Physical Education

Program Highlights

A Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a Teacher License prepares professionals to teach physical education and coach in a school setting. Millikin offers State of Illinois teaching endorsements in Health Education, Safety and Driver Education, Special Education and English as a Second Language.

Departmental Course Offerings

Courses change each semester, so this list should not be considered a commitment to these individual topics. However, this does represent a list of many of our current and popular courses. The list is provided so that you can begin to imagine your academic career at Millikin in this major.

Prevention and Treatment

This is an introductory course emphasizing prevention and treatment of injuries particular to athletics and recreational activities. Rehabilitation procedures are included. Offered fall and spring semester. (ES130)

Personal and Community Health

This is an introductory course surveying topics and issues pertaining to the health/wellness classroom. Developing the wellness concept; physical, mental, social, emotional, environmental, and spiritual well-being are discussed. Offered fall and spring semesters. Prerequisite: Exercise Science and Sport majors only. (ES160)

Foundations of Physical Education

This course is an introduction to the discipline of exercise science. Study of the history and evolution of Physical Education, current practices in the school environment, and expanded career options in the discipline of exercise science will be discussed. Assessing current practices and fundamental characteristics and expectations of physical education programs will be explored. (ES204)

Kinesiology

This course focuses upon the anatomical understanding of the human body, with emphasis on biomechanics, origin, insertion, action, and innervation of the primary muscles used in human movement. (ES310)

Sport Skills Instruction

This practicum engages Health, Fitness & Recreation students in integrative experiences under the direction of faculty. The practicum integrates coursework and performance standards of professional organizations with planned and supervised professional experiences in planning and implementing personal training activities. (ES320)

Growth and Motor Development

Study of child, adolescent, and adult motor development will be the primary focus. Reference to similarities and differences in motor development through the lifespan of the individual will be emphasized. Secondary considerations of the cognitive, social, and emotional development will be included. (ES325)

Physical Education Seminar

The seminar reviews instructional units for the Physical Education major and prepares students for the physical education state content exam. (ES380)

Methods in Elementary Physical Education

This course is designed to provide current teaching styles and practices for the elementary student. Special emphasis on scope and sequence for learning sport skills, efficient body mechanics, creative movement, and locomotion skills will be included. Development of an ongoing, balanced curriculum for the growing child will be included. Teaching strategies and adaptations for special needs students will be explored. (ES401)

Physiology of Exercise I

This course provides a foundation of the cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine, and respiratory systems and health issues related to these systems. Emphasis is placed on the relationships between physical activity, exercise behavior, and the physiological adaptations to exercise as they relate to health and fitness. Also addressed are the rationale of exercise training programs for various sectors of the population and exercise prescriptions for healthy individuals and those with health risks. Course and lab cannot be taken independent of one another. (ES305)

Physiology of Exercise I Lab

Taken in conjunction with ES 305. Through demonstration and laboratory experiences, students will gain skills needed to assess acute and chronic physiologically changes that occur in the body in response to exercise. Course and lab cannot be taken independent of one another. (ES306)

Secondary Curriculum Development of PE

Curriculum theory and design applicable to the physical education classroom are the major focus areas of this course. Scope and sequence within the curricular format of fitness development, individual, dual and team sports and recreational activities will be highlighted. Integrating physical education goals and philosophy will be emphasized. (ES425)

Adaptive Physical Education

Studying the diverse and complex nature of the atypical student in the educational environment is the focus of this course. Creating an atmosphere in the gymnasium that leads to success for all students will be explored. Adapting activities, testing, and skill development for the physically challenged will be included. (ES431)

Teacher License

To become licensed to teach Physical Education, teacher candidates must complete:

Required Exercise Science & Sport coursework for Physical Education
University graduation requirements
Required Department of Education, core courses.

Health Endorsement

Any Exercise Science & Sport and School of Education students may add the Health Endorsement to a K-12 specialist-teaching license. A minimum of 18 credit hours of specific course work is necessary. The health education content area test must be passed and on file with ISBE in order to be eligible to add the health endorsement to your teaching license.

Specific course work for the endorsement follows:

18 credit hours of coursework with a grade of C- or better in any of the following areas:

ES 160 Personal and Community Health (3)
ES 130 Prevention and Treatment of Athletic Injuries (3)
ES 200 Drugs in our Society (1)
ES 206 Foundations and Theory of Health Behavior and Fitness (3)
ES 321 Health and Pollution (3)
ES 324 Human Sexuality and Family Life (2)
ES 328 Health-Related Nutrition (3)
ES 325 Growth and Development (3)
ES 402 Curriculum Development Methods and Assessment in Health Education (3)
ES 415 Mind/Body Health (3)

Courses that teach the following concepts may also be accepted:

Consumer Health

Disease Prevention

Mental and Emotional Health

School Health

The Director of the School of Exercise Science & Sport may approve additional health and environmental courses.

Driver’s Education Endorsement

Any School of Exercise Science & Sport (ESS) and/or School of Education (SOE) students may add the Driver’s education Endorsement to a K-12 specialist-teaching license. A minimum of 18 credit hours of specific course work is necessary.

To add the Driver Education endorsement to either a secondary or specialist teaching certificate, specific course work is required by the State of Illinois Board of Education (ISBE).

1. Three (3) semester hours in injury prevention or safety - The classes listed are offered at Millikin however, courses may be transferred in from previous institutions. Transferred courses must be approved by the Director of ESS and the Millikin Licensure Officer.

ES 130 - Prevention and Treatment of Athletic Injuries (3 credits)
ES 202 - Introduction to Safety Education (3 credits)

2. Twelve (12) semester hours in driver education that include:

ES 201 - Introduction to Driver Education (3 credits)
ES 301 - Driver Education Methods (3 credits)
ES 422 - Driver Education Practicum (3 credits)
ES 423 - Advanced Methods in Driver Education (3 credits)

3. Three (3) semester hours from the following areas - The following are various topic areas set forth by ISBE. These can be taken at Millikin or can be transferred in. Transferred courses within the topic area must be approved by the Director of ESS and the Millikin Licensure Officer.

Adolescent/young adult psychology

First aid/Care & prevention of injuries (Could only be taken as this requirement if not taken as a previous requirement – see #1 above.)

Health/wellness

Safety-related issues relevant to driver education

Advanced driver education in use of simulation/multiple care programs

Alcohol/drug abuse issues

Drivers Education for students with disabilities

PreK-12 Physical Education Endorsement

This endorsement provides an opportunity for students in the School of Education to earn 18 credit hours of specific coursework required by the State of Illinois concentrating in physical education. Candidates must also pass the Content Test: ILTS #213 to receive the endorsement.

All courses below required (A total of at least 18 credit hours needed):

BI204 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
ES305/306 Physiology of Exercise I (4) - BI 204 is pre-req*
ES204 Foundations of Physical Education (3)
ES 425 Secondary Curriculum Development in PE (3) non-PE majors need permission, need to be admitted to the School of Education
ES 431 Adaptive PE (2)
ES 401 Methods in Elementary PE (3)

The Director of the School of Exercise Science & Sport must approve any additional courses.

Note: Please see ISBE’s acceptable areas of coursework for specific content area requirements (https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Acceptable-Areas-of-Coursework.pdf)

Requirements subject to change at any time based on ISBE legislation/mandates.