Program Coordinator/Contact
Tracy Nelson, Coordinator
Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences
Intramural Building 116B
605-688-4034
Email: tracy.nelson@sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/hns
Click here for additional information.
Program Information
A major in Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) is intended to prepare teacher candidates for entry into public and private PK-12 education settings. Upon completion of the PETE curriculum, the successful completion of student teaching, and the requisite Praxis II content and licensure exams, teacher candidates are eligible to apply for teacher licensure in South Dakota and other states. In addition to completing the courses required of the curriculum, teacher candidates will complete field and clinical experiences related to their coursework, beginning with the first semester they are officially admitted to the PETE program. These experiences are in addition to those field experiences that are part of the Teacher Education program.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the physical education teacher education major, teacher candidates:
- know and apply discipline specific scientific and theoretical concepts critical to the development of physically educated individuals.
- will be physically educated individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to demonstrate competent movement performance and health-enhancing fitness as delineated in NASPE K-12 Standards.
- will plan and implement developmentally appropriate learning experiences aligned with local, state and national standards to address the diverse needs of all students.
- will use effective communication and pedagogical skills and strategies to enhance student engagement and learning.
- will use assessments and reflection to foster student learning and inform decisions about instruction.
- will demonstrate dispositions that are essential to becoming effective professionals. (NASPE Standards & Guidelines for Physical Education Teacher Education, 3rd Ed.; 2009)
Program Application
Admission to the PETE program requires completion and submission of an official PETE program application. The application is due to the PETE Coordinator no later than February 1, and can be obtained from the PETE Coordinator or the PETE Professional Advisor. Students must also be enrolled in PE 185 during the spring semester of application and make a minimum grade of C in both PE classes, and in ENGL 101, SPCM 101 and MATH 102.
Specific requirements for admission include a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.6, minimum grade of C in ENGL 101, SPCM 101, completion of (with a minimum C) PE 185. Application decisions are determined in time for early registration for the following fall semester. Students will either be fully accepted or accepted pending receipt of spring grades. If you have questions about this policy, please contact the PETE Coordinator.
Program Assessment
Technical standards and elements from the National Association of Sport and Physical Education aid in development of assessments used throughout the PETE program. Teacher candidates are assessed frequently on performance as well as teaching and Professional Dispositions. These assessments are kept on file as part of the PETE assessment program. Additionally, the PETE Coordinator monitors semester and cumulative GPA and communicates with teacher candidates.
Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure
Accreditation
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Programs (NCATE)
South Dakota Department of Education
Certification and Licensure
With this major and the accompanying teacher education coursework required for teaching licensure, candidates are eligible to take the Praxis content tests, and apply for a teaching license in South Dakota. All Physical Education students are required to take the PRAXIS II Physical Education content test, as well as the PRAXIS II Principles of Learning and Teaching test. If pursuing the Health Education minor, the Praxis II Health Education test must be taken by graduation. A minimum score must be achieved on the Praxis II Physical Education content test to be eligible to enroll in Professional Semester III. A minimum score on the Praxis II PLT must be obtained for teaching licensure, and a minimum score on the Praxis II Health test to be eligible to teach health education in schools.
Prior to student teaching students must submit and continue to be compliant with federal and supplemental criminal background checks, as required by state law, detailed in South Dakota Codified Law. This law covers convictions as well as pleading guilty to misdemeanors and felony offenses, as well as a variety of other situations that may result in a teacher candidate being ineligible for licensure, or being prevented from gaining employment in South Dakota.
Course Delivery Format
The program provides instruction through traditional classroom settings, hybrid and distance learning (on-line) settings, as well as classes that mix of classroom, lab and field/clinical experiences.
