Adapted Physical Education Concentration

The concentration in Adapted Physical Education is designed to prepare students to assist persons with special needs so that they may safely and successfully engage in programs of physical activities suited to their interests and capacities. Students will also prepare to assist in prescriptive programs for the amelioration of disabilities with certain patients requiring specialized physical activity.

The purposes and objectives of adapted physical education are to:

• Aid in adjustment and resocialization.
• Contribute to security by increasing the ability to meet demands of daily living.
• Protect individuals from undue demands and exercise beyond their tolerance.
• Develop strength, endurance, and coordination for daily living.
• Develop skill in appropriate games, sports, and rhythms.
• Aid in self-correction of conditions that can be improved or removed.

The College maintains affiliations with schools, agencies, and hospitals wherein appropriate field training experiences are provided.

All candidates for this concentration are expected to have an undergraduate background in physical education and, where their educational background is deficient, are required to make up such deficiencies in addition to pursuing the regular graduate program.

The Master’s candidate may choose from the M.P.E., M.Ed., or the M.S. Degree (thesis required for this option).  Each student must complete a minimum of 32 credits of graduate coursework.

Prerequisites: Physical Education Teaching License or Certificate or permission from the department chair.

Advanced-Level Coaching Concentration

Springfield College has a reputation for producing outstanding coaches at all levels of sports: elite, amateur, professional, intercollegiate, and interscholastic. The advanced-level coaching program is a natural extension of our undergraduate physical education programs and is designed to prepare students for the demands and responsibilities of advanced-level coaching positions. Course work covers advanced-level coaching, physiology, biomechanics, motor learning and control, and sport and exercise psychology.

Undergraduate prerequisites

• Exercise Physiology  (Anatomy & Physiology I & II or Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology (PHED 661) is a prerequisite)
• First Aid & CPR (or equivalent)
• Prevention of Athletic Injury
• Coaching Practicum (or equivalent)

Basic program:  requires 32 semester hours of graduate credit

Athletic Administration Concentration

The athletic administration program prepares students for administrative roles in intercollegiate athletics, interscholastic athletics, and other athletic settings. For public school athletics director positions, teacher certification can be beneficial.  Students who wish to attain teacher certification, must also satisfy the requirements for the physical education teacher licensure program.

Basic program

The Master’s candidate may choose from the M.P.E., M.Ed., or the M.S. Degree (thesis required for this option).  Thesis students must complete a minimum of 35 credit hours and Independent Study students must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours.

Physical Education Teacher - Initial Licensure Concentration

Physical Education Teacher - Initial Licensure program is intended to meet the needs of those students who have earned undergraduate degrees in fields other than physical education and who wish to complete the Massachusetts Teacher Licensure requirements in physical education. Completion of this program will therefore allow graduate students to qualify for initial licensure in elementary physical education (PreK-8) or secondary level physical education (5-12).

Note: This program of study is subject to change due to changes being made to the Massachusetts Department of Education Licensure regulations.

Standards for Practicum Placement

All graduate/postbaccalaureate Physical Education Licensure students must meet the following specific requirements along with those identified for Teacher Preparation Program Admission.

1. Meet or exceed a 3.0 professional cumulative index, consisting of any courses taken with the following undergraduate and graduate prefixes: EDUC, HLTH, MOSK, MOST, MSCI, PHED, PEAC, and PEPC (cumulative indexes will be from the last semester completed).
2. Earn a grade of B or better in the following course: PHED 510.
3. Students must also receive a grade of B or better in pre-practicum in order to be eligible to begin the practicum experience.
4. Demonstrate the personal characteristics needed to become a teacher by:
   1. having no more than one negative evaluation on file or have met the prescription requirements of the Appraisal and Retention Committee.
   2. meeting the technical standards for the department (available from the PEHE department office).
5. Earn a passing score on the Massachusetts Tests for Education Licensure - Communications and Literacy Skills Test and the Physical Education Subject Test.

Undergraduate prerequisites

• Anatomy & Physiology I and II 
• Physiology of Exercise 
• Kinesiology
• Assessment in Movement and Sport 
• Heritage & Values of Movement and Sport 
• Adapted Physical Education 
• Sports First Aid & Injury Prevention
• Pre-practicum in Elementary or Secondary Physical Education 
• Physical Education Activity Courses 
• Wellness  
  Selective 
  Aerobic Activities 
• Team Sports and Individual/Dual Sports 
  4 selectives 
• Aquatics
  WSI or Lifeguard
• Dance/Rhythmic 
  Selective 
• Outdoor/Leisure
  Outdoor Adventure
• Movement Across Categories
  Skill Themes and Movement Concepts 
• A transcript review will determine if additional prerequistes are required

Physical education skills courses at Springfield College are divided into three classifications: MOSK, PEAC, and PEPC. Those courses designated as MOSK (Movement and Sport Studies Activity Course) are designed for the Movement and Sport Studies major. They are intended to serve as laboratory experiences in movement and sports activities representative of the cultural forms of sport, movement, exercise, and dance. Those courses designated as PEAC (Physical Education Activity Course) are designed for the general college population and are intended to support the development of student commitment to, and skills needed for, lifelong participation in movement activity. Those courses designated as PEPC (Physical Education Professional Course) are designed for the physical education teacher preparation student. In addition to focus on skill development, PEPC courses include emphasis on teaching methodology and teaching strategies for application of the activity to different age levels.

Physical Education Advanced Pedagogy - Professional Licensure Program

(Approved Professional Licensure Program)

The master’s candidate may choose from the M.P.E., M.Ed., or the M.S. Degree (thesis required for this option).  Each student must complete a minimum of 32 credit hours.

Prerequisites:

Physical Education License and at least one year teaching experience and a current Physical Education teaching position or three years Physical Education teaching experience.

Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study