B.S. in Health & Physical Education – P-12 Teacher Certification

The Bachelor of Science in Health & Human Performance (HHP) offers an opportunity to become a Health & Physical Education P-12 teacher.

General Education Courses The HHP core course provides students with a background in the social, physiological and historical knowledge needed for specialized study in health and physical education.

Pre-Professional Courses enables students to develop the content knowledge, skills and dispositions to necessary to be admitted in the Initial Teacher Certification Program.

Professional courses assist students in acquiring the skills, knowledge and dispositions to become effective and committed health and physical education teachers. These course required extensive hours in field experience and student teaching.

Certification

Students who complete this program may become certified to teach after passing exit Praxis tests: (a) PLT – Practices of Teaching & Learning, and (b) Physical Education Content & Design.



Samantha Pitts

The Physical Education and Health Program at UofL was a very supportive environment with great resources and opportunities. The courses were very thorough and challenged each student to really work on increasing their skill set. They encouraged us to create a culture of respect for Health and Physical Education by having rigorous lesson plans and including higher-level learning. Best of all the professors are on your side and they do everything they can to assist you in any way. You will graduate with a whole new family by your side.

- Samantha Pitts, Physical and Health Educator, Central High School

Related

Degree Requirements

Detailed course requirements for completing the BS-HHP (PSH), including courses specific to the track, are contained in the UofL Undergraduate Catalog.

Who may apply to the Professional Phase of the Program?

Undergraduate teacher education candidates who meet the following criteria may be eligible to apply to the professional phase of the teacher education program, and are encouraged to meet with their assigned, academic counselor to evaluate their readiness to apply. Admission is competitive to this rigorous program. Candidates who meet minimum academic requirements are not guaranteed admission to the program.

  1. Minimum test scores on the required PRAXIS and/or ACT tests.
  2. Registration receipts, or completion of, PRAXIS #5857 - Health & Physical Education: Content knowledge
  3. Minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average (based on all college courses completed) or minimum 3.0 grade point average based on the last 30 credit hours completed
  4. B- or better required for all pre-professional courses
  5. Minimum "C" or better in ENGL 102 and Oral Communication course
  6. Students must have completed HSS 184 and HSS 320 with a grade of B-minus or higher, and HSS 202 with a grade of C or higher.
  7. Completion of at least 45 credit hours of degree applicable course work including General Education Requirements and Education prerequisite courses as determined by assigned academic counselor. Students are encouraged to have all General Education Requirements and Education prerequisite courses completed prior to the start of the professional program.
  8. Positive dispositions for teaching as determined through Education course assessments and field evaluations. Areas for assessment include: attendance, acceptance of feedback, classroom etiquette, respectful interactions, and punctuality.
  9. Positive classroom and extracurricular experiences which demonstrate creativity, collaboration, communication skills, critical thinking ability, and a disposition of respect for the uniqueness and dignity of all individuals

Teacher education candidates provide support and evidence of positive experiences as explained in 7-8 (above) through professional writing requirements, letters of recommendation, and faculty interview.

This program is open to all eligible candidates regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age.

Teacher education candidates should review the following which outline the expectations of the teaching profession:

  1. Professional Code of Ethics for Kentucky School Personnel [PDF]
  2. CEHD Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement [PDF]
  3. Character and Fitness Questionnaire [PDF]
  4. Professional Dispositions Rubric [PDF]
  5. Diversity Rubric [PDF]
  6. Effective Written Communication Rubric [PDF]

How to apply to the Professional Phase of the Program?

Online Application

Please submit the online application at least four weeks prior to the application deadline. Recommendation requests are automatically sent to the recommenders upon selecting the “Send to Recommender” button. (Applicants may check their application account to check the status of their recommendation requests.) Adequate time should be given to recommenders to respond to the request by the application deadline!

Official test scores and transcripts (from other institutions) should be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admission prior to the application deadline!

Questions about the online application should be directed to teacher@louisville.edu.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Admission – February 1st by 5:00 p.m.

Please note: If the application deadline falls on a weekend, applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on the Monday immediately following the deadline.

Applicants will be notified via e-mail regarding the admission decision no later than six weeks after the application deadline. Applicants who are selected for admission will receive information about a mandatory orientation session for the program.

Contact

Dr. Carla Vidoni, Associate Professor and Program Director
Department of Health and Sport Sciences
SAC East, Suite 104C
Email: carla.vidoni@ouisville.edu
Phone: 502-852-8844

Health & Physical Education Faculty

Opportunities for Graduates

Health and Physical Education students who complete the Initial Teacher Certification program have consistently secured jobs as physical educators or health educators in a variety of schools in Jefferson Co. Public Schools, Oldham Co. Public Schools, Nelson Co., and Bullitt Co. Public Schools.

Some students have acquired teaching positions in private schools, and others in different states. Teaching in a different state requires verification of equivalency of Kentucky teacher certification in the chosen state.

Our alumni remain connected to the program as cooperating or mentoring teachers, program instructors, guest speakers in our courses, and also as research collaborators.

Bruce Oldham

The UofL PE and Health program did a great job preparing us to teach PE and Health to all students. The program is built around meaningful experiences that help us to teach our students. Countless hours are spent in the schools observing and teaching K-12 students with qualified PE and Health teachers. It was also great to be supported and to know that the faculty and staff truly care about their students and our futures.

- Bruce Oldham, Chancey Elementary School, Physical Education Teacher, Graduated in 2013
Mary Wurst

The program prepares you for all aspects of teaching. From the classroom to professional development, you leave well-equipped to meet the challenges of the profession.

- Ginger Smith, Doss High School, Health Educator, Graduate in 2015

In addition to the financial aid opportunities offered by the University of Louisville's Financial Aid office, the College of Education & Human Development also has information about financial aid.

Other financial aid opportunities available include student employment opportunities.