Community has become part of my foundation; it is integral to who I am as a person and in my professional life. This was not something that I had experienced before I came to Goshen.
Bachelor of Arts
Physical Education
Major | Minor
Turn Your Love of Sports Into a Career
Learn to teach, coach, and lead others toward active, healthy lives.
You can major or minor in physical education at Goshen College. This program gives you the skills to promote physical activity, sports and lifelong wellness.
You’ll study how to efficiently and effectively perform and teach sport skills and how physical activity builds stronger individuals. You’ll put theory into practice through teaching, coaching and mentoring from early on. This major is active by design, and it welcomes students of every background, drawn here by the classroom, the court, or the field.
Is physical education right for you?
This major fits students who love sport and movement and want to build a career around it. If you can picture yourself coaching a team, running a recreation program, or teaching kids to love being active, you’ll find a direct path here. Alumni work in public and private schools, community recreation centers, nonprofits and health fields. They fill roles like physical education teacher (P–12), coach or athletic director, recreation program director and wellness coordinator. Some go on to graduate study in kinesiology, education, or other related programs.
With a double major in P.E. and education, you can become licensed to teach in public schools. Taking courses for our Coaching Certification will add American Sport Education Program credentials to your transcript as well.
What you’ll study
This program builds on coursework in movement science, teaching methods and activity-based instruction. Teacher certification to teach physical education (P–12) is also available through the PETE requirements.
View the complete program requirements in our catalog. Your advisor will help you map the path that fits your goal, whether that is teaching, coaching or leading in community wellness.
Get Ready to Move and Teach Others to Move
You’ll gain real-world experience through field placements in local schools and fitness settings, where you assist and then lead physical education classes, and you’ll learn instructional strategies, curriculum planning and inclusive practices for diverse learners.
You’ll train and learn in Goshen’s athletic and recreational facilities, including the Roman Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center, outdoor athletic fields and cross country trails. You can also participate in campus wellness programs and intramural sports tournaments. There’s room to play, to lead, and to put what you learn to work.
Krysten Parson '02
PE and health teacher at Bethany Christian Schools
Paying for Goshen
As a physical education student you may be eligible for general academic scholarships and teaching-focused awards, and if you compete in athletics, you may also qualify for athletic scholarships.
To see your own price after aid, run the net price calculator or explore your options at the financial aid and scholarships pages.
Common Questions About Physical Education
No. This is an academic program in kinesiology, separate from the athletic program, and many students in it don’t play a college sport. What you need is an interest in teaching, coaching and leading physical activity — not a roster spot. The major covers how people learn movement, how to teach skills effectively, and how physical activity works for individuals and groups.
Coursework covers movement science, teaching methods, and activity-based instruction, plus instructional strategies, curriculum planning, and inclusive practices for diverse learners. If you pursue teaching, the PETE requirements lead to P–12 physical education certification. See the course listing for the specific classes that meet major and minor requirements.
Not with the P.E. major alone. Licensure comes from double majoring in physical education and education, which certifies you to teach P–12 — every grade, elementary through high school. Plan this early with your adviser, since the education sequence includes coursework and student teaching that has to be scheduled across all four years.
No. You would want Exercise Science. The PE major doesn’t cover the prerequisites PT programs require. A PE degree can lead toward graduate study in athletic training with additional coursework, and toward kinesiology or education programs, but physical therapy applicants should talk to the kinesiology department early about switching.
Start your application at the Goshen College apply page, or request information first if you’d like to talk through fit, teaching certification, or athletics before committing. You can also schedule a visit to tour the Recreation-Fitness Center and meet the faculty.
Janelle Christensen
Athletic trainer and Adjunct for Kinesiology
Justin DeWeese
Assistant Professor of Kinesiology
Roy Jackson
Associate Professor of Education
Jewel Lehman
Professor of Kinesiology
Brooke Lemmon
Professor of Education
Director of Special EducationRobina Sommers
Associate Professor of Education
Steven Thalheimer
Associate Professor of Education
Department ChairDanae Wirth
Assistant Professor of Education
