Physical Education and Health Studies - Certificate of Advanced Study

The Certificate of Advanced Study Program in Physical Education is provided for selected graduate students who wish additional study beyond the master’s program and/or intend to qualify for administrative and supervisor positions requiring special certification.

Admission to this program is on an individual basis. A master’s level program of study, which is equivalent to the requirements of the concentration in the Teaching and Administration of Physical Education together with three years of satisfactory experience, is normally required for matriculation. In exceptional circumstances, students may enroll for course work in the Certificate of Advanced Study Program prior to the completion of three years of satisfactory professional experience, but the certificate is not awarded before this requirement and the completion of the program have been satisfactorily accomplished.

The program is composed of a minimum of sixty-four graduate credits. For those holding a master’s degree, a minimum of thirty-two additional semester hours of graduate credit is required. In addition to the program of study represented by a master’s degree in physical education at Springfield College or its equivalent, the Certificate Program has the following requirements.

Physical Education and Health Studies

Springfield College offers programs of study in physical education leading to the master’s degree, the Certificate of Advanced Study, and the doctorate.

At the master’s level the candidate may earn a master of science, a master of education, or a master of physical education degree by pursuing and successfully completing a program of study in one of the following areas of concentration: Adapted Physical Education; Advanced Level Coaching; Athletic Administration; Sport Studies; or Physical Education Teacher Licensure. The physical education programs also include concentrated work in Sport Management and Sport and Exercise Psychology. These concentrations are listed under Sport Management and Recreation and Exercise Science and Sport Studies on p.65 and p.33, respectively.

The requirements for admission are as follows:

A bachelor’s degree with satisfactory record from an accredited college or university.
An undergraduate major in physical education equivalent to that offered at Springfield College. If this preparation is incomplete, it must be made up by study in addition to master’s degree requirements.
Evidence of personal and professional qualities that show promise of outstanding educational and social leadership.
Submission of Graduate Record Examination scores taken within five years of the date of application.

For persons wishing to serve in supervisory and administrative positions, a program is available which leads to a Certificate of Advanced Study in Physical Education.

In recognition of completion of the highest level of formal academic preparation, the doctor of physical education degree is awarded to highly selected and well-qualified persons who successfully complete this program.

It is the student’s responsibility to meet with his or her advisor to ensure that all requirements are met. For more information contact Dr. Stephen Coulon at (413) 748-3029 or scoulon@spfldcol.edu.

Courses in physical education 12 s.h.

Electives: Courses approved by advisor

Fundamentals of administration 6 s.h.

Selected courses in Administration approved by advisor.

Liberal-cultural electives 9 s.h.

Graduate courses with prefix other than HLTH, HPER, PHED, SMRT, and approved by advisor.

Administrative field experience and/or research requirement 5 s.h.

Students in this program who have both teaching and administrative experiences may substitute courses upon a review of their experience and approval of their advisor. Students who are inexperienced in teaching and administration will complete the Administrative Field Experience.