This program is designed to provide initial teaching certification in physical education for Canadian candidates with bachelor’s degrees. Your degree may be from a program with emphasis on teaching physical education or from an academic major other than physical education, e.g., kinesiology, exercise science, health and wellness or sport administration. Once you complete certification requirements, you will meet requirements for New York State certification, grades K-12. In Ontario, you will apply for certification at the Intermediate-Senior level.
Since the program is completed at the graduate level, you can then complete a master’s degree by taking one additional course. A master’s degree is required in New York State for professional certification within five years of initial certification. The masters degree is not required for certification in Ontario.
Based upon evaluation of undergraduate transcripts, a program will be developed to ensure completion of undergraduate courses needed to meet New York State requirements for teaching physical education. These courses include: movement education, individual games, team games, dance and recreational activities, gymnastics and rhythmic activities, CPR lifeguard training, and exercise principals.
In addition to the physical education prerequisites described above, completion of 3 credit hours (one-half credit or a one semester course) in a foreign language are required for teacher certification in New York State.
The Ontario Physical Education program has a variety of scheduling options. Students may complete course work of up to five courses during a semester on a Monday/Tuesday schedule. For a sample schedule, see our scheduling fact sheets for Summer 2008 or Fall 2008 (PDF).