Online Physical Education Degrees: Comparing Top Programs

Inside Three Online Physical Education Degree

Successfully choosing the right online PE degree program depends on where you want to take your career. If you’re just starting out in your training, an undergraduate degree can position you to land your first teaching job. For a higher-level education role, such as an administrative position, consider continuing your education to earn a graduate degree.

Wherever you’re at in your education and training, the highlighted programs below can provide you with a better picture of what to expect from high-performing PE programs on each degree level.

Associate’s Degrees

The two-year associate’s degree in physical education serves as a stepping stone for students who want to continue their education and pursue a four-year degree. It equips students with foundational knowledge in physical sciences, sports studies, physical education, and related fields.

In addition to physical education classes, you will also take liberal arts courses such as biology, chemistry, psychology, and health. Many students choose to earn an associate degree to gain a comprehensive introduction to the field before moving on to a more advanced four-year bachelor’s program. Fortunately, credits earned in an accredited associate program can usually transfer to a bachelor’s degree, particularly those earned in general education classes.

STEPS Pick: Best Online Associate Degree Program

Foothill College

Foothill College’s physical education Associate of Arts (AA) degree offers a multidisciplinary learning experience designed for those who want to teach physical education, fitness, or dance. Specific coursework covers the theories and techniques of coaching sports, emergency athletic injury care, women in sports, and basic nutrition for sports and fitness. There is also an emphasis on developing effective communication skills.

Bachelor’s Degrees

If you’re interested in becoming a PE teacher or working in education more broadly, a bachelor’s degree in physical education is a great place to start. These programs typically offer coursework in classroom management, effective communication, and leadership skills necessary to succeed as a teacher.

In addition to physical education and healthy living, students learn how to teach basic to advanced physical education topics. A bachelor’s degree in physical education also opens doors to many other careers beyond teaching, including nonprofit work, wellness counseling, and fitness coaching.

STEPS Pick: Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Program

Mayville State University

The Bachelor of Science in Education (BSEd) in Physical Education degree offered by Mayville State University prepares students to get a certification to teach in one of North Dakota’s K-12 schools. In addition to classwork, students participate in a field teaching experience. This allows future educators to reinforce the concepts they’ve learned in class as they receive mentorship from an experienced practitioner.

Master’s Degrees

If you want to advance in your physical education career, consider earning a master’s degree in education. These programs allow you to refine your teaching skills and gain advanced training in a specialized area of the field, which can make you a more competitive candidate in the job market and increase your earning potential.

To be eligible, you typically need an undergraduate degree in physical education, kinesiology, or a related field. A master’s degree in physical education can also qualify you for work outside of the classroom, such as in health consulting, life coaching, sports management, and other related fields.

STEPS Pick: Best Online Master’s Degree Program

University of Arkansas

Current physical education teachers who want to sharpen their skills and gain advanced knowledge can enroll in the Master of Education (MEd) in Physical Education degree program offered by the University of Arkansas. Classes in the program include Motor Learning, Sports Psychology, Supervision in Physical Education, and Professional Issues in Physical Education and Sports. Students also learn how to conduct research to advance the field.

Get Answers: Online PE Education Student FAQs

How do you become a certified physical education teacher?

After completing a bachelor’s degree in physical education or a related field and a student teaching internship in a physical education setting, you will need to take your state’s physical education certification exam. Most states require that you take three Praxis Exams on academic skills, subject assessments, and teaching knowledge, so preparing for the Praxis will be essential. This ensures that you’ve obtained the minimum standard of education and knowledge to effectively teach in your subject area.

Aspiring physical education teachers can obtain certification in several categories, such as early childhood education, K-12 instruction, and special needs populations. After passing the exams, you need to apply for a state teaching license.

How long do you have to go to school to be a PE teacher?

The amount of time you spend in school is significantly related to your desired career path. In most cases, to secure a physical education teaching position in a public or private school, you will need a bachelor’s degree.

Your bachelor’s degree, coupled with the required student teaching or internship hours, may take four or more years to complete. If you enroll part-time, it will take longer to finish the coursework required to register for student teaching experiences and proceed with state certification exams and licensure.

What is the salary of a PE teacher?

Once you have learned how to become a teacher, chances are you’re also thinking about how much you can make in this career. Your earning potential as a physical education teacher varies by state, position, and your level of experience.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the lowest 10% of high school teachers earn less than $48,040, while the highest 10% earn more than $106,380. Similarly, earnings for middle school teachers are comparable, with the lowest 10% making a median income of less than $47,490, and the highest 10% earning more than $104,410.

Is physical education a hard major?

Physical education can be a challenging major both mentally and physically. As you learn the pedagogical principles to help you understand how to work with students, you will also be required to gain the physical capabilities needed to engage in classroom instruction.

However, if you’re interested in contributing to the physical fitness of young people and you enjoy sports, you should thrive in this degree program. Teaching in this specialty will often come easier with experience. With the right attitude and training, you can prepare for a successful first year of teaching.

Are physical education teachers in demand?

There will be a slight increase in job opportunities in the coming years. According to Projections Central, an employment research site partially funded by a U.S. Department of Labor grant, the long-term projection for teaching positions in secondary education institutions shows an increase of 1% by 2032. At this rate, that equates to 67,100 new jobs added annually.

The Physical Education Curriculum Basics

Now that you have gotten a look at some schools that offer online physical education programs, you may be wondering what the classes are really like. Below, we describe some of the most common classes you will find in the curriculum. Although coursework may differ from one school to the next, these courses tend to be a staple of physical education programs.

Anatomy and Physiology

Physical education students will need to study human anatomy, normal physiology, and diseases. This class covers introductory-level topics such as basic cellular function, metabolism, and body tissue. The skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems are also covered. Depending on the program, learners may go on to study the cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, immune, digestive, and reproductive systems.

Elementary Methods in Health Education

This class is centered around preparing students to teach physical education in public and private schools. The curriculum will typically cover both state and national standards and allow students to acquire the necessary teaching competencies. This class often requires students to develop and present lesson plans, whether they’re learning online or in-person.

Movement and Motor Activities

In this class, students learn to examine the relationship between motor skills and movement activities. The course allows learners to study human development and motor skills and their relation to overall physical fitness. As a foundational course, it helps students develop basic skills in movement analysis and prepares them for further kinesthetically-focused work in more advanced classes.

Nutrition and Exercise Science

This class provides a diverse overview of food sources, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and physiological scenarios that impact people’s health and athletic performance. You’ll also learn to design nutritional regiments, evaluate athletic performance, examine nutritional supplements, and explore the bodily and societal impact of illegal substances. This advanced course typically requires a series of prerequisites, including human anatomy and physiology and courses in fitness training.

Sports Psychology

The field of sports psychology is helpful for graduate students interested in examining athletic performance, exercise science, and physical education. You’ll study the essential research findings and theories that inform our knowledge of athletic performance and current research in the field. Although this class is quite theory-driven, it is helpful for all graduate students aspiring to work in the health and fitness or sports industries.

Ranking Top Physical Education (PE) Programs Online

By now, you may have decided that an online degree in physical education can be an excellent fit for you, but how do you know which programs are best? To help, we researched programs from across the country to identify those with the best combinations of quality, affordability, and learning flexibility.

Factors that determine this ranking include the number of online courses offered, graduation rates, available scholarships, and more. To learn more, you can review the “About the Rankings” section, or see which colleges scored the most points in our ranking below.