Guidelines for Undergraduate Exercise Physiology in a Physical Education Teacher Education Program. Guidance Document

A course in Exercise Physiology is a common requirement among undergraduate students preparing for a career in physical education, adult fitness, or athletic training. Often, such courses are taught to an assortment of students from a variety of disciplines (Van Donselaar & Leslie, 1990) with an emphasis on physiological principles applied to adults. This creates a substantial challenge to the instructor in devising course materials and experiences that will meet the needs of each student, particularly for teacher education students who will be working primarily with children. The intent of this document is to specifically address and raise the awareness of the needs of students in a teacher preparation track, defining suggested minimum competencies for those students pursuing a career in physical education. A list of additional resources is provided.