Best Bachelor's in Physical Education Teaching and Coaching Programs in 2026

UCF's Teacher Education B.S. with a Physical Education Education Track is a 120-credit undergraduate degree that prepares students to teach physical education in K-12 schools. It is a state-approved initial teacher preparation program designed in compliance with Florida Statutes and State Board of Education Rule 6A-5.066. Candidates complete two teaching internships: a 6-credit Internship I block and a 12-credit Internship II block in elementary, middle, or high schools. Passing scores on the Florida Teacher Certification Examination sections, including Physical Education K-12, are required before Internship II. Delivered on campus in Orlando. Graduates of this physical education teaching and coaching program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

The B.S. in Physical Education at USF is a 72 credit hour program on the Tampa campus that prepares students for Florida K-12 teaching certification. Major coursework begins in the junior year and spans two years, combining classroom study with clinical placements, a full-semester internship, and teaching experience in local schools and USF's on-campus elementary PE program. ESOL and Reading endorsements are embedded in the program. Delivery blends coursework with hands-on field experiences. Earning a bachelor's degree in physical education teaching and coaching is a common route toward becoming one of Florida's secondary school teachers.

Offered through The Citadel's Zucker Family School of Education, the Bachelor of Science in Physical Education (Teaching) prepares future physical education teachers for public and private schools. Candidates complete professional education coursework and clinical requirements, earning an undergraduate degree and a recommendation for South Carolina licensure to teach physical education at the K-12 level. The program is delivered on campus as a cadet program. A bachelor's-level path in physical education teaching and coaching, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in South Carolina.

Future physical education teachers at UW-Madison follow a deliberate arc through the Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, built around the Physical Education Teacher Education track and aimed at PreK-12 classrooms and gymnasiums. Most students begin as Pre-Physical Education, working through general and science coursework in the Department of Kinesiology before formally declaring the major for their final two years. That structure lets the program front-load foundational study, then shift decisively toward practice, with field experiences opening in the junior year and building to two full semester placements at the elementary and middle or high school levels. Graduates leave qualified for a Wisconsin teaching license, and those who want broader reach can add optional certifications in health education or adapted physical education. The degree is taught entirely on campus. A bachelor's-level path in physical education teaching and coaching, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Wisconsin.

Offered by CSULB's Department of Kinesiology, this B.A. in Kinesiology with the Physical Education Teacher Education option provides the subject matter preparation for teaching physical education in California public schools. It meets the subject matter competence requirement for the Single Subject Preliminary Credential in Physical Education (K-12). To be credentialed, students then complete 45 units of professional preparation in the Single Subject Credential Program, including student teaching. The page states the option is accredited by the California Commission for Teacher Credentialing, a state credentialing body rather than a separate programmatic accreditor. As a bachelor's degree in physical education teaching and coaching, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in California.

Auburn University's physical education teacher-education program, housed in the School of Kinesiology, prepares candidates to teach physical education across grades K-12. The on-campus coursework covers instructional strategies and methods for both elementary and secondary physical education, and it culminates in a supervised clinical residency in K-12 school settings. Graduates are prepared for teacher licensure. As a bachelor's degree in physical education teaching and coaching, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Alabama.

Brigham Young University's Physical Education Teaching/Coaching (K-12) BS sits within the McKay School of Education's teacher education program. Coursework spans nutrition, fitness, and human development, activity content, coaching, and exercise science, along with a professional education sequence and a student teaching placement. The program prepares candidates to teach physical education across kindergarten through grade twelve and meets Utah's educational requirements for a professional teaching license. It is delivered on campus in Provo. Graduates of this physical education teaching and coaching program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

The University of Connecticut's Department of Kinesiology offers a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, delivered on campus at Storrs. The degree provides concentrations in Exercise Science, Sports Health and Performance, and Pre-Medical Science, and it prepares students for graduate study in fields such as physical therapy, athletic training, and medicine. It centers on the science of human movement and physical performance rather than K-12 teaching, and it does not lead to a teaching license. This bachelor's-level physical education teaching and coaching program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Connecticut.

Through its College of Education and Human Ecology, Ohio State offered the Sports Coaching, Recreation and Physical Education Bachelor of Science in Education with a Physical Education Teacher Education specialization, a path that led to Ohio PreK-12 physical education licensure. The design paired pedagogy coursework with a progression of field experiences across elementary, middle, and high school settings, so candidates saw the full grade span before stepping into student teaching in Columbus. Prospective students should know the major was discontinued as of Autumn 2023; only those who began in autumn 2023 or earlier continue toward completion. The sports coaching side of the degree has since merged into the Sport Industry major, redirecting that interest elsewhere on campus. A bachelor's-level path in physical education teaching and coaching, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Ohio.

The University of South Carolina's Bachelor of Science in Physical Education prepares candidates to teach and coach from kindergarten through grade 12 across public and private schools. Over 123 credit hours, the curriculum blends the science of movement with the craft of teaching it, covering physical education curriculum and instruction, adapted physical education, coaching techniques, motor behavior, and the psychology, philosophy, and history of the field. That mix gives graduates both the theory and the practical tools to run a gym or a team. The program builds toward a 12-credit directed teaching internship split between elementary and secondary placements, so candidates practice at both ends of the grade span. Described in the bulletin as a CAEP-approved certification program, it is aligned with SHAPE America's national standards for K-12 physical education. A bachelor's-level path in physical education teaching and coaching, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in South Carolina.

Cortland's Bachelor of Science in Physical Education runs 126 credit hours and prepares candidates for New York State certification to teach physical education across grades K through 12. Coursework blends theory with hands-on activity classes, and candidates move into schools early through field experiences before finishing with a full student teaching placement. Those looking to widen their horizons can complete that placement internationally. An adapted physical education concentration is available for students who want to focus on teaching learners with disabilities. All study takes place on campus. The Professional Education Unit that houses the program holds AAQEP accreditation through December 31, 2029. As a bachelor's degree in physical education teaching and coaching, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in New York.

The University of Vermont's Teacher Education: Physical Education (Grades PreK-12) B.S.Ed. prepared candidates for an initial Vermont teaching license in physical education across grades PreK through 12. The program is being discontinued and is no longer accepting new applicants. As a bachelor's degree in physical education teaching and coaching, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Vermont.

This 120-hour Bachelor of Science in Physical Education combines kinesiology and education coursework to prepare students to teach physical education in grades K-12. Candidates complete the College of Education Teacher Education Program, meeting admission and retention criteria, and finish with a 6-hour all-level student teaching placement leading to Texas physical education teacher certification. The degree also offers a strength and conditioning emphasis that builds the knowledge and skills to work as a strength and conditioning coach. Delivered on campus at TCU. As a bachelor's degree in physical education teaching and coaching, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Texas.

This B.S. in Health and Physical Education is a dual-certification teacher preparation degree requiring a minimum of 136 credit hours. It meets New York State academic requirements for initial certification in both Health Education and Physical Education (all grades), and the physical education certification also qualifies candidates to coach any sport in grades 7-12 in New York. Teacher candidates complete at least 25 hours in public schools each year, culminating in full-time student teaching in both health and physical education settings, plus a Child Health and Life Safety Seminar and CPR/AED and First Aid certification. The School of Education is not admitting students to this program. Delivered on campus. A bachelor's-level path in physical education teaching and coaching, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in New York.

Preparing to teach movement and wellness, candidates in the University of Arkansas's Bachelor of Science in Education in Physical Education and Health train to lead K-12 students in both public and private schools. The 120-hour degree balances the science of kinesiology with the craft of pedagogy, then puts it into practice through two senior-year internships totaling well over a dozen hours of supervised teaching in P-12 settings under mentor teachers. That progressive, mentored fieldwork gives future teachers confidence before they run their own gyms and classrooms. The program, based in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, leads to Arkansas licensure in Physical Education, Wellness and Leisure. Students who want to work with teams can add a coaching endorsement through a coaching practicum. As a bachelor's degree in physical education teaching and coaching, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Arkansas.

Baylor University's All-Level Physical Education program leads to a Bachelor of Science in Education and prepares candidates to teach physical education in grades K through 12, with a built-in emphasis on coaching for public or private schools. Housed in the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation, the roughly 124-hour degree treats real classroom time as central rather than an afterthought. Beginning as early as the freshman year, majors complete a series of internships in different Waco schools before advancing to student teaching, so their preparation is grounded in practice from the start. Students who want to go further can pursue an optional five-year track that combines the bachelor's with a master's in Sport Pedagogy. Delivered on campus, the program satisfies the requirements for Texas teacher certification. A bachelor's-level path in physical education teaching and coaching, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Texas.

This 120 semester hour Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Health and Physical Education Teacher Certification concentration, prepares students to teach health and physical education in grades K-12 in Louisiana. The curriculum meets the state educational eligibility criteria for certification and leads to a Louisiana Level 1 Professional Certificate. Candidates complete 9 semester hours of student teaching through EDCI 4630. The program is based in the School of Kinesiology at the Baton Rouge campus. As a bachelor's degree in physical education teaching and coaching, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Louisiana.

College of the Ozarks offers a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a K-12 teacher certification emphasis, alongside non-teaching tracks in exercise science, recreation and sports management, and allied health science, plus a coaching minor. The teacher certification track prepares candidates for elementary and secondary physical education roles and integrates coaching through coursework and practical experience. Delivery is on-campus at the residential Point Lookout campus. As a bachelor's degree in physical education teaching and coaching, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Missouri.

App State's Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education, K-12, prepares candidates to teach physical education and health. The plan combines a 48-hour HPE curriculum, an 18-hour Second Academic Concentration in either Sport Science and Coaching or Public Health, and 24 hours of professional education that includes a 12-hour student teaching internship. Completion earns a K-12 Health and Physical Education professional educator's license (SP1). The page states the HPE program holds unit-level accreditation through NCATE plus North Carolina Department of Public Instruction program approval. The program is delivered on campus in Boone. This bachelor's-level physical education teaching and coaching program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in North Carolina.

Mississippi College offers a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a Physical Education, K-12 concentration totaling 120 credit hours. The concentration prepares students for a Mississippi teaching license in physical education for grades K-12. It requires a pre-teaching field experience (EDU 299) and 12 credit hours of directed teaching (EDU 471 through 474), plus physical fitness evaluations (KIN 091 for admission and KIN 092 before graduation). Delivery is traditional on campus. As a bachelor's degree in physical education teaching and coaching, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Mississippi.

Cedarville University's Physical Education Multi-Age major prepares students to teach physical education in grades K to 12 in public and Christian schools. The major carries 80 semester hours within a minimum 128-hour degree and includes a 12-semester-hour Student Teaching and Seminar capstone. Graduates who complete the curriculum and licensure requirements are licensed by the state of Ohio and qualify for certification from the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). The catalog labels this teacher education licensure program as being in teach-out status, meaning it is no longer admitting new students; the program no longer appears in the 2025-26 catalog. Delivered on campus. Earning a bachelor's degree in physical education teaching and coaching is a common route toward becoming one of Ohio's secondary school teachers.

The Health & Physical Education major is a 120 credit program leading to dual PreK-12 certification in Physical Education and Health Education in Maryland, and graduates may qualify for certification in other states. The curriculum integrates health education, kinesiology, and pedagogy, and includes extensive practicum experiences culminating in a yearlong teaching internship in Maryland schools with elementary and secondary placements, plus the edTPA performance assessment portfolio. The program prepares physical educators consistent with SHAPE America guidelines. Towson's educator preparation programs are accredited by CAEP and approved by the Maryland State Department of Education. Delivered on campus. Earning a bachelor's degree in physical education teaching and coaching is a common route toward becoming one of Maryland's secondary school teachers.

Harding University's Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health Education, K-12, is a 120-credit licensure major for students who want to teach physical education and health across elementary and secondary schools. True to the subject, learning happens in more than one setting, with coursework moving among the classroom, the gym, and the field so candidates practice teaching in the environments they will actually work in. Graduates come away qualified for a state teaching license in physical education and health, and the program adds a coaching endorsement that covers all sports, widening the roles they can step into. The educator preparation programs live in the Cannon-Clary College of Education, which is accredited by CAEP and whose licensure programs are approved by the Arkansas Department of Education. The degree is delivered on campus. Graduates of this physical education teaching and coaching program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

Northwest Nazarene University's Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education, offered in Kinesiology, prepares K-12 physical education teachers through a partnership between the Department of Sport and Exercise Science and the Department of Education. The degree runs 78 to 88 credits, joining a 38-credit professional education core with 40 to 50 credits of endorsement coursework, and it lets candidates scale their Physical Education endorsement from a 50-credit standalone area down to paired first and second endorsements. Practical readiness comes through 11 credits of student teaching at the middle or senior high level. Reflecting the safety demands of the field, candidates also hold First Aid, CPR, and water safety certifications. The programs are CAEP accredited and approved by the Idaho State Board of Education. Graduates of this physical education teaching and coaching program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

Saint Vincent College's Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education prepares candidates for Pennsylvania K-12 certification through its Education Department. The roughly 86-credit program blends health and management study, physical education, psychology, and pedagogy, backed by a meaningful 16 to 17 credits of field experience so theory stays tied to the gym and classroom. Candidates advance through five progressive field placements, starting in the freshman year and building toward a 14-week student teaching internship paired with a professional seminar. That gradual escalation reflects the program's hands-on character. Graduates can extend their credential through the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, and the college reports that 98 percent of graduates find employment or enroll in graduate school. This bachelor's-level physical education teaching and coaching program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Pennsylvania.