The BAE program in secondary education with a concentration in physical education prepares students to successfully teach quality physical education programs to learners in preK-12.

The curriculum directly aligns with national beginning teacher standards of The Society of Health and Physical Education Teachers of America (SHAPE America). Students take foundational coursework in the areas of growth and motor development, movement activities and lifelong physical fitness. The coursework covers elementary, secondary and adaptive physical education methods, including topics such as instructional design, lesson planning and modifications and accommodations for preK-12 learners. Students will build skills in cultivating a positive and productive learning environment, assessing, monitoring and reporting progress, as well as conducting themselves as responsible and ethical professionals.

Extensive professional experiences are built into this program to prepare candidates to enter the teaching profession after graduation. Students complete internships prior to a full-time teaching residency that takes place senior year. Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College has developed a team-based approach to teacher-preparation, allowing students to participate in internships and residencies with a team of peers while receiving guidance and support from faculty members and highly qualified certified teachers. Team-based professional experiences are designed to prepare students to work with mutually supportive colleagues to address the academic and social-emotional needs of learners.

Graduates earn an institutional recommendation from ASU for Arizona teacher certification in Secondary Education, and an endorsement in physical education, preK-12, from the Arizona Department of Education. To be eligible for secondary certification in Arizona, students must receive a passing score on the professional knowledge exam offered through the National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments.