engaging with others to accomplish individual and organizational goals.
  • Fluency of Ideas: Generating a number of creative ideas about a topic or issue.
  • Problem Sensitivity and Solving: Telling when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong and solving those problems using flexible approaches.

Live, study and pursue outside-the-classroom learning in a residence hall community that shares your interests:

Outside of the Evansdale Crossing building.

What you learn outside of the classroom is just as important as what you learn during class. We’ll help you follow your curiosity.

Careers and Outcomes

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary

Plan, direct, or coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary schools.

May require a Graduate Degree

Median Salary: $104,070

Possible job titles include: Elementary Principal, Middle School Principal, Principal, Superintendent.

Explore Career

Health Education Specialists

Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Use data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. May link health systems, health providers, insurers, and patients to address individual and population health needs. May serve as resource to assist individuals, other health professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

Has a Bright Outlook

Median Salary: $63,000

Possible job titles include: Clinical Instructor, Health Education Specialist, Health Educator, Public Health Educator.

Explore Career

Education Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to education, such as counseling, curriculum, guidance, instruction, teacher education, and teaching English as a second language. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

May require a Graduate Degree

Median Salary: $72,090

Possible job titles include: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Education Professor, Professor.

Explore Career

Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, including exercise physiology and facilities management. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

May require a Graduate Degree

Median Salary: $75,890

Possible job titles include: Health and Physical Education Professor (HPE Professor), Instructor, Physical Education Professor (PE Professor), Professor.

Explore Career

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.

Median Salary: $62,340

Possible job titles include: Classroom Teacher, Elementary School Teacher, Elementary Teacher, Teacher.

Explore Career

Middle School Teachers

Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.

Median Salary: $62,970

Possible job titles include: Language Arts Teacher (LA Teacher), Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher), Science Teacher, Teacher.

Explore Career

Secondary School Teachers

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

Median Salary: $64,580

Possible job titles include: English Teacher, Mathematics Instructor (Math Instructor), Social Studies Teacher, Teacher.

Explore Career

Adapted Physical Education Specialists

Provide individualized physical education instruction or services to children, youth, or adults with exceptional physical needs due to gross motor developmental delays or other impairments.

May require a Graduate Degree

Median Salary: $67,430

Possible job titles include: Adapted Physical Education Specialist (APE Specialist), Adapted Physical Education Teacher (Adapted PE Teacher), Adapted Physical Educator, DAPE Specialist (Developmental Adapted Physical Education Specialist).

Explore Career

Where our grads are working

The majority of our graduates pursue careers in K-12 school settings and have been successful in starting their careers in districts across the country, including:

  • Florida: Duval County
  • Ohio: Franklin and Cuyahoga counties
  • Maryland: Baltimore and Frederick counties
  • New Jersey: Middlesex County
  • Virginia: Fairfax and Prince William counties
  • North Carolina: Mecklenburg County

We take particular pride in the number of alumni who have continued on to become school leaders in our West Virginia communities as well, such as Harrison, Kanawha, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Raleigh, Taylor and Wood counties.

Further Your Education

  • Master’s in Physical Education or Curriculum and Instruction
    Strengthens your expertise in teaching methods, curriculum design, and instructional leadership in physical education.
  • Master’s in Adapted Physical Education or Special Education
    Equips you to teach and support students with diverse needs in inclusive and specialized environments.
  • Master of Public Health (MPH)
    Ideal for roles in health promotion, community wellness, and school-based physical activity initiatives.
  • Master’s in Educational Leadership
    Prepares you for leadership roles in schools, such as department chair, athletic director, or principal.
  • Master’s in Coaching or Sport Leadership
    Focuses on advanced coaching strategies, athlete development, and sport program administration.

Meet Your Community

The Physical Education and Kinesiology family will inspire and support you.

FAQs

Common questions and answers about Physical Education and Kinesiology.

  1. Students who earn their BS in Physical Education and Kinesiology through the licensure-track receive recommendation for PK-Adult teaching certification in West Virginia. Information about the initial teacher certification process can be found at the West Virginia Department of Education website.

  2. WVU is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) at WVU is accredited based on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Standards. CAEP is the only recognized national accreditor for educator preparation. The Physical Education specialty licensure area offered at our EPP has been approved by the Society for Health and Physical Educators.

  3. As an approved initial teaching licensure program within West Virginia, the course requirements are generally transferable to other states. We do encourage students to check the specific requirements in the states where they would like to work, as other aspects of the process (e.g., standardized tests and scores) may vary.

  4. There is detailed information available about institutional and college scholarships. Furthermore, we encourage all interested students to speak with a financial aid counselor at the WVU Hub early in the application process.

  5. The WVU College of Applied Human Sciences remains deeply committed to student success. All majors are assigned a professional academic adviser with whom they will interact with on a regular basis. These interactions focus on a range of important support services, including degree planning and course selection, development of study skills and career preparation. In addition, these advising specialists help to keep students connected to the various supports offered across campus.

Places and Spaces

Learn about all of the places and spaces you'll learn in.

Featurette Thumbnail - Active Learning Center

Steelcase Active Learning Center

The Steelcase Active Learning Center features flexible workspaces designed for collaborative learning and problem-solving. The physical space supports the use of mobile devices, distance learning technologies and other interactive features to facilitate a more fluid teaching and learning environment for both students and instructors. This unique classroom space serves as an ideal setting for the types of collaborative learning activities that our majors engage in across their plans of study.

Explore the Steelcase Active Learning Center
Student Recreation Center

Student Recreation Center

Our majors take several courses that focus on learning to teach a wide range of individual and team sports and activities. The WVU Campus Rec Center provides the backdrop for these important courses, with its state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor activity spaces (e.g., fitness center and weight room, gymnasiums, aquatics facility, climbing wall, disc golf course, playing fields). Learning in these spaces affords the opportunity to learn to teach a wide variety of content areas that are commonly included in the K-12 school physical education curriculum.

Explore the Student Recreation Center
  • Virtual Tour
    It's the next-best thing to being here – you can virtually tour residence halls and the WVU Morgantown Campus.
  • Student Life
    You will have it all here — epic traditions, quality academics and a supportive community that feels like home.
  • Visit
    Experience WVU in person and start imagining life as a Mountaineer!

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to WVU's Physical Education and Kinesiology major, first-time freshmen must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.

Tuition and Aid

How much does Physical Education and Kinesiology at WVU cost? And how can you save?

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates are available on our tuition website. Anyone who is not a current West Virginia resident, including international students, will be charged non-resident rates.

View Tuition and Fees

Scholarships

Estimate your eligibility for merit scholarships at WVU Morgantown.

Find Scholarships

Net Price Calculator

Estimate your cost of attendance and eligibility for financial aid and scholarships at any WVU System campus.

Visit the Net Price Calculator

Ways to Save

Here are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending WVU in addition to university scholarships.

Financial Aid

The most important step toward funding your future with financial aid for the Physical Education and Kinesiology major is submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

How to Complete the FAFSA

Ohio Tuition Reciprocity

As the result of a special agreement, students from Ohio who are fully admitted to Physical Education and Kinesiology can enroll at WVU and pay in-state tuition rates. Students must be admitted to both the University and this major.

Learn More

Start at Another WVU Campus

In addition to our transfer articulation agreements, you can start your career with WVU at another campus and transfer to WVU Morgantown.

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU.

Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Learn How to Transfer Course Credits

Ready to take the next step?

Learn how to join the WVU family.

Request Info

Want to know more about Physical Education and Kinesiology at WVU? Fill out our request form to receive more information.

Request Info

Visit

​​Experiencing campus is the best way to see if WVU is the right fit. Choose from in-person and virtual options.

Visit WVU

Apply

Your first step to becoming a Mountaineer is applying for admission using our convenient online application.

Apply Now