Physical Education Studies

The Degree

Associate in Science (A.S.)

The Outlook

Employment in the health and physical education field is expected to grow as interest in fitness and health for individuals and special groups increases. A large number of openings in the field of elementary and secondary school teaching are expected due to a large group of teachers reaching retirement age, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The Physical Education Studies degree program at Finger Lakes Community College is designed to prepare you for baccalaureate studies in Physical Education by building a solid liberal arts foundation.

The Program

The Associate in Science (A.S.) degree in Physical Education Studies is suitable for students whose goals include coaching, teaching, sports management, and overall fitness and wellness careers. The program introduces you to the field of Physical Education and provides background knowledge and skills that are important to Physical Education professionals, with courses ranging from health, human anatomy and physiology, nutrition, and psychology to required liberal arts courses.

Honors Courses: The College offers honors courses that provide enhanced educational experiences for students who have demonstrated outstanding academic ability. Enrollment in honors courses is open to qualified students in this degree program, as well as all other qualified FLCC students. Successful completion of honors courses or an Honors Certificate may increase student transfer options to four-year institutions.

The Experience

Students in this program are introduced to a high school physical education curriculum and receive hands-on teaching experience in local schools.

Field trips: Trips to sports medicine departments at four-year colleges and universities such as Keuka College and Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and visits to colleges with athletic training programs such as SUNY Colleges at Brockport and Cortland are all a part of your experience in Physical Education Studies.

The Graduates

Students in this program generally transfer to four-year institutions such as SUNY Colleges at Brockport and Cortland* to pursue baccalaureate degrees in Physical Education. Finger Lakes alumni are currently teachers and coaches in school systems throughout New York State including Penn Yan, Newark, South Seneca, Gananda, Fairport, Lyons, Waterloo, and Churchville-Chili High Schools, as well as the Harley School, Allendale Columbia Schools, and in the Rochester School District.

* This is a sampling of some of the four-year colleges and universities to which our students have transferred. Please consult your advisor or the Center for Advisement and Personal Development for a complete listing of transfer agreements between Finger Lakes Community College and four-year institutions.

The Faculty

The physical education studies program is composed of faculty who all hold advanced degrees in health and physical education. Beside extensive coaching and teaching experience at various levels the faculty also possess a wide array of educational expertise in adaptive physical education, coaching certification and fitness and wellness. The physical education and integrated health care department also utilizes highly specialized adjunct faculty to teach specific courses that complement the diverse number of course offerings.

Physical Education Studies

Curriculum Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 64 semester hours, with a grade point average of not less than C (2.0)

All associate degree programs require English 101 Freshman English and English 102 Introduction to Literature. Students must pass skills assessment for entrance into these courses. Students who are well prepared may substitute ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors for ENG101 and ENG102. Students who are considering the English Honors sequence should consult the Director of Honors.

Students must successfully complete:

Humanities

  • ENG101 Freshman English and ENG 102 Introduction to Literature
    or
    ENG104 English I Honors and ENG105 English II Honors
  • COM 110 Public Speaking

Social Science

  • PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology
  • 3 credit hours of HIS history electives
  • 3 credit hours of social science elect.

Science

  • BIO 110 Fundamentals of Human Anatomy & Physiology
  • BIO 171 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
  • BIO 172 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
  • NS 115 Introduction to Nutrition

Mathematics

  • MAT 121 Statistics I
  • MAT 122 Statistics II

Physical Education

  • PE102 Basic Rhythms
  • PE 190 Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries
  • PE 212 Health
  • PE 214 Responding to Emergencies
  • PE 275 Introduction to Physical Education
  • PE Swimming*
  • 1 credit hour of PE activity class**

Information Management

  • CSC 3 credit hours of computer science***

Chemical Dependency Counseling

  • CDC 101 Chemical Use, Abuse and Dependency

General Electives

  • 3 credit hours of general electives

* The specific course will be determined by the instructor and student based on the student's background in swimming.

** PE activity classes include golf, bowling, racquetball, badminton, tennis, etc.

*** The specific course will be determined by the advisor based on the student's background in computers.

Students who are transferring to four-year institutions should follow the general education course requirements for transfer to SUNY and non-SUNY schools. View the general education requirements for more details.

Physical Education Studies

Sample Schedule

The schedule below shows how the requirements for the A.S. Physical Education Studies degree may be met in four semesters. This schedule is an example of one of many possible different schedules. It is included here only as an illustration of the type of schedule that might be followed by a full-time student. Many students attending Finger Lakes Community College who have work and/or family obligations choose a different sequence of courses and take more than four semesters to fulfill the requirements for the A.S. Physical Education Studies degree. Similarly, students who find they need to take some additional course work to prepare them to do well in the types of courses included in the A.S. Physical Education Studies degree program may plan a schedule that takes more than four semesters to complete the degree. All students should consult their advisors when they plan their schedules.

First Semester (15 Credit hours)

  • ENG 101 Freshman English I (3)
  • BIO 110 Fundamentals of Human Anatomy & Physiology (3)
  • Computer Science Elective* (3)
  • Social Science Elective (3)
  • PE 275 Introduction to Physical Education (3)

Second Semester (17 Credit hours)

  • ENG 102 Introduction to Literature (3)
  • PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology (3)
  • PE 212 Health (3)
  • PE 102 Basic Rhythms (2)
  • PE 190 Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries (3)
  • PE Swimming** (1)
  • General Elective (2)

Third Semester (16 Credit hours)

  • COM 110 Public Speaking (3)
  • BIO 171 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
  • MAT 121 Statistics I (3)
  • NS 115 Introduction to Nutrition (3)
  • PE 214 Responding to Emergencies (3)

Fourth Semester (16 Credit hours)

  • BIO 172 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
  • MAT 122 Statistics II (3)
  • CDC 101 Chemical Use, Abuse and Dependency (3)
  • History Elective (3)
  • General Elective (2)
  • PE Activity Class*** (1)

* The specific course will be determined by the advisor based on the student's background in computers.

** The specific course will be determined by the Instructor and student based on the student's background in swimming.

*** PE activity classes include golf, bowling, racquetball, badminton, tennis, etc.