Health and Physical Education

Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Overview

Barton’s commitment to engaged learning means our Health and Physical Education major offers an academically challenging program where practical learning promotes discovery and self-reflection and cultivates leadership. These experiences, combined with our strong liberal arts core, will enhance your communication and critical thinking skills, extend your global awareness, instill a love for lifelong learning, and boost your self-confidence. When you graduate, you’ll be ready to guide children and youth through the process of becoming physically active and healthy for a lifetime.

Special Features

The Health and Physical Education teacher licensure program continually develops unique opportunities for you to evolve into a professional K-12 educator.

When you graduate from our program, you’re ready to teach both health and physical education classes – whether they’re kindergarteners or 12th graders – and you’re eligible for a North Carolina teaching certificate.

Our HPE majors gain additional experience by assisting at local schools, volunteering at field days, attending conferences, and belonging to the Health and Physical Education Club.

Course Information

Courses required for the major include:

• Introduction to Sport Studies
• Skills and Concepts of Sports
• Outdoor Pursuits
• Exceptionalities in Health and Physical Education
• Scholarship in Health and Human Performance
• Kinesiology
• Exercise Physiology
• Principles and Ethics of Coaching

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The Cloyd-Hendrix Physical Education Scholarship Award is awarded to a rising senior majoring in health and physical education with teacher certification. The selection, made by the faculty of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Studies, is based on academic achievement and overall contribution to the department.

Students majoring in health and physical education are also eligible for many of the School of Education scholarships.

Internships

The capstone project for the major is student teaching, which usually takes place in the spring semester of the senior year. You’ll work in an elementary, middle, or high school setting with the majority of these placements being in Wilson County.

Some recent placements are:

• Elm City Elementary School
• Hunt High School
• Margaret Hearne Elementary School
• North Johnston High School
• Selma Elementary School
• Toisnot Middle School
• Vinson Bynum Elementary School
• Wells Elementary School
• Zebulon Magnet Middle School

Career Opportunities

Upon completion of the HPE program, you’ll earn an initial North Carolina teaching license for kindergarten through 12th grade in health and physical education. This license allows you to pursue a career as physical education or health teacher at any grade level or as a middle school or high school coach.