Physical Education Degrees in Michigan
Recent trends in education have encouraged teachers to consider their students as whole beings, taking into account their educational needs, their background, their health needs, and their personality. Physical education is part of this trend.
Students who are more active and physically healthier can thrive in intellectual and emotional aspects of their lives. By becoming a physical education teacher in Michigan, you can teach children at private and public schools throughout the state to maintain their physical health and build their strength.
Role of Educators with a Physical Education Degree in Michigan
PE teaching degrees lay a strong foundation of teaching skills, childhood development, and physical activity skills.
Find out how you can pursue this career by contacting Michigan teaching programs below.
Educational needs in Michigan differ quite a bit between the Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula, and even between individual communities. To use your training to its fullest potential and truly meet the needs of Michigan students, you can get involved in local teaching groups that get you involved with other teaching professionals.
The Michigan Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance aims to reach high physical education standards across the state, empowering teachers to create evidence-based curricular plans.
The Michigan Fitness Foundation is another local group with similar goals. They focus on gym classes for kindergarten through fifth grade students. They want to establish standards that help students become more skilled, more confident, and more motivated to maintain high physical activity levels.
Your decision to work in physical education could improve the lives of students in your community. Get more information by requesting information from Michigan schools.
Getting Your Physical Education Degree in Michigan
For students who are pursuing PE teacher degrees, Michigan schools have several program options to consider. The most common option is a Bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor’s programs are designed to be completed in four years. They include at least 120 credits, although some schools require closer to 130 credits. Prior to beginning your teaching courses, you must pass the Professional Readiness Examination.
Each school sets its own curricular requirements, but you can expect to study education theory, childhood development, health, and exercise science.
As an undergraduate student, you may take classes like:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Kinesiology
- Biomechanics of Physical Activity
- Motor Development
- Physiology of Exercise
- Methods of Teaching Conditioning Activities
- Adapted Physical Education
- Curriculum and Instruction in Physical Education
- Methods of Teaching Individual/Team Sports
Interspersed with physical education theory courses are field experience requirements. Many schools expect you to gain experience in your first semester. This structure makes it easy to verify that physical education is the right field for you.
After your first semester of observation and work, you may work in other schools in your area. This leads up to a full semester of student teaching, which is required for licensure in Michigan. A PE degree that is approved by the state of Michigan lets you become licensed in grades K-12, so it’s crucial to get experience in a variety of classrooms well before you begin your time as a student teacher.
Though you may already know a bit about the benefits of physical education and how it can positively influence students, you may see more and more positive outcomes throughout your education. Stay on top of current research to find out how gym classes help kids build confidence, focus during academic classes, and forge meaningful friendships with peers.
After finishing your training, you can contact the Michigan Department of Education to learn about getting your license. You must pass the Physical Education Michigan Test for Teacher Certification to become a licensed gym teacher. The Department of Education does verify your college hours, your classroom hours, and the results of your background check.
Working with a Physical Education Degree in Michigan
Though your degree gives you most of the skills and knowledge you need to become an excellent teacher, you still need to go through an adjustment period to acclimate to the demands of full-time teaching.
Plan on spending one to two years figuring out your schedule, your course requirements, and your time management skills. Even though you may no longer be a student, don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn from experienced teachers.
The field of education is stable in Michigan, so you may use your health and physical education degree to find different opportunities in nearby school districts. Between 2012 and 2022, O*Net expects job openings for elementary school teachers to increase 1% (2016).
During the same time frame, job openings for secondary school teachers may increase by an average of 580 jobs per year (O*Net, 2016).
Salaries in Michigan are close to Midwestern averages, though there are regional variations between the two peninsulas. Elementary teachers in this state earn an average of $62,220 per year, while secondary school teachers earn an average of $60,400 annually (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). Your salary potential may grow as you become more experienced and gain seniority with your school district.
If you’re passionate about health and fitness, use your dedication to make the next generation healthy. Your degree can put you in a position to help students build their competence in motor skills.
Start comparing your educational options now by getting in touch with Michigan physical education programs.
