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Physical Education (PK-12 Certification), M.A.T.

College of Education

Prepare for your certification exam and learn to work with all grade levels to teach children the knowledge and skills to move with confidence and competence in a wide variety of physical activities.

Designed for students without an undergraduate degree in teaching, this two-year program will prepare you to pass the Praxis exam and begin work as a physical education teacher in the PK-12 school system. You'll help children and adolescents find personal meaning and enrichment in maintaining a physically active lifestyle.

Program Highlights

  • Basketball in net icon.

    Valuable Experiences

    Learn while doing. You'll have several semesters of hands-on experiences teaching in schools, YMCAs or community centers.

  • Diploma with ribbon icon.

    Get Certified

    Designed as an initial licensure program, you'll take the Praxis exam for teacher certification at program completion.

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    Experience Matters

    With an emphasis on education, explore unique opportunities within the college like the Physical and Developmental Disabilities Lab.

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    Ranked Program

    Be part of a college ranked in the top 15 percent nationally for graduate programs of education by U.S. News & World Report.

What You’ll Study

In alignment with national standards, learn what every beginning physical education teacher needs to deliver the best learning experiences to children of all ages. Courses like directed teaching in physical education and observational analysis of sports techniques and tactics in addition to teaching opportunities outside of the classroom.

Program WebsiteDegree DetailsAdmissions Info

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

  • Leadership

    Inspiring and guiding others to achieve common goals and reach their full potential

    Teaching

    Foster learning by conveying knowledge, skills and concepts to students

    Organizational Skills

    Planning, prioritizing and managing tasks and resources to achieve specific objectives

  • Teamwork

    Working collaboratively with others to achieve a shared goal or objective

    Problem Solving

    Identifying, analyzing and resolving problems or challenges using creative and effective strategies

    Research

    Gathering and analyzing information to increase knowledge or solve problems

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Learn how alumni use degrees with outcome data from Gamecock GradStats, a service of the University of South Carolina Career Center.

Potential Careers

  • Physical Education Teacher
  • Coach

Job Titles of Alumni

  • Physical Education Teacher
  • Director of Coaching
  • Associate Athletic Director
  • Assistant Coach

Workplace Settings

  • Education

Employers of Alumni

  • Lexington-Richland School District Five
  • University of South Carolina
  • Richland School District Two
  • Indiana University School of Medicine
  • Adaptive Sports Program Of Ohio
  • North Carolina State University

Advanced Degrees

Advance your career or options with post-graduate education.

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  1. Two people in a gym working out with medicine balls.
  2. An adult and child riding bikes on a path in a parl.
  3. A female physical education teacher is seated with two female students and all three are stretching.
  4. USC student working with an elementary student in a clinical setting
  5. Presenter giving a presentation to a table of people.
  6. Two people looking over a grouping of small plants.
  7. Looking up at the smiling faces of a group of young kids and the coach from the middle of a huddle.
  8. Teacher helping a student write on a whiteboard.
  9. Large group of student posed together outside.
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Is USC Right For You?

There are many reasons we could be your ideal university. There's the award-winning academics, the globally modeled student life, and abundance of study abroad and experiential learning options. Take a closer look at what USC could mean for you.

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