2026-2027 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]
Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education
The Health & Physical Education Teacher Education PK-12 degree is designed to prepare professionals who promote quality health and physical education, lifelong skills and developmentally appropriate activities. As such, the faculty prepare future health and physical educators through excellent teaching, scholarly activity, and service which reflect the programs commitment to the Society of Health and Physical Education (SHAPE America) Standards.
Website: gvsu.edu/physicaleducation
Accreditation
The College of Education maintains CAEP accreditation for all teacher preparation programs. The Health & Physical Education Teacher Education degree maintains approval from the Michigan Department of Education.
Requirements for a Major in Health and Physical Education (credits: 62)
Students seeking a major in health and physical education. Students majoring in Health and Physical Education Teacher Education PK-12 may obtain Michigan certification to teach health and physical education. Students seeking teacher certification must complete a 36-credit professional education program from the College of Education (see the GVSU College of Education website for more information). Secondary admission to the College of Education requires at least a 2.7 GPA overall and in the major.
Requirements for a Major in Health and Physical Education Teacher Education
Students in the Health & Physical Education Teacher Education program at Grand Valley State University must follow all general education requirements as defined by the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog.
Health and Physical Education Teacher Education B.S. Course Requirements
The following must be completed for the major in physical education (nine credits):
- HPE 309 - Assessment in Health and Physical Education (3 credits)
- EXS 210 - The Science of Human Movement and Exercise (3 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
Health and Physical Education Teacher Education Major Courses (credits: 62)
- BMS 105 - Basic Nutrition (3 credits)
- BMS 202 - Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
- EXS 210 - The Science of Human Movement and Exercise (3 credits)
- FIT 150 - Swimming: Strokes and Drills (1 credit) OR FIT 151 - Fitness Swimming (1 credit)
- HPE 195 - Introduction to Teaching Health and Physical Education (3 credits)
- HPE 200 - Methods of Teaching Dance (2 credits)
- HPE 207 - Personal Health and Wellness (3 credits)
- HPE 220 - Methods of Teaching Net/Wall/Target Activities (2 credits)
- HPE 230 - Methods of Teaching Invasive Games (2 credits)
- HPE 240 - Methods for Teaching Health Related Fitness (3 credits)
- HPE 250 - Methods of Teaching Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD) (2 credits)
- HPE 260 - Methods of Teaching Outdoor Pursuits (3 credits)
- HPE 264 - Methods of Teaching Early Childhood Movement and Health (2 credits)
- HPE 270 - Methods of Teaching Skills-Based Health Education (3 credits)
- HPE 272 - Methods of Teaching Reproductive Health (2 credits)
- HPE 301 - Methods of Teaching Secondary Health Education (3 credits)
- HPE 302 - Methods of Teaching Adapted Physical Education (3 credits)
- HPE 306 - Methods of Teaching Elementary Physical Education (3 credits)
- HPE 307 - Methods of Teaching Secondary Physical Education (3 credits)
- HPE 309 - Assessment in Health and Physical Education (3 credits)
- HPE 401 - Professionalism in Health and Physical Education (Capstone) (3 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- MOV 310 - Motor Skill Development (3 credits)
Suggested Order of Coursework for Health and Physical Education Teacher Education
Year One
- FIT 150 - Swimming: Strokes and Drills (1 credit) OR FIT 151 - Fitness Swimming (1 credit)
- HPE 195 - Introduction to Teaching Health and Physical Education (3 credits)
- HPE 200 - Methods of Teaching Dance (2 credits)
- HPE 207 - Personal Health and Wellness (3 credits)
- HPE 264 - Methods of Teaching Early Childhood Movement and Health (2 credits)
- PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology (3 credits)*
- EDF 115 - Introduction to Education: An Exploration of Schooling in America (3 credits)*
Year Two
- EXS 210 - The Science of Human Movement and Exercise (3 credits)
- BMS 105 - Basic Nutrition (3 credits)
- BMS 202 - Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
- HPE 220 - Methods of Teaching Net/Wall/Target Activities (2 credits)
- HPE 230 - Methods of Teaching Invasive Games (2 credits)
- HPE 240 - Methods for Teaching Health Related Fitness (3 credits)
- HPE 250 - Methods of Teaching Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD) (2 credits)
- HPE 260 - Methods of Teaching Outdoor Pursuits (3 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- EDR 225 - Introduction to Teaching Multilingual Learners (3 credits)*
Year Three
- HPE 270 - Methods of Teaching Skills-Based Health Education (3 credits)
- HPE 272 - Methods of Teaching Reproductive Health (2 credits)
- HPE 301 - Methods of Teaching Secondary Health Education (3 credits)
- HPE 306 - Methods of Teaching Elementary Physical Education (3 credits)
- HPE 309 - Assessment in Health and Physical Education (3 credits)
- MOV 310 - Motor Skill Development (3 credits)
- PSY 301 - Child Development (3 credits)*
Year Four
- HPE 302 - Methods of Teaching Adapted Physical Education (3 credits)
- HPE 307 - Methods of Teaching Secondary Physical Education (3 credits)
- HPE 401 - Professionalism in Health and Physical Education (Capstone) (3 credits)
- EDI 315 - Introduction to Integrated Curriculum Through Play (3 credits)*
- EDI 331 - Secondary Teacher Apprenticeship and Seminar: 5-12 (4 credits)*
- EDT 476 or EDT 477 - Teaching Adolescents with Technology (3 credits)*
- EDR 321 - Disciplinary Literacy (3 credits)*
Year Five
- EDI 431 - Secondary Teacher Internship and Seminar: 5-12 (7 credits)*
- EDI 432 - Secondary and PK-12 Internship: Disciplinary Content Seminar (2 credits)*
- EDF 485 - The Context of Educational Issues (3 credits)*
*Indicates the coursework to be completed by students who will graduate with a 2nd major in Education.
Please note that one semester during your fourth/fifth year will be in an elementary setting and the other semester will be in the secondary setting. During the secondary semester, students will teach both health and physical education.
Health and Physical Education Program Description
Visit us online for the program description at https://www.gvsu.edu/catalog/2025-2026/department/physical-education.htm.