Michelle Gray
Interim Department Head, Health, Human Performance and Recreation
306 HPER Building
479-575-6713
gray@uark.edu

Paul Calleja
Assistant Department Head and Graduate Coordinator
306C HPER Building
479-575-2854
pcallej@uark.edu

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Website

Degrees Conferred:
M.Ed. in Physical Education (PHED)

Program Description: The Master of Education degree in Physical Education is a 33-credit-hour program that includes a 6-credit-hour research component (statistics/research) and a 27-credit-hour program core.  All degree candidates must successfully pass a culminating written comprehensive examination and achieve a minimum of 3.0/4.0 GPA to graduate. Two courses using Web technology (Blackboard and other online resources) will be offered every semester (Fall, Spring, Summer) and the entire degree program can be completed in a two-year period. The online Master of Education Degree program is designed to meet the needs of current professionals in the field (physical education teachers, athletic directors, coaches) who desire to attain further education and an advanced degree in physical education.

M.Ed. in Physical Education

Prerequisites to the M.Ed. Degree Program: For acceptance to the master’s degree program in physical education, the program area stipulates, in addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, an undergraduate degree in physical education or in a related field. Additional prerequisites may be prescribed by the program area.

Requirements for the Master’s of Education Degree: Candidates for the master’s degree in physical education must complete 27 semester hours of graduate work and a thesis or 33 semester hours without a thesis. In addition to the program requirements listed below, all candidates must successfully complete a written comprehensive exam, which is a capstone project that is part of PHED 6723 Project Implementation and Data Analysis.

Physical Education: (33 hours)

Required Courses
PHED 5253The Physical Education Curriculum3
PHED 5483Conducting Research in Physical Education3
PHED 5273Professional Issues in Physical Education and Sport3
PHED 5313Risk Management in Physical Education & Athletics3
PHED 5553Scientific Principles of Movement and Performance3
PHED 5643Motor Learning3
PHED 5753Sport Psychology3
PHED 6363Supervision in Physical Education3
PHED 5803Measurement Concepts for K-12 Physical Education Teachers3
PHED 6723Project Implementation and Data Analysis3
Total Hours30

Students should also be aware of Graduate School requirements with regard to master's degrees.

Courses

PHED 5243. Sport Skill Assessment and Instructional Strategies. 3 Hours.

The focus of this course is practical assessment techniques and instructional strategies in the area of sport and physical education activities. (Typically offered: Fall and Summer)

PHED 5253. The Physical Education Curriculum. 3 Hours.

Principles, problems, procedures, and the influence of educational philosophy on programs in physical education and their application in the construction of a course of study for a specific situation. (Typically offered: Fall and Summer)

PHED 5273. Professional Issues in Physical Education and Sport. 3 Hours.

A review of contemporary research literature informing effective teaching practices in physical education settings. Students gain experience in critically reviewing literature and discussing current issues. (Typically offered: Fall and Summer)

PHED 5313. Risk Management in Physical Education & Athletics. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to provide opportunities for the student to acquire an understanding of how to reduce the risk of injuries and eliminate hazards that may contribute to injuries associated with physical education and athletics. (Typically offered: Spring and Summer)

PHED 5483. Conducting Research in Physical Education. 3 Hours.

Methods and techniques of research in physical education, including an analysis of examples of their use and practice in their application to problems of interest to the student. Prerequisite: Students must be currently enrolled in the online MEd in Physical Education program. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

PHED 5553. Scientific Principles of Movement and Performance. 3 Hours.

This course focuses on theoretical information about sport biomechanics and movement principles, with practical applications to the physical education of coaching profession. (Typically offered: Spring and Summer)

PHED 5643. Motor Learning. 3 Hours.

Concepts of motor learning and control are presented. Attention is given to an analysis of the literature in movement control, motor behavior, and motor learning. (Typically offered: Spring and Summer)

PHED 5753. Sport Psychology. 3 Hours.

Investigation of historical and contemporary research in sport psychology. (Typically offered: Spring and Summer)

PHED 5803. Measurement Concepts for K-12 Physical Education Teachers. 3 Hours.

This course focuses on techniques that physical education teachers can use to monitor student progress in a K-12 environment. (Typically offered: Fall and Summer)

PHED 6363. Supervision in Physical Education. 3 Hours.

The focus of this course is instructional supervision as a set of complex processes in which the supervisor works within accepted guidelines and functions to effectively supervise a teacher's pedagogical development. The Physical Education Instructional Supervision (PEIS) Model will be used to help facilitate this process. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

PHED 6723. Project Implementation and Data Analysis. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to provide students with the tools to identify, develop, and submit grant proposals. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)