University of St. Thomas

Welcome to the physical-education teaching facts page, where you'll be taken beyond the course offerings and program description and deeper into the physical-education teaching major. You'll learn what St. Thomas students are doing now to enhance their educations and how recent graduates are succeeding in the real world. More importantly, we hope you'll be able to use this information to decide if this major interests you. When asked what one phrase best describes the physical-education teaching major at St. Thomas, a faculty member replied, "dynamic."

An individual who graduates with a physical education teaching major usually chooses to teach in a K-12 school setting. Majors with this degree are hired to work in other fields besides teaching, such as health clubs where they instructing clients in physical fitness-related activities (i.e. teaching swimming). They may also find employment as coaches or in community recreational settings, teaching sport skills to children and adults.

The majority of the UST physical education and health education graduates find employment as teachers in a school setting. Graduates of our program are able to apply for K-12 licensure, so we see majors teaching at all grade levels. Majors choose this field because they are passionate about children and helping to keep them knowledgeable, skilled and active individuals. Our majors love the field of physical education and health education and know that as teachers they are doing a very important job.

Internships. Physical education and health education teaching majors do not complete internships. Throughout the studentsÕ course work, such as in the physical-education-teaching methods course, they will complete clinical hours which require them to work in a school setting along with a licensed teacher. The Health and Human Performance Department offers three teaching-methods courses in which students work in schools. The required education courses taken through the School of Education also require clinical hours.

Study abroad. In the past we have not had physical-education and health-education teaching majors travel abroad. The majority of our majors decide to complete a double major and have a tight coursework schedule to complete to graduate on time; still, studying abroad would be a fantastic experience for prospective teachers. If students are interested in doing so, they need to consult with faculty member in the Health and Human Performance Department well in advance.

The faculty in the Health and Human Performance Department work individually with all of the majors in the department to further each studentÕs growth and professional development in his or her chosen field. Faculty members collaborate with students on research projects, participate in the ÒInquiry at USTÓ conference and attend other professional conferences, such as the Northland Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (NACSM) where they give poster presentations of completed research. Faculty members have also taken students to state and national professional conventions.