Best Online Degrees in Physical Education

<h2 id="section---TopSchoolsForOnlinePhysicalEducationDegreePrograms">Top Schools for Online Physical Education Degree Programs</h2> <p>When choosing the best schools for an online physical education degree program, you should consider program flexibility, admissions requirements, cost and program length. The top 10 schools with online physical education degree programs are listed below. </p> <h3 id="section---1.UniversityOfSouthernMississippi">1. University of Southern Mississippi</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Location </th><th>Tuition &amp; Fees </th><th>% Receiving Financial Aid</th></tr> <tr><td>Hattiesburg, MS </td><td>$8,624 </td><td>94%</td></tr> </table><p>The University of Southern Mississippi was founded in 1910 and is considered a top research university. It has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) since 1929 and offers an online Master of Science in Kinesiology - Physical Education. The program consists of 33 credit hours and includes courses in motor skills development, sport regulations, kinesiology foundations and physical education teaching methods. Students must have earned a qualifying score on a graduate entrance exam or other qualifying test, and online graduate students have a tuition rate of $488 per credit or $4,393 per semester (9 to 13 credits). </p> <h3 id="section---2.UniversityOfSouthDakota">2. University of South Dakota</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Location </th><th>Tuition &amp; Fees (in-state) </th><th>% Receiving Financial Aid</th></tr> <tr><td>Vermillion, SD </td><td>$9,061 </td><td>95%</td></tr> </table><p>The University of South Dakota began offering postsecondary programs in 1882 as the first higher-education institution in the Dakotas, before South Dakota earned its statehood. The school has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1913 and offers an online Master of Arts in Kinesiology and Sport Management program. Students can choose to study full-time or part-time, completing the program in 12 to 24 months, and have a tuition rate of $466 per credit hour. The program consists of 30 credit hours and includes courses in sport analysis, research and sport regulations. </p> <h3 id="section---3.UniversityOfNebraskaAtKearney">3. University of Nebraska at Kearney</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Location </th><th>Tuition &amp; Fees (in-state) </th><th>% Receiving Financial Aid</th></tr> <tr><td>Kearney, NE </td><td>$7,512 </td><td>93%</td></tr> </table><p>The University of Nebraska at Kearney has been providing college education to students since 1905 and has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1916. Online graduate students have a tuition rate of $309 (in-state) or $494 (out-of-state) per credit hour. The school offers an online Master of Arts in Education - Physical Education Master Teacher program with two concentration options: pedagogy and special populations. Both programs include 36 credit hours of coursework and classes in physical education philosophy, school education, exercise physiology and physical education for disabled students. </p> <h3 id="section---4.UniversityOfAlabamaAtBirmingham">4. University of Alabama at Birmingham</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Location </th><th>Tuition &amp; Fees (in-state) </th><th>% Receiving Financial Aid</th></tr> <tr><td>Birmingham, AL </td><td>$8,568 </td><td>94%</td></tr> </table><p>The University of Alabama at Birmingham has maintained accreditation with the SACSCOC since 1970 and has roots dating back to 1859. The school offers two online programs for physical education students, which both have a tuition rate of $534 per credit hour for all students. The Master of Science in Kinesiology with a focus in exercise physiology consists of 33 to 36 credit hours and includes courses in research methods, exercise physiology and statistics. The Educational Specialist in Kinesiology with a focus in physical education teacher certification is open to current teachers and consists of 30 to 33 credit hours. </p> <h3 id="section---5.EastCarolinaUniversity">5. East Carolina University</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Location </th><th>Tuition &amp; Fees (in-state) </th><th>% Receiving Financial Aid</th></tr> <tr><td>Greenville, NC </td><td>$7,188 </td><td>81%</td></tr> </table><p>East Carolina University began as a teacher preparation school in 1903 and officially became ECU in 1967. The school has maintained accreditation from the SACSCOC since 1927 and offers a Master of Arts in Education in Physical Education online. The program consists of 36 credit hours and includes courses in leadership, physical activity, kinesiology and education. Students have a tuition rate of $233 to $877 per credit, depending on residency, and can choose from two concentration options: physical education pedagogy or adapted physical education. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Rank </th><th>School Name </th><th>Location </th><th>Tuition &amp; Fees (in-state) </th><th>% Receiving Financial Aid</th></tr> <tr><td>6 </td><td>Ball State University </td><td>Muncie, IN </td><td>$9,896 </td><td>90%</td></tr> <tr><td>7 </td><td>University of Arkansas </td><td>Fayetteville, AR </td><td>$9,130 </td><td>77%</td></tr> <tr><td>8 </td><td>Concordia University-Saint Paul </td><td>Saint Paul, MN </td><td>$22,275 </td><td>99%</td></tr> <tr><td>9 </td><td>West Virginia University </td><td>Morgantown, WV </td><td>$8,856 </td><td>89%</td></tr> <tr><td>10 </td><td>Western Kentucky University </td><td>Bowling Green, KY </td><td>$10,512 </td><td>96%</td></tr> </table><p><i>All table data is provided by the National Center for Education Statistics; undergraduate tuition is provided and represents the 2018-2019 school year.</i> </p> <p><i>Learn.org's school ranking methodology categorizes and assesses data from schools and other reliable sources, such as the U.S. Department of Education, and weighs the information based on quality, cost, value and other factors critical to students' academic decisions.</i> </p> <h2 id="section---OverviewOfOnlinePhysicalEducationDegreePrograms">Overview of Online Physical Education Degree Programs</h2> <p>There are a few different types of online physical education degree programs, each of which have their own admissions requirements and lengths. </p> <ul><li><b>Bachelor's Degree</b> - Bachelor's degree programs in physical education usually take an average of 4 years to complete (full-time) and are open to students with a high school diploma or GED. </li><li><b>Master's Degree</b> - Master's degree programs can be open to all students with a bachelor's degree, but some programs require students to already be licensed teachers. These programs take around two years to complete and are the most common type of online physical education degree program. </li><li><b>Education Specialist</b> - Also referred to as EdS, these programs take around 2 years and are for students who have already earned a master's degree and have education experience. </li></ul><h3 id="section---CommonCourses">Common Courses</h3> <p>Although the specific courses in online physical education programs vary by the degree and concentration (when applicable), many include some of the courses listed below. </p> <ul><li><b>Physical Education Methods</b> - This class examines different approaches and techniques used in physical education for kindergarten through twelfth grade. </li><li><b>Exercise Physiology</b> - Students learn about the physiological aspects and processes of the human body that relate to physical activities as well as benefits of physical activity. </li><li><b>Leadership</b> - Students explore leadership theories and practices, including communication strategies and techniques as necessary to be effective educators. </li><li><b>Motor Skills</b> - Students learn to recognize motor development techniques, patterns and theories and how to recognize and assess influencing factors. </li><li><b>Research Methods</b> - This class provides students with an understanding of methods for conducting, reviewing and reporting professional research. </li></ul><h2 id="section---CostOfOnlinePhysicalEducationDegreePrograms">Cost of Online Physical Education Degree Programs</h2> <p>The cost of online physical education degree programs varies greatly based on factors such as school, student experience and degree level. The primary cost of most programs is tuition, which is usually charged per credit hour. Undergraduate students usually have a lower tuition rate than graduate students, and in-state students have lower rates than out-of-state students (except at schools with flat tuition for all U.S. students). The table below provides a visual of what the total tuition for a program could cost based on an example tuition rate. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Program </th><th>Credits Needed </th><th>Tuition per Credit </th><th>Total Tuition</th></tr> <tr><td>Bachelor's Degree </td><td>120 </td><td>$300 </td><td>$36,000</td></tr> <tr><td>Master's Degree/ Educational Specialist </td><td>36 </td><td>$500 </td><td>$18,000</td></tr> </table><p>In addition to the cost of tuition, online students usually have other fees associated with their programs and schools. These can include things like technology fees, distance learning fees and course materials fees, and can add up to several thousand dollars over the course of an online program. </p> <h3 id="section---TransferCredits">Transfer Credits</h3> <p>Students who have earned college credits in the past may be able to have some, or all, of those credits applied towards their online program. By transferring credits into the new curriculum, students decrease the number of credits that they will need to complete as well as the overall program tuition cost. </p> <h3 id="section---FlatRateCosts">Flat-Rate Costs</h3> <p>Some schools offer flat-rate tuition to students who take a specific number of courses during a semester. For example, a student taking 12 to 15 credits may have a flat-rate tuition cost that is equal to 10 credits; flat-rate costs allow students to take more courses and pay less tuition per credit hour. </p> <h2 id="section---FinancialAidForOnlinePhysicalEducationPrograms">Financial Aid for Online Physical Education Programs</h2> <p>Students of online physical education programs can qualify for several types of financial aid, including loans, scholarships and work-study programs. Students should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as their first step. They can see some of the types of federal aid available to them after submitting the application. The FAFSA can be used to apply for other types of financial aid through their schools and other sources. </p> <h3 id="section---StudentLoans">Student Loans</h3> <p>Student loans are available through the government and private lenders, but students should exhaust other types of aid before using private student loans. Government loans have flexible repayment options and nationally-regulated interest rates. </p> <h3 id="section---LoanForgiveness">Loan Forgiveness</h3> <p>Physical education graduates who become licensed educators may qualify for the federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives up to $17,500 in student loans. In order to qualify, teachers are required to teach full-time for five years in an eligible, low-income school or agency. </p> <h3 id="section---WorkStudyPrograms">Work-Study Programs</h3> <p>Work-study programs consist of part-time work in exchange for payment. Similar to other part-time jobs, students receive their earnings directly and can use the money towards their program or living costs as needed. Work-study positions are granted in a student's field of study when available. </p> <h3 id="section---Scholarships">Scholarships</h3> <p>There are countless scholarships available to students across the country and are awarded based on various criteria such as field of study, state of residency, community involvement, academic performance and more. Some of the scholarships that are available to online physical education students are listed below. </p> <ul><li><b>Cameron Impact Scholarship</b> - This scholarship awards students $20,000 to $50,000 to cover all expenses of a 4-year undergraduate program in fields such as education and government. </li><li><b>National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation Challenge Scholarship</b> - Members of NSCA pursuing a degree in a field related to strength and conditioning may qualify for this $2,000 award. </li><li><b>Oklahoma Future Teachers Scholarship Program</b> - Oklahoma residents with outstanding academic performance can qualify for this $1,500 grant if they agree to teach at an eligible Oklahoma school for 3 years after graduation. </li><li><b>Samuel Huntington Public Service Award</b> - $15,000 is awarded to college seniors who agree to work one year in public service anywhere across the globe before entering another career or graduate school. </li><li><b>The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Program</b> - This $30,000 scholarship is awarded to full-time juniors in undergraduate programs who are pursuing a program and career in government or public service. </li></ul><h2 id="section---CertificationForPhysicalEducationGraduates">Certification for Physical Education Graduates</h2> <p>Graduates who want to become physical education teachers usually need to obtain teacher certification, especially if they work in public schools. The requirements for certification vary by state, but typically involve completing an approved program and passing relevant knowledge assessments. Students should review certifications for the physical education teaching license in their states. </p> <h2 id="section---CareerOptionsForOnlinePhysicalEducationGraduates">Career Options for Online Physical Education Graduates</h2> <p>Graduates of online physical education degree programs can pursue a number of careers in education and other industries, depending on their specific degree level, concentration (if any) and obtained certifications. </p> <h3 id="section---ElementarySchoolTeacher">Elementary School Teacher</h3> <p>Elementary school teachers work with children who are between kindergarten and middle school. Their duties can include group and individual instruction, enforcing course rules, leading class activities and meeting with parents. </p> <h3 id="section---MiddleSchoolTeacher">Middle School Teacher</h3> <p>Middle school teachers provide instruction to students who are between elementary and high school. Their duties include leading activities, grading students, setting clear class guidelines and helping to prepare students for their upcoming grades. </p> <h3 id="section---SecondarySchoolTeacher">Secondary School Teacher</h3> <p>Secondary school teachers teach high school students in their area of expertise, such as physical education. Their duties include creating and carrying out activities, setting and enforcing class guidelines, and providing feedback to students. </p> <h3 id="section---HealthEducator">Health Educator</h3> <p>Health educators create and manage health education plans for communities, groups and individuals. Their duties can include collecting relevant data, developing and implementing programs, and assessing and revising programs as necessary. </p> <h3 id="section---AthleticTrainers">Athletic Trainers</h3> <p>Athletic trainers work with individuals to help them reach their wellness goals, whether to reach ideal characteristics or to recover from injuries and other illnesses. Their duties include consulting with clients, creating and carrying out individualized routines, and adjusting plans as needed. </p> <h3 id="section---AdaptedPhysicalEducationSpecialists">Adapted Physical Education Specialists</h3> <p>Adapted physical education specialists are physical education teachers who teach students of all ages who have exceptional needs relating to physical function, such as those caused by motor development delays. Their duties include providing individualized instruction, regularly adapting plans to meet client needs, maintaining records and providing referrals when applicable. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Job Title </th><th>Median Annual Salary (2018) </th><th>Estimated Job Growth (2018-2028)</th></tr> <tr><td>Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education </td><td>$58,230 </td><td>2% to 3%</td></tr> <tr><td>Middle School Teachers, Except Special Education and Career/Technical Education </td><td>$58,600 </td><td>4% to 6%</td></tr> <tr><td>Secondary School Teachers, Except Special Education and Career/Technical Education</td><td>$60,320 </td><td>4% to 6%</td></tr> <tr><td>Health Educators </td><td>$54,220 </td><td>7% to 10%</td></tr> <tr><td>Athletic Trainers </td><td>$47,510 </td><td>11% or more</td></tr> <tr><td>Adapted Physical Education Specialists </td><td>$56,680 </td><td>7% to 10%</td></tr> </table><p><i>All career data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i></p>