Physical Education MA Initial

The Master of Arts degree in physical education is designed to provide students with an in-depth study of learning theories and research on curriculum development and pedagogy.  

Students wishing to be eligible for New York State Department of Education certification as a K 12 physical education teacher must complete additional requirements as part of the M.A. degree.  Among the other requirements are: (a) an undergraduate degree in kinesiology or physical education, or the equivalent in course work (see below); (b) completion of 100 hours of pre practica; (c) completion of a full semester of student teaching (BBSR 4700, 3 credits) or, if  employed full-time as a physical education teacher, completion of an internship in teaching physical education (BBSR 4705, 3 credits); (d) completion of state-approved courses in Detection and Reporting of Child & Substance Abuse, Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)  and in Violence Prevention; (e) satisfactory scores on the state administered Educating All Students (EAS) and the Physical Education Content Specialty Test (CST). The exact coursework needed to complete state teacher certification requirements will be determined by the Program Director, but will include all the courses on the next page.

Prerequisite

As a prerequisite to entering the teacher education program, all students are required to have a  minimum of 24 hours in the disciplinary aspects of physical education including courses in: (a) exercise/applied physiology; (b) fitness and physical activity program planning; (c) biomechanics and anatomy; (d) sport psychology; (e) sport sociology/cultural studies of physical activity; (f) motor learning and control; (g) measurement and evaluation/assessment of physical activity; (h) growth and motor development; and (i) prevention and treatment of athletic injuries. All students are required to document competence in a wide variety of motor activities including: (a) team  sports; (b) individual sports; (c) racquet activities; (d) dance and rhythms; (e) aquatics; (f) fitness  activities; and (g) adventure activities. In order to meet the motor activity prerequisites, students  may have completed a college class, have significant documented participation in the activity, or completed community education courses (e.g., Water Safety Instructor, class through the American Red Cross). 

Each student’s transcript will be evaluated to determine if she or he has completed the  prerequisites. Students who do not have the prerequisites will be required to make them up  early in their program. Content course deficiencies will be made up, with the approval of the  Program Director, through courses at Teachers College, Columbia University or another  college or university. Students who are deficient in physical activity courses will be required to make up courses through the Columbia College physical education program, or other educational experiences that are approved by program faculty.

A minimum of thirty-two (32) credits is required for the degree. (*R means Required)

INTEGRATIVE PAPER

In addition to the satisfactory completion of the coursework, each student is required to complete an independent research project: the integrative paper. For the Integrative paper, the research topic must be approved by the Program Director. (Required course: BBSR4001 Qualitative Research Methods in Biobehavioral Sciences). Prior to graduation, the integrative paper must be submitted to and approved by the Program Director.