Physical Education Degrees in New Jersey
Have you ever thought about becoming a teacher? Whether you work best with early elementary students, middle schoolers, or high schoolers, PE teacher degrees can help you get your start in this field.
Physical education gives lots of kids the chance to open up, try new activities, and build their self-confidence. Both students who do well academically and those who struggle in a typical classroom setting may find their niche in gym class.
If you think you have what it takes to help New Jersey kids look forward to sports, fitness activities, and teamwork, becoming a gym teacher could be the next step for you.
Role of Educators with a Physical Education Degree in New Jersey
The field of education is one of the most important in the country. The education that kids receive in their formative years plays a big role in their future development.
Find out how you can use your passion for fitness and contact New Jersey teacher training programs below.
No matter which career path you choose, it’s important to connect with others who have been in your shoes and learned tips and tricks of the industry. That’s why, even as a physical education student, you should consider joining a group like the New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
You can find out more about New Jersey teaching standards, learn techniques for getting more done in each class, and attend training events that benefit your career.
You can also contribute to efforts to strengthen physical education in New Jersey. This group hopes to improve physical education through professional development, legislative advocacy, community education, and education standards.
If you’re ready to get started, it’s time to learn about PE teaching degrees. New Jersey schools are listed below—reach out to them to discuss your options with teaching program advisors.
Getting Your Physical Education Degree in New Jersey
If you have a Bachelor’s degree in health or a similar field, you may be wondering if you can skip the four-year process of earning a Bachelor’s degree and start working more quickly. Students who already possess a Bachelor’s degree may be able to earn their teaching certification through alternative licensing programs, many of which can be completed in about one year. If you want to take your training to the next level, you may also consider Master’s degree programs in physical education.
Undergraduate programs are widespread in New Jersey, giving you the chance to earn a Bachelor’s degree while preparing for the teacher licensing process. Physical education teacher requirements in New Jersey include completion of at least 120 credits and substantial classroom experience.
To learn how to become an effective gym teacher, you may take classes like:
- Teaching of Skills and Activities
- Principles and Foundations of Physical Education
- Concepts of Health
- Current Issues in Physical Education
- Exercise Physiology
- Biomechanics
- Kinesiology
- Fitness and Wellness
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Sports
Field experience may be interspersed throughout your degree. Rather than expecting students to go straight through theory courses and jump into a semester of student teaching, most schools now introduce teaching students to New Jersey schools immediately. This can shorten the learning curve substantially and help you build on teaching skills you’ve practiced in previous semesters.
However, the student teaching requirement is still a crucial part of your degree. During your semester of student teaching, you have the opportunity to teach courses, create curricula, assess students, and get valuable feedback from supervising teachers.
Once you are a proud graduate of a teaching program, you can apply for your license through the State of New Jersey Department of Education. This organization uses the Praxis II content area examinations to assess applicant readiness.
Physical education offers a diverse array of benefits to your students, your school district, and the education community as a whole. By mastering theory and teaching techniques in your degree, you can ensure that you give students the chance to succeed and reinforce the lessons and social skills taught in other courses.
Working with a Physical Education Degree in New Jersey
New Jersey is one of the most densely populated states in the country, and its population of children is growing quickly. For that reason, demand for teaching professionals may increase in coming years. By 2022, O*Net predicts a 7% boost in demand for elementary school teachers (2016). Between 2012 and 2022, O*Net expects an average of 1,020 new job openings per year in secondary teaching (2016).
Salaries in New Jersey are generally above national averages. The average salary for a New Jersey elementary teacher is $68,100 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). Secondary school teachers in New Jersey earn, on average, $74,070 per year (BLS, 2016).
No matter which grade levels you teach, your background and experiences allow you to bring a unique teaching style to gym classes in New Jersey. Your daily work with students influences their development, their beliefs, and their appreciation for physical activity.
Proper training is the key to getting started in this field. Request information on earning a physical education degree from New Jersey teacher training programs below.
