PHYSICAL EDUCATION, HEALTH EDUCATION AND ADAPTED PE
Bachelor’s Degree Programs
A career field on the move.
We offer a robust and versatile program that prepares you for careers in Physical Education, Health Education and Adapted PE.
CAN WE BRAG A LITTLE?
We’re the only 4-year undergraduate program in Wisconsin to offer students three licenses: Physical Education, Adapted PE, and Health Education.
The need for health educators will grow 11% by 2028, much faster than the average occupation, according to the U.S. Dept. of Labor.
We’re ranked No. 1 for value among the four-year campuses in Wisconsin.
Students in the Physical Education, Health Education and Adapted PE program are also eligible for scholarships through the Department of Kinesiology.
What our Physical Education students do
Gain first-hand teaching experience in diverse schools
Pursue research with faculty mentors
Collaborate with faculty, organizations, and local schools to develop skills and professionalism
Hands-on and cross-cultural experiences
As a Physical Education student at UW-Whitewater, you will participate in a sequence of school-based opportunities to build your professional skills.
Student teaching and field experiences
Starting sophomore year, Physical Education students complete field studies in a variety of settings to observe and practice Elementary PE, Secondary PE, Adapted PE and Health Education. During senior year, each student completes full-time student-teaching placements in elementary, middle, and secondary schools for a more in-depth teaching experience.
Service learning
Embedded into our curriculum you’ll find several courses with a service-learning element. For example, students in Adapted PE courses visit the Wisconsin School for the Blind and Wisconsin Special Olympics programs.
Certification
Students have the opportunity to be certified in a range of personal and professional development areas. Students in the Teaching Fitness course, for example, have the option to be certified in the Physical Best certification.
Research
Our students engage in research with a faculty mentor, which can lead to co-authoring a paper or presenting at a national conference.
On-campus employment
Many of our students gain real-world experience through on-campus employment in our department, at the fitness center, or with our coaching staff and athletic trainers.
Campus and community involvement
To promote career and professional development opportunities for students interested in health, physical education, human performance, recreation, coaching and related career fields, UW-Whitewater offers the Outdoor Adventure Club. This student-led club provides outdoor and professional development opportunities by leading outdoor experiences. Common adventures include river and lake canoeing, rock climbing adventures, ski trips, and camping/adventure trips (including trips to nearby Ottawa Lake State Park and Horicon Marsh, and more distant trips to the Badlands National Park/Custer State Park in South Dakota, and Great Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee).
Our facilities
Classrooms, laboratories and activity spaces are located in the Williams Center, Kachel Fieldhouse and surrounding outdoor locations. Facilities are also utilized in the Roseman Building, the Student Athletic Complex and other locations across campus.
The Williams Center and the Kachel Fieldhouse includes the following facilities:
- 200 Meter Indoor Track with Multi-Purpose Courts for Basketball, Volleyball and Tennis
- Golf Hitting Cage and Putting Green
- 4 Racquetball Courts
- Basketball Gymnasium
- Wrestling Gymnasium
- Gymnastics Gymnasium
- Volleyball Arena
- Swimming Pool and Diving Well
- Fitness Facilities for Weight Training and Aerobic Exercise
- Specialized Laboratory and Studio Facilities
Physical Education jobs: Career success
Our program prepares students for an array of careers in physical education and health education.
Our graduates go on to teach Physical Education, Adapted PE, and Health Education in PreK-12 schools.
Valerie Wedoff, from Rockford, Illinois, earned a BSE in physical education and was hired as a physical education teacher with a school district in Illinois.
Alyssa Dobbs from Greendale, Wisconsin, earned a BSE in physical education and was hired as a substitute teacher with Teachers on Call in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
Our faculty
Among our faculty, you’ll find award-winning teachers with impressive credentials:
- Kathleen Happel regularly advocates for adapted physical education and creating inclusive settings in all aspects of the classroom.
- Nikki Hollett has ongoing collaborations with local teachers to provide students with real-world scenarios to develop effective teaching behaviors.
- Rebekah Johnson, named Wisconsin Health and Physical Education's Higher Education Teacher of the Year (2022), draws on 15 years of experience in K-12 and higher education settings when designing meaningful learning experiences to prepare preservice teachers to be successful in their careers.
- Jaehun Jung conducted a research project examining the differences between alternatively and traditionally certified physical educators in learning opportunities, including completion of teaching methods courses and participation in professional development opportunities.
- Myung Ha Sur is a strong advocate for promoting physical activity and enhancing the quality of life for individuals with and without disabilities through active research and the education of future K-12 teachers.
- Nathan Tokarek is a strong proponent of integrating outdoor spaces into the classroom environment and the development of healthy behaviors among children and adolescents.
Additionally, our faculty collaborate with colleagues in other departments, including psychology, geography and UW-Whitewater Athletics.
Want to learn more about becoming a Physical Education or Health Education teacher, or studying Education at UW-Whitewater? education@uww.edu
UW-Whitewater offers the following Physical Education, Health Education and Adapted PE degrees:
Bachelor of Science in Education — Physical Education - Health Education and Adapted PE Emphasis | 4-year plan [PDF]
In addition to your general education requirements, your degree program and major will require core and elective classes.
Minors
Certificates
Post Baccalaureate
To apply, you’ll complete the UW-Whitewater application for admission and indicate your major of interest.
