Make a positive impact on the lives of others with a degree in health and physical education from UWF. Careers such as a certified physical educator of K-12, coach, physical education instructor, or fitness professional are some of the many career options.
Why Study Health & Physical Education at UWF?
A B.S. in Health and Physical Education prepares you for positions in teaching, the health and fitness industry, recreation services or for graduate study. We offer two specializations: Fitness and Sport Coaching, and Physical Education Teacher Education.
You will participate in high impact learning opportunities that provide you with hands-on learning. Real-world experiences will prepare you to succeed in the workplace.
What You Will Learn
You will be guided through the curriculum by skilled instructors dedicated to your individualized learning. Faculty members will work closely with you to help you achieve your goals. You will benefit from dedicated program facilities, including a pedagogy gym, teaching gym, state-of-the-art classrooms and a Movement Academy.
In the fitness and sport coaching specialization, courses focus on developing sport coaching leadership skills, physical and cognitive sport performance and overall health and wellness.
In the physical education teacher education program, you will focus on developing as a physical educator in order to teach physical education and health and wellness in grades K–12.
UWF programs offered at the Pensacola campus or UWF Emerald Coast may require online courses. Discuss the program requirements and planning with your academic advisor.
Specializations
You will learn theory and practice of coaching, coaching methods and skills, physical education pedagogy and applied exercise science disciplinary knowledge. You will also study health promotion, sport psychology and first aid and injury prevention. You will complete an internship during your senior year.
This specialization prepares you to pursue certification through:
- National Academy of Sports Medicine
- American Council on Education
- State and national coaching certificate programs
You will delve into leadership skills; the physical, cognitive and emotional aspects of physical education; movement and sport. You will spend your final semester as a student teacher, which will sharpen the skills you learned in the classroom. The physical education teacher education specialization prepares you to successfully take the Florida Department of Education teacher licensure exams, which certifies you to teach in public, private and charter schools. The specialization is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
Physical Education Teacher Education Courses
Physical Education Teacher Education is CAEP Accredited
The Physical Education Teacher Education program is accredited based on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Standards through Spring 2025. CAEP is the only CHEA recognized national accreditor for educator preparation.
Students interested in pursuing Physical Education careers beyond the public K-12 education system, will be able to do so by enrolling in the Physical Education specialization. Graduates from this specialization will be able to pursue careers as teachers and sport coaches within private school physical education settings, early childhood physical education settings, and adult physical education, recreation, and fitness settings. Although the Physical Education specialization does not specifically prepare students for a state license as a certified physical education teacher, it may prepare students to pursue alternative state certification opportunities after they graduate.
