Physical Education Health Education

MISSION STATEMENT

The overarching goal of the PEHE program is to prepare the best and most effective teacher candidates in physical education and health education in Ohio. The PEHE program is aligned to the Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession (OSTP), the Ohio Academic Content Standards for Physical Education, the National Health Education Standards, and the State of Ohio’s Prescribed Curriculum for Health Education. The PEHE program develops candidates for Ohio multi-age (grades PK-12) teaching licenses in Physical Education and Health Education.

Program Learning Outcomes

As a teacher candidate in Physical Education, you will be:

  • a highly effective and reflective teacher of content knowledge of the sciences of movement, and skillful movement performance.
  • able to plan and implement appropriate pedagogical practices in physical education.
  • able to assess needs and learning outcomes for students.
  • able to develop personal meaning and enjoyment of physical activity for all students including the ability to manage emotions, set achievable goals, exhibit empathy for others, develop positive relationships and undertake responsible decision-making.
  • able to impact student learning and development of skillful movement. 
  • an advocate and promoter of physical education and expanded physical activity opportunities to promote diversity, inclusion and equity for everyone.

As a teacher candidate in Health Education you will be:

  • a highly effective and reflective teacher of physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental topics of health.
  • able to plan and implement effective health education units and lessons.
  • able to assess needs and learning outcomes for students.
  • able to develop a coordinated school health program.
  • an effective communicator and advocate for comprehensive health education.
  • responsive to the needs of students and the community.

The PEHE Curriculum

The Physical Education curriculum addresses the following areas of content knowledge: foundations of human movement (human anatomy, biomechanics, and motor learning); professional education (pedagogy, curriculum and instruction, teaching strategies, adapted PE, measurement and assessment, historical, psychological and sociological aspects of PE); and movement performance (invasion, field, target, and net games; dance, gymnastics, outdoor leisure pursuits, fitness and wellness).

The Health Education curriculum addresses the following areas of content knowledge: personal health, nutrition, mental health issues, drug use and abuse, social health, and reproductive health, and health behavior theory.

Field Experiences

The College of Education and Human Development through its conceptual framework of a community of inclusion, collaboration and respect promotes integrative and experiential learning with extensive hands-on field-based experiences that place students in the schools to gain important pedagogical competencies in supervised settings. This occurs in all four years of study following a developmental approach that involves:

  • In-school observation and interactions (Freshman year in Introduction to Education and Introduction to Pedagogy, Coaching and Leadership).
  • Co-teaching (Sophomore year in Instructional Strategies; Junior year in Elementary School PE Methods, and Secondary School PE Methods; and Senior year in Health Methods).
  • Teaching entire classes of physical education and health education under the supervision of a Classroom Mentor teacher (Senior year PEHE Student Teaching Internship).

Professional Licensure

The PEHE program prepares students for professional licensure so upon graduation students are eligible for their teaching license in both Physical Education and Health Education. Currently the licensure certification involves completion of the following external professional assessments:

1. Teacher candidates are required to achieve acceptable levels of academic content knowledge in the Ohio Assessment for Educators tests in Physical Education and Health Education. These tests are prerequisites to the Student Teaching Internship.

2. During the Student Teaching Internship Teacher Candidates complete the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) which is a nationally scored performance assessment of student teaching performance.

University and Program Accreditation

Bowling Green State University (BGSU) has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1916 with the most recent accreditation received in 2018. The Physical Education and Health Education program is accredited by the State of Ohio and was reaffirmed in 2015.

Career Opportunities

  • School districts in Ohio and across the country have long sought our graduates to fill their positions for physical education and health education teachers.
  • The School of HMSLS also offers a Coaching Minor, with field experiences, that add relevant opportunities for teachers seeking extra-curricular coaching appointments in school districts

Contact Information

If you have any questions, please contact the PEHE Program Coordinator, Dr. Geoff Meek at gmeek@bgsu.edu

The Program Coordinator of Physical Education Health Education
School of Human Movement, Sport, & Leisure Studies
Gertrude Eppler Complex
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH 43403
419-372-7234

100%

of graduates report they're employed, in graduate school or starting a business within six months of graduation

Updated: 10/16/2023 04:20PM