Easiest Physical Education Degree Programs

Physical education programs are often the last thing on your mind when you think about education degrees. However, they combine the best of physical activity and public interaction by offering graduates the opportunity to teach or work as a coach after graduation.

If physical education interests you, you may be looking to find the easiest physical education degrees available. The easiest physical education degrees are generally associate degrees, so whether you want to pursue the easiest physical education degree you can or are looking to make the most of your passion for exercise, you can find the information you need below.

The Easiest Degrees To Help You in Your Physical Education Career

First, you need to make sure that your degree choice matches your career plans � after all, a degree in physical education is most commonly pursued by people who want to become teachers.

While associate degree programs are the easiest, they don't provide nearly as many career opportunities. They are often used as a stepping stone for a bachelor's education rather than as a stand-alone degree.

Today, you can learn about the different physical education program levels, whether an online degree will be easier for you, and find answers to some important questions about physical education degrees.

Physical Education Degree Levels

Physical education degree levels include associate programs, bachelor's programs, and master's programs.

To know which program offers the easiest physical education degree, it's important to know what makes them different - admissions, courses, time commitments, and post-graduation job opportunities.

With all of these in mind, associate degrees are largely considered the easiest degrees to get in physical education, while bachelor's programs have the best balance of ease and opportunity. Below, we'll break down more information about each degree level.

Which Program Level is the Easiest?

Generally, associate degrees in physical education are the easiest, due to their shorter commitment of two years and more basic courses. Associate programs also have lower admissions requirements - usually, only high school transcripts and a minimum GPA between 2.0 and 3.0 are needed to enter nearly any community college associate program.

However, bachelor's degrees in physical education aren't much more difficult than associate programs and offer students the opportunity to go into teaching after completing the program. Physical education bachelor's programs that meet teaching licensure requirements will be more difficult than those that don't � keep this in mind if you want the degree but not for the purpose of teaching.

Graduate programs, such as master's degrees in physical education, are definitely the most difficult program level � not just because the classes are harder, but because an undergraduate program is required to be considered for admission.

Are Online Programs Easier Than In-Person Degrees?

As technology becomes more prevalent in education, many people find online degrees easier because they offer more flexibility, access to learning resources, and versatile learning formats. The same could be true for physical education degrees, but the general nature of teaching and physical activity means that at least some in-person interaction will be required.

Because of this, most students opt for hybrid or in-person physical education degrees and find them easier to handle because they allow for face-to-face interaction with instructors and access to local student teaching opportunities.

An online physical education program may be best for you if you do better with varied class times, online resources, and different learning formats like interactive video. Otherwise, you should pursue an in-person degree program.

Schools Offering Physical Education Degree Programs

Here are a few schools that offer associate, bachelor's, or master's programs in physical education in either online or in-person formats:

• Eastern New Mexico University - online with in-person requirements
• East Carolina University - in-person
• Liberty University - in-person
• The University of Central Florida - in-person
• Lamar University - in-person
• Eastern Oregon University - online with in-person requirements
• The University of Northern Iowa - in-person
• Arizona State University - in-person

Physical Education Degree FAQs

In addition to finding out how easy certain levels and formats of physical education degrees are, here are answers to some important questions that potential students have before starting their program.

Can You Teach High School PE with a Physical Education Degree?

Yes, you can teach high school PE with a physical education degree. However, a bachelor's degree is required for a teaching license in the United States, so the easier associate physical education degree programs would not be acceptable.

In addition to completing a physical education degree, you'll also need to meet any other requirements your state has for a teaching certification before you can begin teaching high school PE.

What Can You Do with a Physical Education Degree?

Aside from becoming a physical education teacher in a public school, there are plenty of other positions that students can pursue after graduation.

Possible positions include:

• coach
• athletic trainer
• dance instructor
• physical therapist
• fitness instructor (including senior-specific positions)
• occupational therapist

Is Physical Education an Easy Major?

For many, education is an easy major in general, but physical education may not be as easy as you think.

In addition to classes that help you meet teaching requirements, anyone pursuing a physical education degree will need to take courses in calculus, kinesiology, and various sports. This can be physically and mentally grueling for students at times, but don't let this deter you if physical fitness and education are your passion.

Get Started in the Easiest Physical Education Degrees and Enhance Your Career Today

Now that you know about the easiest degrees available in physical education, it's time to choose the program that best fits your needs and apply.

Learn.org is here to help you find out everything you need to apply to your ideal physical education program today.