Overview
The K–12 Physical Education emphasis with the teaching licensure track at Western Colorado University prepares students to teach health, movement, and lifelong wellness in school settings. The curriculum combines coursework in exercise and sport science with professional preparation in education. Students take courses with faculty from both the Exercise & Sport Science (ESS) and Education departments, engage in applied teaching experiences, and complete a yearlong student teaching internship. Successful completion of ESS program requirements is necessary prior to the student teaching internship, which leads to eligibility for a Colorado K–12 Physical Education teaching license. In addition to coursework, students gain practical experience in community settings through partnerships with local schools in Gunnison and Crested Butte as well as the Gunnison Recreation Center.
Program Requirements
A minimum of 84 credits is required, including the 21-credit Exercise and Sport Science Nucleus:
To graduate, all exercise and sport science majors must complete ESS 181 Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science and ESS 185 Lifetime Wellness with a minimum grade of “C-”:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise and Sport Science Nucleus | ||
| ESS 181 | Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science | 3 |
| ESS 185 | Lifetime Wellness | 3 |
| ESS 320 | Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity | 3 |
| ESS 490 | Sociology of Sport and Physical Activity | 3 |
| Select one of the following ESS Capstone courses: | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar in Exercise and Sport Science | ||
| Internship in Exercise and Sport Science | ||
| K-12 Student Teaching | ||
or EDUC 610 | K-12 Student Teaching | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
First Aid/CPR competency and the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ESS 201 | Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (with Lab) | 4 |
| ESS 275 | Human Motor Development and Learning | 3 |
| ESS 290 | Curriculum Development and the Learning Environment | 3 |
| ESS 330 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| ESS 331 | Exercise Physiology Lab | 1 |
| ESS 350 | Assessment & Technology in Physical Education | 2 |
| ESS 353 | Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) | 2 |
| ESS 363 | Inclusive Physical Activity | 3 |
| ESS 380 | Biomechanics | 3 |
| ESS 392 | Methods of Secondary Activities | 3 |
| ESS 395 | Methods of Elementary Activities | 3 |
| ESS 396 | Methods of Alternative Physical Education | 3 |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| Principles of Outdoor Education | ||
| Fitness Instruction | ||
| Select three of the following: | 3 | |
| Skill Development and Analysis: Net and Wall Games | ||
| Skill and Development and Analysis: Invasion Games | ||
| Skill Development and Analysis: Target and Fielding Games | ||
| Skill Development and Analysis: Dance | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
Education Courses:
Students must complete all coursework required within the academic major prior to beginning the year of education coursework and residency or have content advisor and education advisor permission. Prior to admission to the teacher licensure program, students must have their unofficial transcripts signed by the content advisor, indicating all coursework will be completed before residency begins. Students pursuing the Secondary or K-12 Licensure option must also meet all of the requirements for admission to the Teacher Licensure Program before taking EDUC 340 Application of Pedagogy and Practice. Successful completion of EDUC 340 Application of Pedagogy and Practice is a pre-requisite for the residency year. In addition, students will complete EDUC 410: K-12 Student Teaching as Exercise and Sport Science capstone and EDUC Licensure requirement (See "Exercise and Sport Science Nucleus" above).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 000 | Education Gateway Course | 0 |
| EDUC 340 | Application of Pedagogy and Practice | 3 |
| EDUC 403 | Instruction & Assessment in Content Area | 3 |
| EDUC 404 | Creating Positive Learning Environments | 3 |
| EDUC 405 | Data-driven Instructional Practices | 3 |
| EDUC 406 | Content Area Literacy | 3 |
| EDUC 407 | Maximizing Learning through 21st Century Skills | 3 |
| EDUC 424 | Differentiation: Applying Learner-Centered Instruction | 3 |
| EDUC 429 | Teaching English Learners for Secondary and K-12 Teachers | 3 |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Capstone Course Requirement
The following course in the Exercise and Sport Science Major fulfills the capstone course requirement: ESS 495 Senior Seminar in Exercise and Sport Science. Students completing the K-12 Physical Education Emphasis (Licensure Track) or (with a 3+2 Master of Arts) may use EDUC 410 K-12 Student Teaching or EDUC 610 K-12 Student Teaching (respectively) to fulfill this requirement.
Western Watershed General Education Requirements
Students must complete all Western Watershed General Education requirements to graduate.
Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation. Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above). Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued.
Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements.
Sample Plan
Degree Plans are for planning purposes. They reflect a suggested plan to complete the degree in a projected timeframe per program of study.
“Western Watershed Course(s)” refers to a course from the Tributaries area of the Western Watershed program. These courses should be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| EDUC 000 | Education Gateway Course | 0 |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| ESS 181 or ESS 185 |
Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science *ESS 185 is a Watershed GE Wellness Skills course. It satisfies the Life Skills requirement. or Lifetime Wellness |
3 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed course | 7 |
| WWGE 101/102/103/104 | Headwaters (select one) | 2 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 185 or ESS 181 |
Lifetime Wellness *ESS 185 is a Watershed GE Wellness Skills course. It satisfies the Life Skills requirement. or Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science |
3 |
| MATH 105 | Mathematics for the Liberal Arts (GT-MA1) **Math 105 satisfies the Watershed GE Mathematics requirement. | 3 |
| ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
| ESS 210 |
Skill Development and Analysis: Net and Wall Games or Skill and Development and Analysis: Invasion Games or Skill Development and Analysis: Target and Fielding Games or Skill Development and Analysis: Dance |
1 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed course | 6 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 201 | Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (with Lab) *ESS 201 is a milestone course and is the prerequisite for ESS 298, ESS 330 & ESS 380. | 4 |
| ESS 290 | Curriculum Development and the Learning Environment | 3 |
| ESS 353 or ESS 396 |
Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) **ESS 353 is a Watershed GE Braided Streams course and may be used to earn either a Local Knowledge, or an Experiential Learning "tag". or Methods of Alternative Physical Education |
2 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed course | 6 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 210 |
Skill Development and Analysis: Net and Wall Games or Skill and Development and Analysis: Invasion Games or Skill Development and Analysis: Target and Fielding Games or Skill Development and Analysis: Dance |
1 |
| ESS 275 | Human Motor Development and Learning | 3 |
| ESS 298 or ROE 189 |
Fitness Instruction *ESS 298 is a Watershed GE course. It can be used to earn a Braided Streams: Public Communication tag. or Principles of Outdoor Education |
3 |
| ESS 392 or ESS 395 |
Methods of Secondary Activities or Methods of Elementary Activities |
3 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed course | 6 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 210 |
Skill Development and Analysis: Net and Wall Games or Skill and Development and Analysis: Invasion Games or Skill Development and Analysis: Target and Fielding Games or Skill Development and Analysis: Dance |
1 |
| ESS 320 | Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity | 3 |
| ESS 330 | Exercise Physiology *ESS 330 & ESS 331 are milestone courses and are prerequisites for many other upper division ESS courses. | 3 |
| ESS 331 | Exercise Physiology Lab *ESS 330 & ESS 331 are milestone courses and are prerequisites for many other upper division ESS courses. | 1 |
| ESS 380 | Biomechanics | 3 |
| ESS 396 or ESS 353 |
Methods of Alternative Physical Education **ESS 353 is a Watershed GE Braided Streams course and may be used to earn either a Local Knowledge, or an Experiential Learning "tag". or Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) |
3 |
| Elective | ESS Elective/Minor/2nd Major | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDUC 340 | Application of Pedagogy and Practice | 3 |
| ESS 350 | Assessment & Technology in Physical Education | 2 |
| ESS 363 | Inclusive Physical Activity *ESS 363 is a Watershed GE Braided Streams course and may be used to earn either a Power & Justice or an Experiential Learning "tag". | 3 |
| ESS 395 or ESS 392 |
Methods of Elementary Activities or Methods of Secondary Activities |
3 |
| ESS 490 | Sociology of Sport and Physical Activity **ESS 490 is a Watershed GE Braided Streams course and may be used to earn either a Public Communication, or Power and Justice "tag". | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| EDUC 404 | Creating Positive Learning Environments | 3 |
| EDUC 405 | Data-driven Instructional Practices | 3 |
| EDUC 410 | K-12 Student Teaching *EDUC 410 is a Watershed GE Braided Streams course and may be used to earn Experiential Learning "tag". | 3 |
| EDUC 424 | Differentiation: Applying Learner-Centered Instruction | 3 |
| EDUC 429 | Teaching English Learners for Secondary and K-12 Teachers | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDUC 403 | Instruction & Assessment in Content Area | 3 |
| EDUC 406 | Content Area Literacy | 3 |
| EDUC 407 | Maximizing Learning through 21st Century Skills | 3 |
| EDUC 410 | K-12 Student Teaching *EDUC 410 is a Watershed GE Braided Streams course and may be used to earn Experiential Learning "tag". | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Western is committed to doing our part to provide each student a clear path to graduation. This four‐year degree plan is a sample map for fulfilling requirements in the major and General Education. The pathway that you take to your degree may differ somewhat from this illustration, depending on where you start and the detours and side trips you may take along the way. You are responsible for ensuring your overall, upper division, and major‐specific credits as well as GPA requirements are fulfilled for graduation.