Bachelor of Science (BS) program in physical education and coaching science

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

East Carolina University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Coaching Science at East Carolina University is suited to students who want to build careers in physical education, sports coaching, and physical activity leadership. The program combines the study of human movement, exercise, teaching methods, and coaching principles to help students develop the practical and professional skills needed to promote physical fitness, improve athletic performance, and encourage lifelong participation in sport and physical activity.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish a foundation in physical education, human movement, and general education while developing an understanding of health and physical activity. Introductory coursework in human anatomy, exercise science, and foundations of physical education helps students understand the human body and the role of movement in health and fitness.

Year 2: Students develop their knowledge of exercise principles, motor skills, and physical activity instruction. Coursework in exercise physiology, motor learning, and kinesiology introduces the relationship between body systems, movement techniques, and skill development, helping students understand how people learn and improve physical performance.

Year 3: Students focus on applying scientific and instructional principles to coaching and physical education. Topics such as sports coaching, physical activity assessment, and teaching methods help students develop training activities, assess performance, and adapt instruction to different abilities and fitness levels.

Year 4: Students consolidate their knowledge through advanced professional coursework and practical experiences relevant to physical education and coaching. Learning activities involving coaching strategies, program planning, and professional field experiences help students prepare for roles in sports instruction, physical activity programming, and fitness-related settings.

Focus Areas

Physical education, coaching science, kinesiology, motor behavior, exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport analytics, sports psychology, fitness training, adapted physical education, curriculum development, health-related fitness.

Learning Outcomes

Understand human movement and exercise physiology, demonstrate effective coaching techniques, design physical education lessons, develop sports training programs, assess motor skills and fitness, apply sports analytics, adapt instruction for diverse learners, and promote safe and inclusive physical activity.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Physical Education concentration is designed to prepare students for teaching licensure in North Carolina, subject to completion of the applicable state requirements. The Coaching Science concentration is a non-licensure pathway focused on coaching and sports instruction. Students should confirm certification requirements for the state where they intend to work.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

East Carolina University's Department of Kinesiology prepares graduates for careers in physical education, coaching, sports instruction, and physical activity programming. The university describes its graduates as working across different competitive coaching levels and educational settings. A specific program-level QS or Guardian ranking and a verified graduate employment rate were not identified.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students gain practical experience by combining the scientific study of human movement with teaching, coaching, and fitness-related coursework. ECU offers two distinct pathways: Physical Education (Teaching Licensure), which includes preparation for school teaching, and Coaching Science (Non-Licensure), which emphasizes coaching methods, sports instruction, fitness, and performance. Coursework includes applied learning in movement education, coaching theories, sport analytics, and fitness training.

Students can develop practical skills through the following opportunities:

Teaching practice: Courses such as Teaching Skillful Movement, Movement Education, and Elementary School Instruction in Physical Education develop instructional and lesson-planning skills.
Coaching development: Coaching Theories and Applied Sports Psychology introduce coaching strategies, athlete motivation, and performance-related concepts.
Sport analytics: Sport Analytics and Computer Applications in Exercise and Sport Science develop skills in using data and digital tools for sports-related tasks.
Fitness training: Personal Fitness Training and its associated laboratory provide practical learning in fitness instruction.
Adapted physical education: Adapted Physical Education and Inclusive Fitness Trainer coursework address ways to support people with different physical abilities and activity needs.
Internship experience: The teaching pathway includes Internship in Exercise and Sport Science and Internship Seminar: Issues in Physical Education, offering professional preparation through internship-related learning.
School-based field experiences: ECU's educator-preparation framework includes supervised field and clinical experiences with school partners for candidates on applicable teaching pathways.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates can pursue careers in physical education, sports coaching, fitness instruction, and physical activity programming. Those completing the teaching-licensure pathway may pursue school-based physical education roles after meeting state certification requirements, while coaching science graduates can pursue opportunities in sports and fitness settings.

Potential career opportunities include:

Physical Education Teacher
Sports Coach
Fitness Instructor or Personal Trainer
Sports Program Coordinator

Students can prepare for career progression through the following opportunities:

Career support: ECU's career resources can help students explore employment options, prepare application materials, and develop professional skills.
Employment statistics and salaries: A verified employment rate or salary figure specifically for graduates of this degree was not identified.
Professional experience: Teaching field experiences and internship-related coursework can help students connect academic learning with professional practice.
Certification value: The teaching-licensure pathway supports preparation for North Carolina teacher certification, subject to the applicable requirements. The coaching science pathway does not itself provide teaching licensure.
Long-term career development: With additional qualifications and experience, graduates may pursue coaching leadership, fitness management, sports programming, or physical education coordination.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates may pursue postgraduate study in kinesiology, physical education, exercise science, coaching, sport management, or sports psychology, depending on their academic background and the entry requirements of the chosen program. Further study can support specialization in athlete performance, physical education leadership, exercise-related research, or sports program management.