Oct 13, 2024  
2023-2024 Springfield College Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Springfield College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Physical Education, M.Ed./M.S.


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Program Description


Springfield College offers programs of study in physical education leading to the master’s degree, the certificate of advanced graduate study and the doctorate.

At the master’s level the candidate may earn a master of science or a master of education degree by pursuing and successfully completing a program of study in one of the following areas of concentration: Adapted Physical Education; Athletic Leadership; Physical Education Teacher - Initial Licensure or Physical Education Advanced Pedagogy, with an option for Professional Licensure.

The requirements for admission are as follows:

  • A bachelor’s degree with satisfactory record from an accredited college or university.
  • Evidence of personal and professional qualities that show promise of outstanding educational and social leadership.

In recognition of completion of the highest level of formal academic preparation, the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D) in 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.

Program Highlights


Degree: Master of Education or Master of Science

Required Credits: 32-45 dependent on concentration and path

School: School of Physical Education, Performance, and Sport Leadership

Department: Physical Education and Health Education

Modality: On-Ground

Locations: Main Campus (Springfield)

Website: https://springfield.edu/programs/graduate/physical-education-masters-degreehttps://springfield.edu/programs/graduate/physical-education-initial-licensure, and https://springfield.edu/programs/graduate/physical-education-advanced-pedagogy

I. Degree Requirements (32-45 credits)


Students are required to meet the degree requirements listed for one of the following Physical Education concentrations

A. Adapted Physical Education Concentration (33-34 credits)


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.

The Master’s program in Adapted Physical Education is intended to meet the needs of licensed physical educators who are seeking additional experience and knowledge in working with individuals with disabilities. Students who complete the program will be eligible to sit for the Adapted Physical Education National Standards (APENS) certification exam and achieve national certification (Certified Adapted Physical Educator - CAPE) through the National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEIRD). With this certification, graduates will be in better position to gain employment and work effectively in the field, as they will be listed on the national registry of certified adapted physical educators and be eligible to include the initials “CAPE” after their names. Prerequisite courses are required, but may be completed concurrently with master’s-level courses.

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.Ed., or the M.S. Degree (thesis required for this option).  Thesis students must complete a minimum of 33 credits and Independent Study students must complete a minimum of 34 credits.

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

PEAC 108 - Adapted Sport I  

PEAC 109 - Adapted Sport II  

PEAC 208 - Adapted Aquatics Instructor  

b. Research Requirements (4-9 credits)


Students must select one path from the following list:

i. Thesis Path (9 credits)

Students completing the Thesis path will take an oral examination on their research and qualify for the M.S. or M.Ed. 

ii. Independent Study Path (4 credits)

Students completing the Independent Study path must also pass the poster presentation to qualify for the M.Ed.

B. Athletic Leadership Concentration (36 credits)


The Athletic Leadership master’s program prepares students for positions in intercollegiate athletics, interscholastic athletics, and other educational athletic settings.  Career pathways include coaching and athletic administration.  Students benefit from a curriculum that includes a core to build skills and knowledge in athletic administration, coaching, legal issues, mentoring, research methods, and inclusive approaches. Customization occurs through the flexible selective tracks and the choice to pursue a Master of Science with a thesis or a Master of Education with an emphasis on field experience.  Students focus on applying research to practice, developing the whole person, and improving performance.  As a result of examining athletics from a holistic view, graduates will be well-prepared to lead, collaborate, and build equitable and meaningful athletics experiences.

a. Required Courses (24-28 credits)


b. Research and Selectives (8-12 credits)


ii. M.S. Path (12 credits)

Complete the 9-credit research sequence below AND 3 credits from the list of M.Ed. selectives above.

a. Research Requirements (9 credits)

b. Selectives (3 credits)

Select 3 credits from the list of M.Ed. selectives above.

C. Physical Education Teacher - Initial Licensure Concentration (40-45 credits)


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) and/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. Complete all prerequisites for specific program (may be in process).
  2. Meet or exceed a 3.0 professional cumulative index, consisting of any courses taken with the following prefixes: AEXS, EDUC, HLTH, MOSK, MOST, PEAC, PEPC and PHED (cumulative indexes will be from the last semester completed). (This includes all undergraduate prerequisites taken at Springfield College while enrolled as a graduate student.)
  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 (for example: responsible, dependable, hard working, professional, committed to the field of education.)
  5. Earn a passing score on the Massachusetts Tests for Education Licensure - Communications and Literacy Skills Test and the Physical Education Subject Test.
  6. Recommendation for practicum placement by department.

Undergraduate prerequisites

  • Prerequisites: (Licensure Requirements)             
    BIOL 130, 132, 131, 133  Anatomy & Physiology I and II
    AEXS 313 Physiology of Exercise
    AEXS 319 Kinesiology 
    Skills & Techniques  (5 credits) 
    Sports First Aid & Injury Prevention or Certification 

    Required Skills and Techniques

    Wellness
    PEPC 100   Fitness for Life (1.0 cr) 

    Team,  Individual/Dual , and Lifetime Sports (Choose 2 credits from the following selectives): 
    PEPC 180   Educ. Gymnastics    
    PEPC 250   Territorial/Inv. Games    
    PEPC 263   Track & Field
    PEPC 240   Target Games    
    PEPC 258   Volleyball
    PEPC 270   Racket: Net & Wall 
    PEPC 244   Basketball        
    PEPC 260   Striking Games    

    Aquatics
    PEAC 205/206   Lifeguard Training or Water Safety Instructor
    OR
    PEAC 104/115 Swimming/Fitness Swimming 

    Outdoor/Leisure
    PEPC 280   Outdoor Adventure

    Movement Across Categories
    MOSK 140   Skill Themes & Movement Concepts    

    Candidates for licensure must maintain a 3.0 professional gpa, pass the Communication & Literacy and PE portions of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure, and earn a B or better in PHED 636, 637, 638 and 639 in order to be recommended for practicum placement by the department. Candidates must also demonstrate the personal characteristics needed to become a teacher (e.g.: responsible, dependable, hard working, professional, and committed to the field of education). 

b. Practicum Experience Selective (6 credits)


Select 6 credits of practicum from the following list:

c. Research Requirements (4-9 credits)


Students must select one path from the following list:

i. Thesis Path (9 credits)

Students completing the Thesis path will take an oral examination on their research and qualify for the M.S. or M.Ed. 

ii. Independent Study Path (4 credits)

Students completing the Independent Study path must also pass the poster presentation to qualify for the M.Ed.

D. Physical Education Advanced Pedagogy Concentration (32-34 credits)


The Physical Education Advanced Pedagogy concentration is intended for individuals who hold an initial teaching license in physical education and/or have prior teaching experience in physical education or related areas. For those with initial licensure, completion of this program will fulfill the educational component of the requirements to advance an initial stage license to professional stage in Massachusetts. The master’s candidate may choose from the M.Ed. or the M.S. Degree (thesis required for this option).  Thesis students must complete a minimum of 32 credit hours and Independent Study students must complete a minimum of 34 credit hours.

b. Research Requirements (4-9 credits)


Students must select one path from the following list:

i. Thesis Path (9 credits)

Students completing the Thesis path will take an oral examination on their research and qualify for the M.S. or M.Ed. 

ii. Independent Study Path (4 credits)

Students completing the Independent Study path must also pass the poster presentation to qualify for the M.Ed.

c. Selectives (8-15 credits)


Thesis students select 8 credits and Independent Study students select 15 credits of from the following list in consultation with an advisor:

E. Additional Program Options


There is a 12-credit Physical Education Professional Licensure option designed for licensed physical education teachers who are advancing their MA initial stage teaching license to a professional stage license.  It is required for the Physical Education Advanced Pedagogy concentration and optional for the Adapted Physical Education, Athletic Leadership, and Physical Education Teacher - Initial Licensure concentrations. For consideration, students in the  must complete the 12-credit option paperwork including submission of the following forms to the PEHE Graduate Coordinator: 1. Registration form; 2. Needs Assessment form, and; 3. Plan of Study/Advising form. All forms can be found on the Educator Preparation webpage under “Graduate Programs/Physical Education-Professional.”

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