Courses & Curriculum 

1. Core Requirements
View complete information about the Core Curriculum. 

2. Major Requirements
Initial Certification in K-12 Physical Education/Health Dual Certification Curriculum:

Courses and Curriculum

PED 150 Introduction to Physical Education and Health (3 cr)
PED 203 Net, Target, and Fitness Activities (3 cr)
PED 204 Invasion Games (3 cr)
PED 207 Dance and Gymnastics (3 cr)
PED 305 Outdoor Curriculum and Cooperative Activities (3 cr)
PED 311 Movement and Elementary Activities (50 hours) (3 cr)
PED 351 Coaching Theory and Techniques (3 cr)
PED 354 Adapted PE (3 cr)
PED 360 Motor Development (3 cr)
PED 371 Assessment in Physical Education (3 cr)
HHP 235 Kinesiology (3 cr)

33 credits

Health Education Courses

BIO 114/L Human Biology (4 cr)
BIO 115/L Musculoskeletal Anatomy (4 cr)
HED 115 Basic Nutrition (3 cr)
HED 205 Wellness and Fitness (3 cr)
HED 220 Healthy Behaviors (3 cr)
HED 321 Lifeguard, CPR, First Aid, WSI (3 cr)
HED 325 School Health (50 hrs) (3 cr)
HED 337 Exercise Principles (3 cr)
HED 425 Disease and Illness (3 cr)
HED 461 Health Psychology (3 cr)

32 credits

Pedagogical Core

EDU 250 Foundations of Education (3 cr)
PED 372 Seminar in Teaching in PE/Health (3 cr)
PED 380 Concepts in Teaching Sport Skills (3 cr)
PED 441 Teaching Methods of Physical Education (50 hours) (3 cr)
PED 493 Student Teaching (12 cr)
PED 494 Capstone for Teachers (3 cr)
EDU 495 Child Abuse Workshop (0)
EDU 496 Violence Prevention Workshop (0) 

27 Credits

Minimum Total credits: 122  credits

Certification Requirements

To obtain initial teacher certification, candidates must pass the examinations required by the New York State Education Department. These include the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), the Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA) and the appropriate Content Specialty Tests(s) (CST). The LAST should be taken in the sophomore year or early in the junior year,the CST(s) in the senior year, and the TPA will be completed during student teaching.

Candidates must be cleared by the New York State Education Department through a fingerprint-supported criminal history background check.

Candidates in teacher certification programs are required to take three credits of foreign language to meet New York State certification regulations. Canisius College accepts high school foreign language study for the foreign language proficiency requirement for those candidates successfully completing the appropriate Regents Exam with a grade of 85% or higher. For students who graduated from high schools outside New York state, three or more full year courses in a foreign language with grades of ‘B’ or higher are acceptable for the foreign language proficiency. Your proficiency will be evaluated during freshman orientation by the Director of Advisement. Candidates may also demonstrate the foreign language proficiency requirement by passing the appropriate CLEP test. Candidates that do not meet the foreign language proficiency through high school study are required to take a three credit foreign language course at the college level. Candidates that have no prior high school foreign language experience should register for a 103 level foreign language course. Candidates that have prior high school foreign language experience may register for a 115 level foreign language course.

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