Successful completion of the Physical and Health Education Teacher Education: K-12 program makes a student eligible for K-12 certification for the teaching of physical education and health education in Michigan. Students must complete the education sequence including the two full semesters of intern teaching experience. Physical and Health Education Teacher Education: K-12 majors must serve as a teaching assistant for one semester each in a general physical education course and a health education course during their first 60 hours at Western Michigan University. Students should obtain teaching assistant applications from the Human Performance and Health Education department office to register for these experiences. In addition, students will complete a minimum of 60 clock hours of observation and participation in both elementary (in HPHE 4470) and secondary (in HPHE 4480) public schools as well as an extensive lab experience with exceptional children (in HPHE 3640).

Admissions and Professional Program Requirements

All education students are coded Pre-Education upon admission to the University. Candidates may apply for advancement to the Physical and Health Education Teacher Education: K-12 professional curriculum after 35 credits earned toward their degree. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 must be attained for advancement from the Pre-Education curriculum to the Physical and Health Education Teacher Education: K-12 professional curriculum. Pre-Education students are not permitted to enroll in upper-level professional education courses until admission requirements are met and application is approved.

A grade of “C” or higher must be earned in all professional education coursework: HPHE 3460, HPHE 4100, HPHE 4470, HPHE 4480, LS 3050.

A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 must be attained for enrollment in Intern Teaching and for a recommendation for the teaching certificate.