Academy of Teaching & Coaching (EC-G12)

BS in Kinesiology

If you want to become a physical education teacher or coach, for any grade between early childhood and 12^th, this Kinesiology degree specialization is the one for you. In addition to learning about strength training and teaching at specific education levels, you will get practical experience working with students of all ages as well as those with disabilities.

Careers & Salaries

A certified teacher/coach's earning start around $40,000 annually, according to Payscale.com. Many of TWU’s students opt to pursue master’s degrees in coaching, sport management or education, leading to careers as athletic directors or in school administration. Payscale.com currently lists a median annual salary of $59,000 for athletic directors.

Why get a teaching/coaching degree at TWU?

Small class sizes, individualized attention and hands-on learning experiences – these attributes set TWU’s undergraduate Kinesiology degree with teaching/coaching focus apart from those at many other universities. TWU also offers a unique adapted physical education program that teaches you how to work with students with special needs. Plus, once you earn this kinesiology degree, you can be certified to teach all levels of students, early childhood through 12^th grade.

At TWU, you will become better prepared for your career after getting teaching and coaching experience in three areas:

Students with disabilities
Coaching
Student teaching (both in elementary and secondary schools)

When you complete the requirements of this program, you will be ready to take your teacher certification exams. And, if you chose to take the adapted PE courses, you can take the Adapted Physical Education National Standards exam to become a certified adapted physical educator (CAPE).

Program Requirements

This program requires 120 hours. Upper-level courses focus on exercise physiology, sport and fitness management, and instruction design and implementation. As a student in this program, you will complete two "practicums" in coaching, which are internships focused on athletic coaching fieldwork under the supervision of a coach. You will learn how to develop practice schedules, strength and conditioning plans, game day preparation, as well as techniques and tactics for a specific sport.

Additionally, during your final semester in the program, you will have 14 weeks of student teaching, split between elementary and secondary education.

See full program requirements in the Undergraduate Catalog.

At the end of your sophomore year, you must have a minimum 2.75 GPA to continue in this degree program. You also need to be current in first aid and CPR and be able to pass a mandatory background check.

As a full-time student, you can complete the coursework for this degree within four years.

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate Admission

When you apply to TWU, we will evaluate your academic achievement and preparation, as well as your standardized test scores. Admission to TWU is valid for four terms, unless you have attended another higher education institution.

Check out the links below for specific admissions information:

Questions about the admissions process? Contact the Office of Admissions Processing.

Office of Admissions Processing
Texas Woman’s University
P.O. Box 425649
Denton, TX 76204-5649
oap@twu.edu
940-898-3076 or 1-866-809-6130 ext. 3076

Admission to the Educator Preparation Program

Teacher Certification

In addition to the general undergraduate admissions requirements, to obtain acceptance into the undergraduate Educator Preparation Program (and prior to taking EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, EDUC 4113, EDUC 4243, and Clinical Student Teaching) students must have:

A cumulative GPA of 2.75 (includes all courses, whether posted to TWU transcript or used on a degree plan. Excludes developmental and repeated courses);
Completed EDUC 2003 with a C or better;
Demonstrated basic skills in reading, written communication, and mathematics by meeting the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative;
Completed the Digital Literacy Pre-assessment;
Successfully completed a pre-admission departmental interview with an interview panel;
A minimum of 12 to 15 semester credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought;
Completed department application for admission to the Educator Preparation Program;
Completed a Commitment Contract acknowledging awareness and understanding of the Dispositions Policy and Educators’ Code of Ethics;
Submitted a non-refundable Texas Education Agency Fee; and
Acknowledged and accepted admission to the Educator Preparation Program.

Please note:

All accepted students must maintain the admission requirements to remain in the TWU Education Preparation Program.
Admission requirements are determined by Texas Education Agency policies and are subject to change without notice.
Students seeking Bilingual certification must meet minimum proficiency in Spanish.
Students seeking Deaf/Hard of Hearing certification must meet minimum proficiency in sign.

Contact the Office of Educator Preparation Services (OEPS) at copeadvising@twu.edu or (940) 898-2829 with any questions.

For more information

Kathryn Brown, M.S.
Senior Lecturer
940-898-2851

Janelle Davis, M.S.
Undergraduate Advisor
940-898-2714

Disclosure statement(s) for licensure and certification

Page last updated 3:35 PM, July 8, 2020