A career field on the move.
We offer a robust and versatile program that prepares you for careers in Physical Education, Health Education and Adapted PE. According to the College Board, the field of adapted physical and health education is projected to grow by 5% over the next five years. For those interested in teaching at the college level, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an 8% increase in employment opportunities for health and physical education professors over the next decade.
Gain first-hand teaching experience in diverse schools
Pursue research with faculty mentors
Collaborate with faculty, organizations, and local schools to develop skills and professionalism
As a Physical Education student at UW-Whitewater, you will participate in a sequence of school-based opportunities to build your professional skills.
Starting sophomore year, Physical Education students complete field studies in a variety of settings to observe and practice Elementary PE, Secondary PE, Adapted PE and Health Education. During senior year, each student completes full-time student-teaching placements in elementary, middle, and secondary schools for a more in-depth teaching experience.
Embedded into our curriculum you’ll find several courses with a service-learning element. For example, students in Adapted PE courses visit the Wisconsin School for the Blind and Wisconsin Special Olympics programs.
Students have the opportunity to be certified in a range of personal and professional development areas. Students in the Teaching Fitness course, for example, have the option to be certified in the Physical Best certification.
Our students engage in research with a faculty mentor, which can lead to co-authoring a paper or presenting at a national conference.
Many of our students gain real-world experience through on-campus employment in our department, at the fitness center, or with our coaching staff and athletic trainers.
To promote career and professional development opportunities for students interested in health, physical education, human performance, recreation, coaching and related career fields, UW-Whitewater offers the Outdoor Adventure Club. This student-led club provides outdoor and professional development opportunities by leading outdoor experiences. Common adventures include river and lake canoeing, rock climbing adventures, ski trips, and camping/adventure trips (including trips to nearby Ottawa Lake State Park and Horicon Marsh, and more distant trips to the Badlands National Park/Custer State Park in South Dakota, and Great Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee).
Classrooms, laboratories and activity spaces are located in the Williams Center, Kachel Fieldhouse and surrounding outdoor locations. Facilities are also utilized in the Roseman Building, the Student Athletic Complex and other locations across campus.
The Williams Center and the Kachel Fieldhouse includes the following facilities:
Physical education teacher
Adapted physical education teacher
Health education teacher
Our program prepares students for an array of careers in physical education and health education.
Our graduates go on to be recreation specialists or teach Physical Education, Adapted PE, and Health Education in PreK-12 schools.
Want to learn more about becoming a Physical Education or Health Education teacher, or studying Education at UW-Whitewater? education@uww.edu
Among our faculty, you’ll find award-winning teachers with impressive credentials:
Additionally, our faculty collaborate with colleagues in other departments, including psychology, geography and UW-Whitewater Athletics.
UW-Whitewater offers the following Physical Education, Health Education and Adapted PE degrees:
Bachelor of Science in Education — Physical Education - Health Education and Adapted PE Emphasis | 4-year plan [PDF]
In addition to your general education requirements, your degree program and major will require core and elective classes.
Minors
Certificates
Post Baccalaureate
To apply, you’ll complete the UW-Whitewater application for admission and indicate your major of interest.