Physical Education with Teacher Certification in Health and Physical Education

The Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with teacher certification prepares the student to teach health and physical education in a P-12 school setting. The program provides strong theoretical and applied knowledge for working with children at all stages of developmental in both health and physical education.

As a health and physical education program, we view health and physical education as the vehicle to help create a healthier society. Within our program, we equip teacher candidates with the necessary concepts and skills they will need to enable their students to make healthy choices both in school and at home. We model a positive learning environment where ALL candidates can experience success and develop feelings of competence about themselves. We empower our candidates to be health and physical education teachers that will foster predispositions in their students to engage in lifelong physical activity, whatever that may be. The program brings the union of excellent professional and academic standards, multiple opportunities for planned professional hands-on experiences, and a rigorous high quality student centered curriculum. Working with local school districts we provide our candidates with numerous opportunities to develop their skillsets in real life experiences therefore truly honing their craft.

Our health and physical education teacher candidates will use physical education as an opportunity to help their students grow and stretch boundaries making healthy, informed decisions in a safe manner. Through critical thinking and growth opportunities, our teacher candidates will promote student wellness; physically, socio-emotionally, and mentally to help create a healthier society.

Montclair State University's Teacher Education Program is one of the most highly-regarded teacher preparation programs in the country. It has been consistently recognized both nationally and regionally for its unique features, including its structure, partnerships, and curricular emphases. The program is considered a model for other colleges and universities and has continuously been accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), formerly the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1954.

The Teacher Education Program's professional course sequence and field experiences emphasize teaching for critical thinking and culturally responsive teaching. The undergraduate program reflects a balance of a liberal education and professional preparation by combining rigorous general education, subject matter specialization, and professional training. The professional component for both undergraduates and graduate students addresses four broad areas:

1. Student development and learning
2. The classroom and the school
3. The curriculum
4. Effective teaching skills

Students who wish to pursue P-12 teacher certification must apply to and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program. Please visit the Teacher Education Program website for the required professional sequence of courses and other important Program requirements, guidelines, and procedures. Students also are strongly advised to review the Teacher Education Program Handbook.

120 credits of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA.  Major GPA requirements differ depending on the field of study. Consult the Teacher Education Program Handbook for more information.

Montclair State University Application or Common App

Please note: The Common App option is for Freshman applicants only.

• Applications for undergraduate admissions are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Check your application status. (If you applied through The Common App, you must create a Montclair State account to check your status. An email will be sent to you with those log-in credentials once your application is received.)
• Montclair State University considers a number of factors in reviewing admissions applications. Well-qualified candidates for admission have a 3.2 or higher cumulative high school GPA on an unweighted, 4.0 scale, a challenging course load (particularly in junior and senior years), and a variety of extracurricular activities.
• Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required, but, if you chose to submit those scores, they will be considered in the admissions process.
• Other factors considered in our holistic review process include: strong letters of recommendation from teachers and/or counselors; a well-written, thoughtful admissions essay; and a commitment to extracurricular engagement, both in school and in the community.