HPE Major

Is there a specific order in which I should take my HPE courses?

Yes. Most of your HPE courses are only offered 1 time per year, so it’s important to make sure you take them in the correct order. On our website we have 2 sample plans- one is a 4 year plan and the other is a 4.5 year plan.  Generally speaking you should take HPE 195 first, then your      200 level HPE courses, 300 level HPE courses, etc.. We recommend that you meet with your HPE advisor to discuss your plan and timeline. 

Do I have to take FIT 150 for my aquatics requirement?

You need to take 1 aquatics class. We recommend FIT 150 (1 cr) as a basic swimming course. However, you can take WSI, Lifeguard Training or SCUBA to get credit for this course (they cannot be online only). Speak to your HPE advisor to confirm your options.

How do I know who my HPE advisor is? 

When you log in to Navigate you will see a link that says, myPath, this is where you will find everything you need to know about your degree. The very top of your myPath will list your academic advisor(s).  https://www.gvsu.edu/navigate/ 

You do have access to a general CLAS advisor- they can help you with everything but are most helpful if you have questions about General Education courses, transfer courses and other university related questions.  https://www.gvsu.edu/clasadvising/

How do I contact my HPE advisor?

Please email your HPE advisor directly to set up a meeting with them. Dr. Armstrong      [email protected]   Dr. Johnson          [email protected] 

How do the HPE professors share important information with me?

We have an HPE google group. Email Dr. Johnson to be added.  [email protected] 

How many hours of observation/fieldwork do I get throughout my HPE program?

HPE 195: 10-12 hours (Elem, MS, HS Health and PE)

HPE 264: A minimum of  4 hours (Early Childhood)

HPE 301: A minimum of 10 hours (Secondary Health) 

HPE 302: A minimum of 10 hours Elem, HS, on campus)

HPE 306: A minimum of 6 hours (Elementary PE)

HPE 307: A minimum of 6 hours (Secondary PE)

CECI

College of Education and Community Innovation (CECI) Questions

When do I apply to the College of Education (CECI)?

You will apply to CECI during the last semester of your HPE major courses. You should take all your General Education courses, your HPE courses and the 2 required Education courses listed on your myPath. For example, if you are in your last semester of coursework during Winter semester, you will apply to CECI for Fall semester to begin your Teacher Apprenticeship semester. The due dates for these applications are typically the beginning of September for Winter TA and the beginning of February for Fall TA.  Required courses to be taken prior to TA application- must have C or better: HPE 301, HPE 302, HPE 306, HPE 307

CECI requirements: Must have B- or better: PSY 301, EDF 315

What does my last year of fieldwork experience look like?

Once you’ve been accepted into CECI for your final year of fieldwork you will engage in a semester of Teacher Apprenticeship. During this semester you will continue to take Education courses and spend half-days out in the field, where you will work with an HPE mentor teacher. 

Your final semester of fieldwork will be your Teacher Internship. During this semester you will spend full days at a school with an  HPE mentor teacher. 

I’ve heard that I’ll be certified to teach PK-12th grades, what does this mean?

The HPE program has special requirements during these experiences. You will become certified in both Health Education and Physical Education for PK-12 students. This means that you will spend 1 semester at an Elementary placement and one semester at a Secondary (either Middle or High) placement. You must also complete 100 hours in Elementary PE, 100 hours in Secondary Physical Education and 100 hours in Health Education classrooms.  After graduation you will be able to teach any grade level from PK-12 in both HE and PE. 

Can I choose my own placements for my Teacher Apprenticeship and Teacher Internship experiences?

Yes and no. You will be asked to share where you will live during these experiences and CECI will make placements within 45 miles. You are not allowed to return to the high school you graduated from to complete your fieldwork. You are also not allowed to be in schools where you have family members.  

Can I go “home” to do my TA or TI semester?

During your TA semester you will be placed somewhere in West Michigan. However, during your TI semester there are sometimes options for you to have a distance placement. This depends on many factors, you can discuss this with the COE placement specialist. Generally speaking they offer distant placements in the Detroit area.

What do my TA/TI placements look like? Are they in different schools?

GVSU expects that you will engage in a variety of experiences. This means that your TA and TI semesters will be in different school districts and they will look different. The goal is to provide you with a rich and varied experience so you feel comfortable teaching in many different types of schools. 

Who will be observing me during TA/TI placements?

You will have 2 supervisors from GVSU during your fieldwork. You will have an HPE supervisor and one from the CECI. We will each make 3-5 observations of your teaching during these experiences. 

What classes do I take during TA/TI semesters?

During TA you will take the following education courses: You should be able to see all of these classes on your MyPath.

EDI 332  2 cr       EDI 335 4 cr       EDR 321 3 cr       EDT 476 or 477  3cr

During TI you will take the following education courses: 

EDI 432  2 cr       EDI 435 7 cr       EDI 495  3 cr

Certification/Funding

When do I need to take the MTTC exam? 

It is recommended that you complete these exams (subtests 112 and 113) prior to starting your Teacher Apprenticeship semester. See the link above for more information on how to sign up, access to study guides and practice exams. 

You must also take the Professional Knowledge and skills (PKS) test toward the end of your Apprenticeship semester 

What is the MTTC exam? Where do I sign up?

MTTC stands for Michigan Test for Teacher Certification. This is the first step in becoming a certified teacher and you must pass these exams.  https://www.gvsu.edu/education/mttc-information-56.htm

What if I want to leave Michigan to teach in a different state? 

Michigan has teacher certification reciprocity with most of the United States through the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. This agreement allows teachers certified in Michigan to teach in most states. Other states may impose certain requirements to transfer and maintain your teacher certification. Note that Michigan has strict requirements for teacher certification, which means that Michigan-certified teachers are well-prepared and can easily move to other states.

Am I certified in MI as well as other states?

For more information see the CECI website: https://www.gvsu.edu/education/apply-for-certification-208.htm  If you are interested in transferring your teacher certification to another state, you will need to work with that state's Department of Education. For example, the Michigan Department of Education has information for Out-of-State Applicants on the requirements needed for transferring into Michigan.

Is there funding to help me pay for school? 

Here is link for education related scholarships and grants at GVSU: https://www.gvsu.edu/education/student-scholarships-44.htm

Here is a link from the State Department of Education: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/ed-serv/grants

MI Future Educator Fellowship- The MI Future Educator Fellowship will offer $10,000 scholarship to up to 2,500 future educators every year. https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/programs/new-programs-for-future-educators/mi-future-educator-fellowship

MI Future Educator Student Teacher Stipend- The MI Future Educator Student Teacher Stipend is a program to support Michigan’s hardworking student teachers as they continue their journey to being in the classroom full-time.

Up to $9,600 per semester will be available for use towards allowable student teaching expenses (tuition, living expenses, childcare, etc.). https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/programs/new-programs-for-future-educators/mi-future-educator-stipend

These are not guaranteed and are based on the budget each year by the state- do not count on these. 

Professional Development/Jobs

How do I find out about the HPE Major’s Club?

Please visit our website to find out more about the HPE majors Club. https://www.gvsu.edu/physicaleducation/

You can join by going to LakerLink https://www.gvsu.edu/studentorg/

You can find us on the following socials:

Insta         @gvhpeclub

Twitter      @gvhpeclub

FB            @ GV PE Club

Do I need to attend HPE conferences or engage in professional development?

It is not a requirement, however it is recommended that you get involved with the profession through a variety of professional developmental opportunities. These can be state, local and national conferences through SHAPE Michigan and SHAPE America in addition to other professional development opportunities.

Shape MI Link: https://www.shapemichigan.us/

Shape America Link:  https://www.shapeamerica.org/

Should I get my substitute teacher certification? How do I do this?

The best place to get certified to substitute teach is with EduStaff- https://www.edustaff.org/

60* credit hours and a minimum 2.0 GPA from regionally accredited colleges/universities

Are there Health and/or Physical Education jobs? 

Yes, there are plenty of HPE jobs in Michigan, in general, and especially in West Michigan.

Where do I look for teaching jobs?

There are many places to look for teaching jobs. You can look at individual school districts if you know you want to work in a specific district or school. Indeed and LinkedIn are other good places to start looking for jobs. 

We often post job announcements on our HPE google group. 

Coaching

Can I coach/work while in the program?

Yes, most of our majors either work or coach.

Can I take classes that focus on coaching?

GVSU does offer a coaching certification https://www.gvsu.edu/sportmanagement/coaching-certificate-20.htm

The coursework consists of:

SPM 201: Psychosocial Aspects of Sport

ATH 217: Modern Principals of Athletic Training

SPM 355: Contemporary Concepts of Coaching

SPM 360: Practicum in Coaching 

Strength and Conditioning/Additional Certifications

How can I learn more about Strength and Conditioning? 

https://www.gvsu.edu/exercisescience/sports-performancestrength-conditioning-coach-138.htm

The Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is widely considered the "gold standard" certification for training athletes, requiring a bachelor's degree and passing a rigorous exam. Other top certifications include the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa) for collegiate levels, ISSA for flexible online options, and NASM for performance enhancement. 

Other Certification Options 

https://www.gvsu.edu/physicaleducation/additional-certifications-131.htm