PEH Quick Facts
Updated: 2/3/15
B.A. in Physical Education & Health (PEH)
Contact:
Dr. Sue Combs
 combsc@uncw.edu
 910-962-3262
 Trask 146
Or
Dr. Steve Elliott
 elliotts@uncw.edu
 910-962-2115
 Trask 150
What does the PEH major prepare students to do?
 Prepares students to teach Healthful Living, coach and assume leadership
positions in K-12 schools.
Program Highlights:
 Job security: Over the past 5 years, 95% of PEH graduates have received
teaching licenses and secured teaching and coaching positions or have entered
graduate programs.
 6 reasons to choose this major: job security, real-world experience, priceless
health advantages, post-undergraduate opportunities, award-winning faculty
and instruction and experience with coaching. See link for more information.
 Degree has direct applications to “the real world setting”.
 Students gain a foundation in science, health & wellness and the knowledge of
pedagogy (how to teach).
 Students take coursework in Coaching Education and gain experience in
coaching situations.
 Opens doors to advanced degrees in Physical Education, Physical Therapy,
Occupational Therapy, Strength & Conditioning, Coaching Education, K-12
School Administration, Exercise Science and Health Education.
 NC K-12 PE & Health teaching licensure is reciprocal to other around 42 states
 Starting salary in some states is around $50,000
 This program is ideal for students who want to make a difference in the life
and health of children.
Accreditation:
 Accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
(NCATE)
Application Process:
 Students can declare the PEH major after completing 24 credit hours
 Students apply to the Watson College of Education in their Junior year and
must meet the following requirements:
o Completion of University Studies requirements in English
Composition, Math and a science laboratory course with a grade of
“C-“ or better.
o Completion of introductory educational foundations course, EDN 200,
with a grade of “C-“or better.
o Completion of a minimum of 45 credit hours
o Minimum overall GPA of 2.7
o Passing scores on teacher education entry tests specified and
mandated by the NC Board of Education.
What students/advisors need to know:
 Students are encouraged to receive K-12 licensure from the NC Department of
Public Instruction to teach Healthful Living.
 Degree requirements meet the standards mandated by the NC State
Department of Public Instruction.
 Graduates can add teaching licensure in other subject areas by passing the
relevant PRAXIS II tests.
 Students gain “real-world” experience throughout the PEH major, including
working with students in public schools, fitness clinics, working with students
with disabilities, pre-internship practicum experiences and a semester-long
student teaching internship in a local K-12 school.
 To be eligible for the internship, students must:
o Be admitted to the Watson School of Education
o Have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher
o Have completed all required education courses and ideally all courses
for the major
o Complete an application for internship at least one semester in
advance of the intended student teaching semester and attend
orientation meetings
o Make a grade of “C-“ or better in all required PEH courses
o Have an overall “C” (2.0) GPA in all PEH courses
 PED 235 is a good course to take to explore the major.
 Student will go through background checks prior to working with children at
local schools.
Degree Requirements:
I. Core Courses (35 hours):
 PED 216 Human Anatomy & Physiology I (University Studies Science)
 PED 235 Foundations of Health & Physical Education (Fall only) (GD Cluster)
 PED 340 Biomechanics (prerequisite: C- or better in PED 216)
 PED 345 Pediatric Health & Fitness (UHIB, CH Cluster)
 PED 350 Motor Behavior (prerequisite: C- or better in PED 216) (GD Cluster)
 PED 385 Health & PE Curriculum Development (prerequisite: PED 235)
 PED 386 Teaching Elementary Physical Education (prerequisite: PED 235)
 PED 387 Teaching Secondary Physical Education (prerequisite: PED 235) (QLR)
 PED 388 Teaching Elementary Physical Education II (prerequisite: PED 386)
 PED 410 Seminar in Health & Physical Education (co-requisite: EDN 409)
 PED 415 Adapted Physical Education (prerequisite: senior standing) (WI, IL)
II. Education Courses (25 hours):
 EDN 200 Teacher, School & Society (LDN)
 EDNL 200 Field Studies (co-requisite for EDN 200)
 EDN 203 Psychological Foundations of Teaching (UHIB)
 EDN 303 Instructional Technology (IL)
 EDN 352 Developing Reading Competence in Middle Grades (WI) OR
 EDN 356 Reading in the Secondary Schools
 EDN 409 Practicum (co-requisite: PED 410)
III. Additional Coursework for Teacher Licensure (18 hours):
 Students are required to take 18 hours in an academic concentration area. PEH
majors are strongly urged to complete the community health concentration
coursework below. This will facilitate the teacher candidate to also be eligible
for licensure in health:
o HEA 105 Individual Wellbeing
o HEA 207 Nutrition & Behavior (CH Cluster)
o HEA 210 Substance Abuse Prevention
o HEA 245 Consumer Health
o HEA 351 Health Communications
o HEA 304 Comprehensive School Health Education, Grades K-12
o Course requirements for the 18 hours in health is flexible and several
other courses can also be used to meet these requirements. Approval
of PEH Program Coordinator required. Examples are HEA 305 (WI) &
HEA 320 (GD Cluster), which are recommended since they cover
other University Studies requirements.
Student Involvement Opportunities:
 Physical Education Majors Club (also open to non-PEH majors)
Important Notes about University Studies & PEH:
 1 University Studies science requirement is fulfilled by PED 216
 Both UHIB requirements are fulfilled by PED 345 & EDN 203
 LDN is fulfilled by EDN/L 200
 All 3 WI requirements are fulfilled by PED 415, EDN 352 & HEA 305.
 Two IL requirements are fulfilled by PED 415 & EDN 303. Students will need to
take 1 additional IL course within University Studies (ex: ENG 201 or UNI
101).
 QLR is fulfilled by PED 387.
 Students will usually choose the Global Diversity Cluster. Depending on their
other University Studies choices, students may also be able to declare the
Coastal Health & Environment or Modeling Cluster.
 EDN 352 is recommended for the EDN reading requirement (instead of EDN
356) since it also meets WI requirements.
Office of Student Success Contact Information:
 McNeill Hall, Room 1002
 chhs@uncw.edu
 910-962-3208