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    Kinesiology (B.S.) with Teacher Certification

    Also referred to as "PETE" - Physical Education Teacher Education

    The UNG PETE program is an award-winning program that prepares Health and Physical education candidates to teach pre-kindergarten - 12th grade. The program is a three-semester-long program including coursework in elementary, middle, and high school pedagogy, curriculum planning, health pedagogy, adapted teaching techniques, sports skill and teaching development, and a variety of internship opportunities. UNG PETE has consistently ranked as a top-tier PETE program by the State of Georgia per the Georgia Preparation Program Effectiveness Measures score.

    Note: Students successfully completing the Kinesiology (B.S.) Major with Teacher Certification at UNG will be recommended for a Georgia Teaching License in Health & Physical Education (P-12). This license will qualify the student to teach both health & physical education from pre-kindergarten through the 12th grade. Before UNG can recommend a student for a teaching license, the student must provide evidence of a passing score on the GACE Content examination.

    Campus Availability

    • Gainesville Campus

    Request Information Apply to UNG Apply to PETE

    UNG PETE is the first university in the United States to feature the Lü interactive PE learning technology as part of its program. The Lü is used within PETE coursework, and students are trained on the use of the technology to enhance teaching.

    Lu System
    Lu System
    Lu System

    Program News

    • Winner of the "UNG Department/Program of the Year" Award for 2020-2021
    • Nominated for "Department/Program of the Year" Award for the University System of Georgia

    Catalog Listing Plan of Study Tuition & Fees Visit Us

    Learn More About This Program

    Before admission into the BS in Kinesiology with Teacher Certification program, students must declare the “Kinesiology/Pre-Teacher Education” concentration/major. Once admitted, student’s concentration/major will change to “Kinesiology/Teacher Education."

    • Admissions Information

      For spring entrance into the program, the online application will open on August 2, 2021 and close on August 27, 2021. All components of the application, including test scores, must be received by the closing date! Please check the Admissions FAQs for additional information.

      Complete Application for Admission:

      • The following documents must be uploaded when completing the application online
        • Candidate Beliefs Self-Assessment Survey
        • Complete pre-service certification application and Personal Affirmation Questions in your MyPSC account
        • Completed Verification of Lawful Presence Affidavit form (document provided in application to download, complete, then upload in the application. Please note, this document must be completed in its entirety and notarized before uploading to your application.)
        • A photocopy of the photo identification that was used when notarizing the VLP (driver’s license, passport, or other government issued photo ID. If using a passport, you MUST include the front and back pages)
        • Proof of successful completion of Georgia Ethics Assessment (Test Code 360)
        • A copy of current professional liability insurance. Acceptable examples include student memberships with SPAGE, NEA, or SGAE.
        • A completed plan of study signed by your College of Education advisor
        • Test Scores for GACE Program Admissions, SAT, or ACT
          • You may exempt GACE Program Admissions by providing proof of the following:
            • SAT minimum score 1000 combined Evidence-Based Reading/Writing and Math OR Critical Reading and Math for tests taken prior to July 1, 2019
            • SAT minimum score 1080 combining Evidence-Based Reading/Writing and Math for tests taken on or after July 1, 2019
            • ACT minimum score of 43 combining English and Math
            • The minimum passing score for the GACE Program Admissions Assessment is 250 in each section (reading, math, and writing). As of July 1, 2020, you can also qualify for admissions with a GACE PAA composite score of 750 if you pass at least one section with a score of 250 or higher and have an overall score of 750 or higher. Scores from different testing periods can be combined except for score reports dating before September 1, 2013.
              Example: Math-280, Writing-230, Reading-240
          • OFFICIAL SAT or ACT score report if exempting GACE Program Admissions. Unofficial test scores and transcripts are no longer accepted.
      • Additional program requirements are:
        • GPA of 2.75 or higher upon admission to the program
        • Completion of 60-80 semester credit hours that are applicable to program degree plan of study, including the completion of all courses in Area A1 (ENGL 1101, ENGL 1102), and Area F (EDUC 2110, EDUC2120, and EDUC 2130), with grades of C or better upon entering the program.
        • A copy of DegreeWorks audit OR plan of study signed by your College of Education advisor AND content advisor

      The College of Education Admissions office also requires that you...

      • Must maintain a documented, overall (UNG and Transfer) grade point average of 3.0
        once accepted;
      • Register with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and secure your MyPSC
        account; and
      • If you are a transfer student, apply to UNG and submit a letter of recommendation from a
        professor at your previous institution.
    • Retention

      One important aspect of the teacher certification program is the constant vigilance exercised by the faculty to ensure that standards of quality are maintained. The following standards must be maintained for continued retention in a program:

      1. compliance with rules and regulations prescribed for all students at North Georgia;
      2. adherence to the Code of Ethics of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission;
      3. completion of all courses in the academic major and professional education courses with an academic grade of C or higher;
      4. demonstration of competence in the use of oral and written language;
      5. maintenance of an institutional grade point average of 2.75 as required for program admission; and
      6. satisfactory performance in all field experiences, including the on-going demonstration of dispositions required of teachers as professionals.

      Students whose institutional GPA drops below a 2.75 or who receive D’s in major courses will be placed on teacher certification probation the next semester. If the problem is not corrected within the next semester of enrollment, the student could be withdrawn from the program.

    • Field Experience

      For all courses with a field component, a student must complete all requirements and earn a grade of C or higher in the field component in order to pass the course. Students must complete all courses with a field component with a grade of C or higher before enrolling in any teaching courses in a subsequent semester.

      Only under extreme circumstances will a student be allowed to extend or repeat field-based coursework at the 4000 level. A student who must extend or repeat the pre-internship block will have only one opportunity to complete internship. However, a student who successfully completes block in one semester without extension will have one opportunity to extend or repeat internship.

      The College of Education has contractual agreements with designated systems and schools for placement of teacher certification students for field experiences and internships. Field placements are limited to those school sites. All public school field placements will be arranged through the College of Education Field Placement Coordinator.

      Students will not be placed for field experiences in a school which they attended within the last seven years or in which they have immediate family employed or enrolled.

    • Internship

      The internship is that part of the pre-service education program in which the prospective teacher works full time in a cooperating school with an assigned cooperating teacher. Depending on the program, the internship will take place during the last full year or the last entire semester of the program. During internship students are expected to assume all of the responsibilities of a classroom teacher, therefore permission for outside employment or enrollment in courses not associated with internship must be obtained from the Field Experience Coordinator.

      A student must complete an Internship application, which is found on the College of Education website. Application deadlines are September 2 for spring Internships.

      The following are prerequisites for the Internship:

      1. admission to the teacher certification program;
      2. completion of all professional education courses and courses appropriate to the teaching field (exceptions must be approved by the academic advisor) with a grade of C or higher;
      3. maintenance of a minimum grade point average of 2.75;
      4. senior classification as determined by the Registrar’s Office;
      5. satisfactory completion of all previous field-based assignments;
      6. completion of the appropriate GACE Content Assessments examination.
    • Program Probation and Suspension
      Due to the highly sensitive nature of working with children and youth in public school settings, the following policy also applies to the teacher certification programs: Any faculty member or administrator of UNG and/or the co-operating school system who has supervisory responsibility for the on-site university student may immediately remove said student from the school site if, in that person’s professional judgment, the university student has acted in an inappropriate manner involving children, youth, staff, or parents or if the student’s continued presence in the classroom is detrimental either to the intern or to the educational progress of the students in the classroom. The university student may also be removed, prior to the completion of her/his assignment in that school, should the university or school personnel judge that the university student does not adequately perform her/his assignments or conform adequately to the policies and procedures of the school. Removal from a school placement may result in a failing grade for the field experience and expulsion or suspension from the program.

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    Department Info

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    Related Programs

    Kinesiology Major with a Sports Medicine Concentration (B.S.)

    Kinesiology major with a Health & Fitness Concentration (B.S.)

    Kinesiology (B.S.) with Teacher Certification

    Explore All Majors

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