Exercise Science and Physical Education Department

Within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the Department of Exercise Science and Physical Education (ESPE) offers students the opportunity to prepare for careers in this meaningful and vital profession through a program offering a strong scientific background and specific training in two areas:

• The exercise physiology concentration offers an exciting program in corporate wellness and preventive care and in clinical exercise physiology. Exercise physiologists practice in a variety of settings, including health and fitness centers, hospitals, sports medicine facilities, and colleges and universities. Graduates may choose to continue their studies in graduate schools of physical therapy, advanced exercise physiology, or medicine, while others administer tests and develop programs of exercise rehabilitation, fitness training, and sports conditioning.

• For those interested in teaching physical education, the department's teacher preparation concentration offers courses required for provisional certification with advanced standing. Advanced studies for standard certification in teaching physical education are available through the MEd program of UMass Boston's Graduate College of Education.

As the emphasis on fitness and preventive health increases nationwide, the faculty in ESPE bring both academic and professional expertise to the program. Students benefit from high quality instruction and research diversification in the program's classrooms and state-of-the-art laboratory, as well as at the Beacon Fitness Center.

Exercise Science and Physical Education Concentrations

Students who major in exercise science and physical education have an opportunity to concentrate in exercise physiology or teaching physical education as described below.

Exercise Physiology

Students concentrating in exercise physiology are prepared for professional careers in designing and administering exercise programs in health/fitness facilities, universities, and clinical settings. They have the opportunity to become certified health/fitness instructors and strength and conditioning specialists.

Teaching Physical Education

ESPE students in this concentration can prepare for certification in teaching through grades N-9 or 5-12. The interdisciplinary curriculum provides an in-depth study of theory, courses in exercise science and physical education, and courses required for provisional certification with advanced standing.

Admission standards would be as follows:
A student who registers as an ESPE major and declares teaching as his/her concentration will be provisionally accepted as a certification candidate to the Physical Education Teacher Preparation program. Completion of 30 credits, with a 3.0 GPA, in all required Exercise Science and Physical Education (ESPE) designated courses is required for consideration of full acceptance.
In order to become a fully accepted certification candidate into the Physical Education Teacher Preparation program, the student must fulfill the following requirements.
· By the time the student has obtained 60-68 credits the student must take the communication and
literacy portion of the Massachusetts Educator competency Test (MECT).
· The student must pass the communication and literacy portion of the Massachusetts Educator
Competency Test by the time he/she has obtained 75-83 credits.
· The student must have a 3.0 GPA in all required Exercise Science and Physical Education
designated courses.
· Before the student begins student teaching, the student must have a 3.0 GPA in all required ESPE
designated courses and successfully pass the subject matter (physical education) portion of the
Massachusetts Educator Competency Test..

Note on Teacher Certification Requirements

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