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Physical Education

A career in physical education instills a love for active, healthy lifestyles.

Whether you’re sharing strategies for healthier living in classrooms, hospitals or clinics, or improving outcomes as an administrator or policy maker, you positively influence people’s physical and mental health. As a fitness trainer, you lead, instruct and motivate people of all ages to exercise, strength train and stretch. 

At Kean, our students benefit from rich academics and extensive fieldwork that prepare them for certification and outstanding careers as teachers, coaches or fitness professionals. Field experience begins in the second year of study and continues until graduation.

Be prepared to coach, train and play with a physical education degree from Kean. 

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Victoria Stec '19, Physical Education Teacher Certification playing Women's Volleyball with the Kean Cougars

Physical education major Victoria Stec '19 is also a standout on the Cougars' women's volleyball team.

What You Learn

You receive instruction and clinical experience in nutrition, fitness and wellness, and learn strategies for motivating students to exercise, while also encouraging competition and collaboration.

  • Gain skills needed for curriculum development and training design
  • Engage in 200 hours of hands-on learning in a fitness setting or school
  • Perform, evaluate and interpret exercise tests and develop the knowledge, strategies and skills needed to prescribe exercise programs
  • Explore approaches to nutrition and weight-management counseling
  • Empower students through confidence, leadership and cooperation-building activities
  • Use theory and practice to assess, design and implement supervised exercise programs for people with varied health-related needs

Full-time clinical practice occurs five days a week, seven hours a day, allowing students to learn to apply program content in alignment with state and national standards. Student teaching in a K-12 school setting, guided by cooperating teachers and University supervisors, will allow you to apply what you’ve learned in real-world scenarios with diverse populations in both elementary- and secondary-school settings.

Program Information

B.S. in Physical Education | Exercise Science

Study and practice the acute and chronic physiological responses to sport, exercise and physical activity, and prepare to earn certification as a personal trainer and strength coach.

B.S. in Physical Education and Health | Teacher Certification P-12

This program emphasizes the theory and practice of teaching physical education and health in public and private elementary and secondary schools.

Minor in Athletic Coaching

Learn from an interdisciplinary approach to the physical, social and psychological needs of the student-athlete in this program.

Minor in Exercise Science

Develop a knowledge of health, injury prevention, physical fitness and instructional methods in this 18 credit program.

Also available

Other programs you might be interested in

Harwood Arena

The physical education program at Kean is full of teachers who love what they are doing. Every class, I fall more in love with my major and cannot wait to spread all of that love and positivity to my future students."

Victoria Stec '19
Physical Education - Teacher Certification Major
Victoria Stec '19 - Physical Education Major - Kean Athletics Volleyball

The Classroom and Beyond

At Kean, we believe learning extends far beyond the walls of our classrooms and labs. That's why we encourage you to get involved in clubs and organizations, study abroad at our campus in China or elsewhere, and pursue internships that will advance your career. Find out more.

Athletic Training Facilities - Credit: Sara Ridgway

World-Class Facilities

Kean offers one of the best-equipped athletic training centers in the nation with provisions rarely seen at the NCAA Division III level.
Kean students gain real-world experience through internships.

Internships and Jobs

At Kean, we believe in helping all of our students find internships or jobs that fulfill their career goals. Find out more.
Recreation and Intramurals Photo by Scott Lewis

Recreation and Intramurals

Kean's recreation and intramurals programs offer students, faculty and staff fun and competitive ways to stay in shape and engage in on-campus sports activities.

After Kean

Recent statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that jobs in fitness and recreation are among the fastest growing in the nation, and include the following careers:

  • Physical education teacher
  • Health club manager
  • Fitness instructor
  • Recreation center director
  • Health and wellness coordinator
  • Yoga and Pilates instructor
  • Community health educator
  • Exercise physiologist
  • Clinical exercise specialist 
  • Strength and conditioning coach

Kean physical education graduates are top professionals in education, government, administration, hospitals and clinics, sharing strategies for healthier living.

Exercise science graduates work on health and wellness teams in corporate, clinical, community and commercial environments researching health behaviors and risk factors, conducting assessments, designing remediation programs, and motivating individuals to make healthy choices to improve their well-being. 

13%

Employment of exercise physiologists is projected to grow 13 percent by 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

20

Average class size at Kean

36%

Less debt than the national average for college grads

Kean Harwood Arena

"My professors made coming to class fun and enjoyable! I learned more than I could imagine while still maintaining my dance career. Everything I learned within this program has also shaped me into a better student and fitness professional."

Zina Scasso ‘18
Physical Therapy Aide • Dance Teacher
Zina Scasso ‘18 graduated with a physical education degree from Kean
caep logo2 for accreditation

Accreditation

Since 1955, Kean’s College of Education has earned accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Notably, only one-third of the schools that produce teachers in the United States and New Jersey earn this accreditation.

CAEP advances equity and excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.

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