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Undergraduate Program in Physical & Health Education Teacher Education (PHETE)

  • PHOTO: Ropes course
  • PHOTO: Teaching children
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  • PHOTO: Leading group
  • PHOTO: Ropes course
  • PHOTO: Ropes course

Program Description

The Physical & Health Education Teacher Education (PHETE) concentration is committed to educating future leaders in the profession of teaching through physical & health education. The program encourages teacher candidates to advocate for effective educational changes, work collaboratively and collectively for social change, and continue professional growth.

The PHETE concentration is a five-year Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program. Upon successful completion of the first four years students earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in kinesiology. The fifth-year MAT degree provides the requisite courses to obtain a VA state teaching license in Physical and Health Education (PK-12). It is necessary to be admitted to the teacher education program prior to enrolling in professional education courses.

Admission & Retention Standards

The admission and retention standards are designed to instill a professional attitude and commitment to the profession of teaching in the early phase of a student's college career. The admission and retention standards compliment the JMU Teacher Education application process. The following outlines the admission and retention standards and procedures.

PHETE Admission Standards

The following must be obtained or completed by the conclusion of the fall semester of a student’s junior year:

  1. Full acceptance to the JMU Teacher Education Program
    See Teacher Education Application Packet for details
  2. Work Experience Verification Form
    Documentation of at least 50 hours of current work experience in a position with children or young adults i.e. service learning activity, school or youth group, recreation department, summer youth camp. Complete Work Experience Verification Form.
  3. Professional Resume
    Using the Teacher Education ST-1R format
  4. Autobiographical Sketch
    This is a description of significant aspects of your life that were influential to you in choosing teaching as a profession.
  5. Overall GPA > 2.5
  6. Successful completion of the following coursework:
    BIO 290, EDUC 360, GPYS 160, KIN 201, KIN 303, & KIN 312
  7. Demonstration & appreciation of professional dispositions (refer to PHETE Professional Dispositions)
    • Values Learning & Knowledge
    • Values Diversity
    • Values Collaboration
    • Values Professionalism
    • Values Personal Integrity

PHETE Retention Standards

Once admitted to the program at the conclusion of each semester the PHETE faculty members meet to review each teacher candidates’ status in the program. Letters are sent to teacher candidates who warrant commendation and to those who require remediation, probation or dismissal. The following criteria are assessed:

  1. Retention in the JMU Teacher Education Program
  2. Maintain a GPA of > 3.0 in last four undergraduate semesters for entry to the fifth year
  3. Academic Performance in PHETE classes.
    A minimum of C- must be maintained in each of the following courses:
    KIN 310, 311,313, 314 and HTH 402, 403, 472, 371
  4. Successful completion of Comprehensive Exams
    Senior & Graduate fall semesters
  5. PRAXIS II
    Scores by December of fifth-year
    Passing scores in graduate portfolio for graduation & licensure
    Copy of test results to Coordinator of PHETE
  6. Satisfactory performance at each of five gates
  7. Consistent demonstration & appreciation of professional dispositions (refer to PHETE Professional Dispositions)

Approved by PHETE committee: 10/05
Approved by Kinesiology Department: 11/2/05

Program of Study

For course requirements, visit the appropriate JMU catalog