Completing this degree fulfills requirements for licensure in Health and Physical Education (PK-12) in Virginia. Students complete a student teaching experience in their final semester.

Admissions

Four-Year Students

Students entering as freshmen with an interest in majoring in physical education will initially be accepted with BPRE status (Pre-Bachelor in Health and Physical Education). Students must successfully complete a minimum of 45 credits and attain a cumulative GPA of 2.50 to apply to the BSED in Physical Education Program. In addition:

Degree-Seeking Transfer Students

Transfer students can apply for BSEd status by having:

  • earned a minimum of 45 credits from their previous institution with a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or by completing 12 credits at Mason with a minimum of a 2.50 GPA;
  • have earned passing grades in
  • earned at least 10 professional points.

Policies

For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see the AP.5 Undergraduate Policies section of the catalog. 

Student Teaching Internship

To enroll in PHED 415 Student Teaching in Physical Education (Mason Core), physical education majors must:

  • have a minimum 2.50 GPA in the last 60 credits of coursework
  • have passed and electronically submitted test scores for the VCLA and PRAXIS II exams to George Mason University and provide a paper copy of the test scores to the internship coordinator
  • have satisfactorily completed all required Mason core and professional concentration courses
  • have successfully completed an emergency First Aid, CPR and AED certification or training.

The application must be completed one full semester before taking PHED 415 Student Teaching in Physical Education (Mason Core). Application deadlines are listed below and forms are located online.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester—February 1
  • Spring Semester—September 1

Banner Code: E1-BSED-PHED

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 120

Mason Core

Written Communication6
Oral Communication3
Information Technology3
Quantitative Reasoning3
Quantitative Reasoning (Mason Core) (recommended course)
Literature3
Arts3
Global History3
Social and Behavioral Sciences3
Global Understanding3
Natural Science:
BIOL 124Human Anatomy and Physiology4
BIOL 125Human Anatomy and Physiology4
Synthesis/Capstone 1
Total Credits38
1

Fulfilled by PHED 415 Student Teaching in Physical Education (Mason Core), listed below in professional sequence.

Professional Sequence

Note: Students are not permitted to enroll in HEAL 405 Teaching Methods in Health Education (K-12)PHED 308 Adapted Physical EducationPHED 403 Elementary School Instruction in Physical EducationPHED 404 Middle and High School Instruction in Physical Education, and PHED 415 Student Teaching in Physical Education (Mason Core), until they have met all BSEd application requirements.

ATEP 300Functional Anatomy3
EDRD 300Literacy in Fine Arts, Health, and Physical Education3
EDUC 302Human Growth and Development3
HEAL 110Personal Health3
HEAL 200School and Community Safety1
HEAL 250Introduction to School Health3
HEAL 405Teaching Methods in Health Education (K-12) 13
KINE 310Exercise Physiology I3
PHED 202Teaching Skillful Movement 13
PHED 218Technology in Health and Physical Education3
PHED 273Net and Target Games3
PHED 274Dance and Educational Gymnastics3
PHED 275Field and Invasion Games3
PHED 276Health-Related Fitness Education3
PHED 306Psychomotor Learning3
PHED 308Adapted Physical Education 13
PHED 320Student Assessment in Health and Physical Education3
PHED 340Social and Cultural Issues in Physical Education (Satisfies the university Writing Intensive requirement)3
PHED 403Elementary School Instruction in Physical Education 13
PHED 404Middle and High School Instruction in Physical Education 13
PHED 415Student Teaching in Physical Education (Mason Core) 212
RMGT 316Leadership and Outdoor Education3
Select 9 credits in electives. 9
Total Credits82
1

Requires a grade of C or better.  

2

Students must complete student teaching (PHED 415 Student Teaching in Physical Education (Mason Core) within 5 years of completing PHED 202 Teaching Skillful Movement. If more than five years has lapsed from taking PHED 202 Teaching Skillful Movement and student teaching (PHED 415 Student Teaching in Physical Education (Mason Core), students will have to retake this foundational course before they can student-teach.

Professional Development 

Students must earn at least 10 professional development points to achieve BSEd status and 20 additional points to apply for student teaching. Professional development points may be earned by attending or volunteering at various events and activities.