Physical Education Teacher Education
Recreation and Park Administration
Download your application to the Physical Education Teacher Education program here. Students interested in the PETE minor should complete this form, circling their minor preference.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for teachers will vary from good to excellent between now and 2012 depending on locality, grade taught, and subject matter.
The Physical Education Teaching major is built on the framework of effective teaching practices and strives to link the theory of effective teaching into effective practice. In addition to completing a set of core introductory courses with a science emphasis, students enroll in classes that focus on instructional strategies, elementary curriculum, secondary curriculum, assessment in physical education, teaching methods, adapted physical education, and field experiences. Additionally various pedagogy oriented activity classes are required. Student preparation leads to K-12 specialist certification and 6-12 standard and/or middle school certification. The Teacher Education major has enjoyed more than a 90 percent job placement record for the past decade. Many students seek a second subject minor or teaching endorsement.
Students experience a progression of teaching experiences which include teaching small groups of their peers, teaching larger groups of peers, working with small children, teaching a class of children and youth in the Normal Public Schools, and finally student teaching.
Students also use technology to assess their teaching through the use of video cameras, wireless microphones, and the best computer software program, which analyzes teaching behaviors. For more information about specific requirements of this degree program, please consult the Illinois State University undergraduate catalog.
Upon graduation, students are qualified to apply for Illinois certification and teach in Illinois public and private elementary, middle, junior high, and senior high schools.
A second teaching area is recommended in a minor or endorsement content area. Students should refer to the Illinois State University undergraduate catalog (University-Wide Teacher Education section) for a listing of all secondary teaching programs available. Examples of other minor or endorsement areas include: health education, biology, science, or social science.
