Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education

Our Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physical Education provides for professional preparation in four areas: Adult Fitness; Athletic Training; Health and Physical Education Teaching Certification; and Physical Education Teaching Certification. A Health Education component, offering a wide variety of interesting courses in the health area, is also available.

• Download the Department of Physical Education Undergraduate Course Catalog

ADULT FITNESS
The Adult Fitness option prepares students for professional careers in fitness. Recent statistics indicate that people will require more program-based exercise both in and out of the workplace. As companies recognize the link between exercise and health, more are investing in exercise and health programs. Thanks to our unique, scientific-based program, Adult Fitness majors can take advantage of rapidly-growing employment opportunities.

Our Adult Fitness option is the only program of its kind to offer three levels of field experiences: pre-professional, junior field experience and an internship.

• Pre-professional – Required of all majors, the pre-professional field experience provides students with 20 hours of observation in a field where they can gain exposure to various career options.
• Junior Field Experience – Students complete 45 hours in a fitness setting of their choice. Under supervision, students learn basic testing skills in a hands- on, interactive environment.
• Internship – Students complete 200 hours in a fitness setting. Students learn to perform, evaluate and interpret exercise tests, evaluate clients, prescribe exercise programs and provide nutrition and weight management counseling for clients.

All field experiences are provided for fitness students in a wide variety of professional settings, such as Trinitas Hospital, Merck, Ford, The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Chubb and many others.

Many graduates of Kean’s Adult Fitness program have successful careers as fitness specialists at various health clubs and sports medicine centers. They can also find employment as fitness leaders, technicians, health promotion specialists and directors in corporate fitness and health promotion programs. Many students who have completed the program have become American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Health Fitness Instructors. American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified Group Exercise Instructors and/or Personal Trainers.

For further information, please call (908) 737-5436.

ATHLETIC TRAINING
The Athletic Training program is an allied health profession with a specialization in the total health needs of the athlete. Working under the direction of a team physician and in conjunction with a coaching staff, athletic trainers are responsible for the prevention and care of conditioning programs, the administration of proper first aid and injury assessment procedures, the analysis and fitting of protective equipment and the implementation of appropriate rehabilitation procedures.

The Athletic Training program is regulated by the national Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education programs. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the NATA certification examination. Upon successful completion of the NATA exam, graduates qualify to e registered and work as athletic trainers in New Jersey.

Career opportunities for graduates of the Athletic Training program include working with high school, college, or professional teams in football, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, track, tennis or boxing. Some athletic trainers go on to further their education in the field of medicine.

Please visit the Athletic Training website at www.kean.edu/~gball

For further information, please call (908) 737-5437.

TEACHING CERTIFICATION
The Physical Education Teaching Certification Program prepares individuals to teach in public and private elementary and secondary schools. Students can select from two available options:

• Teacher of Health and Physical Education K-12
• Teacher of Physical Education K-12

The Physical Education Teaching Certification Program also helps prepare students to coach in interscholastic programs and to teach in non-school settings such as community centers, day care centers, fitness centers, private studios and hospitals. This comprehensive and diversified program includes 30 credit hours of Professional Education courses, 37credits of Physical Education courses or 43 credits of Health and Physical Education courses and 12 credits of Movement Forms courses.

Field experiences in public schools begin during the second year and continue throughout the student’s college career. In their senior year, students begin full day student teaching in both elementary and secondary school settings for the entire semester.

Students successfully completing either option, along with a passing score on the Physical Education Content Knowledge test of the national Praxis Examination, will have a Certificate of Advanced Standing in the State of New Jersey. After a one year, full-time paid teaching position under a mentor in a state-accredited school, individuals will receive a Teaching Certificate from the State of New Jersey.

Employment opportunities remain strong for health and physical education graduates who are eligible to work at the elementary, junior high and high school levels.

For further information, please call (908) 737-5503.

HEALTH EDUCATION COMPONENT
While not offering a major, the Health Education Component of the Department of Physical Education, Recreation and Health provides a wide variety of health-related courses. Among these offerings are some of the most popular electives on the Kean Campus: Death in Perspective, Drug Use and Abuse and Human Sexuality. Required for majors outside the department are: First aid and Accident Prevention, Introduction to Public Health and Nutrition. For students interested in meeting the General Education Health Education requirement, Kean also offers a basic health course, Critical Issues and Values of Contemporary Health.

For further information, please call (908) 737-3826.

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