Physical Education

A major in physical education equips students with the education and skills they need to teach PE, coach sports for different age groups or simply to push others toward a more physically fit lifestyle. Physical education classes teach students how to plan and implement effective instructional programs that help people reach their fitness goals. Students also learn interpersonal skills that help them communicate and teach effectively, as well as the science behind physical education. Courses you may encounter in a physical education major include: anatomy & physiology, biology, kinesiology, nutrition, motor development and history of physical education. Students also learn methods of preventing and caring for injuries. Students in this major participate in physical education themselves, choosing from options that range from tennis to yoga to strength training.

If you are excited about health, wellness and physical fitness, and have a natural ability to encourage and motivate people, then you should consider majoring in physical education. It is also a good major choice for those who enjoy sports ñfor active individuals who hate the idea of sitting still in an office all day. Career opportunities include: personal trainer; athletic trainer; coaching; aerobics instructor; PE teacher at the elementary, high school or college levels; physical therapist, college professor; life coach; or even a writer or journalist on physical education topics.