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Why earn a Master of Art in Teaching: Health & Physical Education degree at GCSU?

FLEXIBLE LEARNING

  • The program is available as a 1-year, fully online option or as a 2-year, fully online option for full-time teachers and coaches who cannot commit to a full-time 1-year program.

  • Summer or Fall start option.

OUR PROVEN TRACK RECORD

  • 100% GACE Content Exam Pass rate for certification.

  • CAEP nationally accredited.

  • Offers teacher license reciprocity with numerous states.

  • For the past 5-years the program has maintained a 100% hire rate or 100% acceptance rate into an advanced graduate degree program, within two months of program graduation.

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

  • Starting teaching and coaching salaries are approximately $60,000- $65,000. (2023 graduate statistics).

  • Program offers a T-5 master’s pay raise to certified teachers.

  • Program graduates provide a strong networking community promoting career development and advancement.

NO GRE REQUIREMENT

  • GRE scores are not required for admission.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree in Kinesiology/Physical Education provides initial teacher preparation at the master's degree level for qualified candidates who hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in a related discipline such as Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Health Promotion, Outdoor Education, Human Performance, etc. The degree program is designed for college graduates whose undergraduate degrees did not include coursework or learning experiences necessary to meet CAEP/NASPE national accreditation standards and the Georgia Performance Standards in health and physical education necessary for Health and Physical Education P-12 teacher certification. Successful completion of the M.A.T. program leads to a T-5 Georgia Teacher Certification.

Students who complete the M.A.T. in Kinesiology/Physical Education from GCSU must be recommended to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for initial certification. The final recommendation for initial certification is a responsibility of the College of Education.

The program requires 36 semester hours of selected graduate course work. The program is designed as a one-year, full-time experience, which ideally begins in the summer semester and is completed during the following fall and spring semesters. It is possible to complete the program on a part-time basis, but the number of semesters necessary for completion of the course work would be extended since the courses must be taken in sequential order. If enrolled in the program on a part-time basis, a minimum of six credit hours must be completed per semester sequentially while under the direction of a graduate faculty advisor.

The M.A.T. Kinesiology/Physical Education is offered in a cohort model. Teacher candidates enter together as a group. They take courses and complete field activities over a specified period of time. Each cohort group of candidates is guided during the period of study by a professor skilled in advising, supervising, and implementing best teaching practices.

M.A.T. Kinesiology/Physical Education students will be prepared to:

  1. Demonstrate the application of basic and advanced principles in motor skill acquisition in the instruction in physical education and health at all grade levels.
  2. Demonstrate proficiency in utilizing a variety of teaching styles applicable to student learning styles during individual and group instruction.
  3. Effectively design and administer P-12 physical education and coordinated school health programs.
  4. Analyze and reflectively develop effective teaching behavior in the planning, implementation, evaluation, and modification of instruction.
  5. Demonstrate the ability to conduct age/stage appropriate physical education and health learning outcomes assessment and evaluation at all grade levels.
  6. Apply research and appropriate analytical techniques in an effort to improve physical education and health instruction in P-12 school settings.
Admission Prerequisites and Criteria

MAT in Kinesiology: Physical Education Admission Prerequisites & Criteria

Admission Criteria

  1. Letter of application: indicate why you have chosen a career in teaching physical education. 
  2. Teaching/Professional Philosophy: how the program of study you are applying will meet your career goals;
  3. Current resume;
  4. Copies of any relevant, current training certificates or certification cards;
  5. References: names, job titles, employers, phone numbers and email addresses of at least three professional references;
  6. Create a MyPSC account and confirm Georgia College as the program provider found at mypsc.gapsc.org. Georgia College will submit these forms to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) to request a Pre-Service Certificate. The PSC does not charge a fee for these forms, which give the PSC permission to perform a background check.
  7. Complete the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment (GACE 360) found at http://gace.ets.org/ethics

​​​​​​​Admission Prerequisites

  1. GCSU students who have earned the PE minor have satisfied all prerequisite requirements.
  2. GCSU students who have NOT earned the PE minor, or applicants from other institutions, must satisfy the following:
  • Required 15 hours of coursework
    • Behavioral Statistics, Measurement & Evaluation, or Research Methodology.
    • Personal Health and Fitness, Health/Exercise Promotion, Exercise Leadership, or a similar in-depth Fitness/Wellness course.
    • Anatomy, Structural Kinesiology, or a similar Anatomical Kinesiology/Movement analysis course.
    • Motor Behavior, Motor Learning, Motor Control, or a similar integrated course in Psychomotor Development & Learning.
    • Skill Analysis, Coaching Course with a certification or licensure, Collegiate Coaching or Playing experience. 
  • Required 3 hours of elective coursework
    • Exercise Physiology.
    • Exercise Biochemistry.
    • Prevention and Care.
    • Developmental Psychology or Human Development.
    • Strength & Conditioning,
    • Biomechanics.
    • Exercise Testing.
    • Exercise Prescription. 
    • Outdoor Education Group Development.
    • Outdoor Education Living Skills
  • The following professional work experience may be taken into consideration as a substitute for prerequisite coursework:  
    • Successful navigation of the GACE 115 & 116 content exams at the Induction or Professional level.  
    • One year minimum of full-time K-12 teaching experience in a public, private or charter setting; with employer verification. 
    • Two seasons minimum of head or assistant coaching experience at the scholastic, collegiate, recreational or club level; with employer verification.   
  • First Aid/CPR certification must be current, and ARC or AHA endorsed.

Documentation required by specific program areas may be sent by email attachment directly to the office of admissions, toyia.barnes@gcsu.edu, or by regular mail to the School of Health and Human Performance (Attn: Graduate Studies).

Potential graduate students seeking to be considered for a graduate assistantship are advised to complete the application form available at gcsujobs.com. Decisions about graduate assistantships are made on an ongoing basis based on credentials, career goals, and program-area needs.

Program of Study

Program Coordinator

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree in Kinesiology/Physical Education

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Kevin Hunt

Kevin Hunt

Professor - Physical Education and Physical Education Program Coordinator
326 Health Sciences Building
478-445-3926
Education

Ph.D., Physical Education Teacher Education, University of South Carolina

Biography

Dr. Hunt earned his doctoral degree from the University of South Carolina in 2011. Currently, he is a. Professor in the School of Health and Human Performance at Georgia College. He has accumulated eight publications in peer-reviewed academic journals; twenty-seven presentations at local, state, district, national and international conferences; and approximately $55,000 in awarded research and scholarship grants. Dr. Hunt was awarded the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning award in 2015, the Scholarship and Creative Endeavors award in 2016, and the Georgia AHPERD Young Scholar award in 2016.