A major in physical education teaching which leads to licensure at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels. Students graduating with a major in physical education will be able to effectively make application of the skills required for conducting the teaching-learning process in an extended practicum setting. They will also demonstrate the skill and knowledge to evaluate the teaching-learning process, the analysis of motor performance, and an assessment of theory to interface it with practice.

Major Courses

• HLTH 250 Personal Hlth & Wellness (4 credits)
• PHED 105 Water Safety Instructor (WSI) and Lifeguard Training (2 credits)
• PHED 202 Phy. Ed. Curr, Inst, Assess (4 credits)
• PHED 208 Human Anatomy & Physiology (4 credits)
• PHED 215 Rhythms & Dance (2  credits)
• PHED 300 Motor Development (4 credits)
• PHED 302 Phy. Ed. Methods for Elem (4 credits)
• PHED 304 Phy. Ed. Methods for Middle/Secondary (4 credits)
• PHED 326 Kinesiology (4 credits)
• PHED 332 Exercise Physiology (4 credits)
• PHED 351 Teaching Special Needs Students (4 credits)
Subtotal: 40 credits

Allied Courses

• PSYC 111 General Psychology (4 credits)
• Select one of the following:
• BIOL 101 General Biology (4 credits)
• BIOL 105 Human Biology (4 credits)

Subtotal: 8 credits

Sophomores with a grade point average of 2.75 may register for the introductory course (EDUC 210) during which they should apply for admission to the department. Juniors and seniors with a grade point average of 2.75 will follow the recommended sequence of courses listed below.

• EDUC 210 Education's Place in Society & Field Exp. (4.0 credits)
• EDUC 212 Hum. Rel. & Multicul. Ed. (4.0 credits)
• EDUC 330 Psy for Teaching & Learning  .  (4.0 credits)
• EDUC 332 Field Experience (0 credits)
• EDUC 355 Reading for 5-12 Teachers (4.0 credits)
• PHED 105*  Lifeguard/WSI Certification (major)
• PHED 302* Physical Ed. Meth. for Elem (major)
• PHED 304* Physical Ed. Meth for Middle/Secondary  (major)
• EDUC 343  Field Experience (0 credit)
• EDUC 456 Introduction to Exceptionality (2.0 credits)
• EDUC 460 Student Teaching & Seminar (10.0 credits)

Subtotal: 28 credits

Recommended Courses:

• COJO 100 Public Speaking (4 credits)
• SOCI 100 Intro to Sociology (4 credits)

Additional Core Curriculum Requirements not met by Major or Allied Courses:

• Literature and Writing (8 credits)
• Moral and Philosophical Reasoning (8 credits)
• Faith and the Catholic Tradition (12 credits)
• Historical Studies (4 credits)
• Fine Arts course of choice (4 credits)
• Language and Culture (12 credits)
• Natural Science and Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning (8 credits)
• Human Diversity (contact advisor)

For more information on which courses satisfy the core curriculum requirements, see the course catalogue, here.

Subtotal: 56 credits

Summary of Credits Needed for Physical Education Teaching (K-12) Major:

Major Courses: 40 credits
Allied Courses: 8 credits
Education Courses: 28 credits
Additional Core Curriculum Courses: 56 credits

Total: 132 credits

Contact Us

Department of Health and Human Performance
University of St. Thomas
Anderson Athletic Recreation Center
2115 Summit Avenue,  Mail # 4004, ARC 206
St. Paul, MN 55105-1096

For general questions, contact:

Lisa Keiser, Office Coordinator
lmkeiser@stthomas.edu
(651) 962-5982

For questions to our interim department chair, contact:

Dr. Peter Parilla, Faculty/Interim Department Chair
pfparilla@stthomas.edu 
(651) 962-5631 or 5975

For questions regarding the Exercise Science major, contact: 

Dr. Bridget Duoos, Faculty
baduoos@stthomas.edu
(651) 962-5909

For questions regarding Community Health and Health Promotion, contact:

Dr. Jolynn Gardner, Faculty
gard6522@stthomas.edu
(651) 962-5958

For questions regarding the Physical Education and Health Education Teaching, contact:

Dr. Timothy Mead, Faculty

mead3373@stthomas.edu
(651) 962-5945

.