B.S. Ed. in Health and Physical Education

Admission Information:

• The Georgia Southern University Office of Undergraduate Admissions oversees the application process for undergraduate students. During the admission process, ALL students interested in either the certification or non-certification program must declare the Health and Physical Education B.S.Ed. Professional Studies (Non-Certification Track) as their intended major. 
• When accepted to the university, ALL undergraduate education majors are admitted into the Health and Physical Education B.S.Ed. Professional Studies (Non-Certification Track). Admission to the B.S.Ed. Health and Physical Education program will be structured into annual cohorts beginning each fall semester.  For university admission information, please visit the Georgia Southern University Admissions website.
• At the completion of all courses, through area F in the program of study, students seeking initial teacher certification would then apply to the Teacher Education Program. (See admission requirements for admission into the Teacher Education Program).
• If accepted into the Teacher Education Program, the student would move into the Health and Physical Education B.S.Ed. Certification Track. 
• Those students who are NOT seeking initial teacher certification, would complete the remainder of the program requirements for the Health & Physical Education B.S.Ed. Professional Studies Non Certification Track program

Follow these steps to complete the Georgia Southern application: 

• Create an application account.
• Complete our online application using the PIN you received after creating your application account.
• Once complete, pay the $30 application fee or upload a valid fee waiver. Previous Georgia Southern applicants and dual-enrollment students do not need to pay the fee.

You can check your application status at My.GeorgiaSouthern.edu/admissions three days after completing your application. This page contains live information about your admission status, including a checklist of missing documents we need to make a decision.

Our program is accredited by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and is recognized through reciprocity in many other states in the U.S. In addition, Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Our Eagle Educators Engaging in Distinctive and Genuine Experiences program offers students life-changing opportunities, from study abroad programs to professional development.

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The Pre-Service Certificate is intended for educator candidates completing field experiences or student teaching in Georgia schools.

The Pre-Professional Block (PPB) program collaborates with P-12 schools to offer students quality classroom experiences necessary for teachers to meet the diverse challenges of students in Georgia and across the nation.

Students from the B.S.Ed. program will graduate with: 

1. Scientific and Theoretical Knowledge
   From the junior year through completion of the program, teacher candidates will identify and apply discipline-specific knowledge including: mental and emotional health, personal health and wellness, sexual health, and nutrition.
   
   Students will also learn about safety and injury prevention; alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; the basic sciences of physical education; motor learning and development; sports, activities, and fitness; and instructional principles and professionalism.
   
2. Skill and Fitness Based Competence
   From the junior year through completion of the program, teacher candidates will plan using appropriate learning standards, effective strategies and knowledge of learner development.
   
3. Planning and Implementation Skills
   From the junior year through completion of the program, teacher candidates will implement planned instruction, assess student learning and create a safe learning environment to meet the needs of diverse learners.
   
4. Skill in Instructional Delivery and Management
   From the junior year through completion of the program, teacher candidates will apply professional skills and cultivate the disposition required for initial teacher certification.
   

Physical Literacy
From the junior year through completion of the HPE program, teacher candidates will be physically literate individuals who can perform sports skills in physical education content areas and health-enhancing levels of fitness.

Can I complete the Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education degree (B.S.Ed.) through part-time, evening or distance learning/internet coursework?

The Health and Physical Education (HPE) undergraduate program is available only through on-campus, day coursework. This degree program can be completed on the Statesboro Campus. Currently there are no internet or distance learning programs in place for undergraduate education degrees at Georgia Southern. The HPE program also requires certain combinations of courses to be taken concurrently, so steady progression through the program requires full-time enrollment.

What is TEP?

TEP is the abbreviation for the Teacher Education Program. Admission into TEP is dependent on the satisfaction of specific requirements. Declaring Education as a major does not automatically admit you into the Teacher Education Program. Until all teacher education program requirements are met, students are classified as  Professional Studies Health and Physical Education B.S.Ed. Non-Certification Track majors and may not enroll in junior and senior level education courses.

What is the GACE Test?

The Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators®(GACE™) is a series of exams developed by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) with the assistance of the National Evaluation Systems, Inc. (NES®). The purpose of GACE is to assess the knowledge and skills of prospective Georgia public school educators. The series of exams includes the GACE Program Admission Assessment and GACE Content Assessment exams.

The GACE Program Admission Assessment is a requirement for entry into the Teacher Education Program at Georgia Southern. The appropriate GACE Content Assessment must be taken for admission to Student Teaching.

For more GACE information, including test dates, locations, study hints, and on-line registration, use these links:

• GACE website
• PSC’s Educator Testing web page

Where can I student teach? May I student teach in my home town?

Check the Clinical Practice Experience web page for information on student teaching locations and factors considered for student teaching placements. Also, see region for field experience placements.