Carthage offers a variety of programs, including those leading to teaching licensure or certifications.

Students majoring in exercise and sport science must select either a health and human performance concentration or a physical education concentration. In addition to required core courses for the major, students must also take the required courses for their concentration to complete their degree.

Core Requirements (20 credits)
  • EXS 1010 Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science (2 credits)
  • EXS 1020 Instructional Methods for Individual and Group Activities (4 credits)
  • EXS 2200 Nutrition for Health and Performance (3 credits)
  • EXS 2300 Applied Principles of Strength Training (3 credits)
  • EXS 3070 Applied Exercise Anatomy and Biomechanics (4 credits)
  • EXS 3080 Physiology of Exercise (4 credits)
Required Courses (24 credits)
  • EXS 2020 Psychology of Health and Performance (4 credits)
  • EXS 3030 Sport and Rec Management (4 credits)
  • EXS 3110 Personal and Community Health (4 credits)
  • EXS 4040 Exercise Prescription (4 credits)
  • EXS 4900 Field Placement in Exercise and Sport Science — Senior Thesis (4 credits)
  • NSG 2330 Applied Statistics for Health and Human Services (4 credits)
Choose One (4 credits)
  • EXS 3210 Advanced Techniques in Training and Conditioning (4 credits)
  • EXS 4020 Theory and Practice of Coaching (4 credits)
Choose One (4 credits)
  • BIO 1040 Human Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
  • BIO 2010 Human Anatomy and Physiology for the Health Professional I (4 credits)
Required Courses (32 credits)
  • EXS 2700 Elementary Physical Education: Principles of Movement (4 credits)
  • EXS 3510 Adapted Physical Education and Sport (4 credits)
  • EXS 3520 Field Placement in Specially Designed Physical Education (4 credits)
  • EXS 4060 Fitness Education (4 credits)
  • EXS 4080 Assessment in Physical Education (4 credits)
  • EDU 4900 Student Teaching (12 credits) *counts as Senior Thesis
Choose One (4 credits)
  • BIO 1040 Human Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
  • BIO 2010 Human Anatomy and Physiology for the Health Professional I (4 credits)

Students who intend to teach physical education in a school setting can obtain grades preK-12 licensure from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction if they do the following:

  • Complete all courses in the exercise and sport science major with physical education concentration.
  • Complete all required education courses for the K-12 Physical Education Licensure Program (secondary education major).
  • Apply for acceptance into the Teacher Education Program (TEP) sophomore year. Please contact the Education Department for specific requirements and deadlines.
  • Apply for acceptance into the Student Teaching Program (STP) junior year. Please contact the Education Department for specific requirements and deadlines.
  • Successfully complete student teaching.

To be eligible for student teaching, students must complete pre-student teaching clinical experiences that are developmental in scope and sequence and will occur in a variety of settings with a balance of observation at the elementary, middle, and secondary level. To meet the clinical experience requirements, students must register and successfully complete an education course requiring a pre-student teaching clinical experience. Please contact the Education Department for specific requirements related to acceptance into the Teacher Education and Student Teaching Programs. Each program has specific requirements and deadlines that the student must meet to earn a physical education teaching license.

Required Education Courses (52 credits)
  • EDU 1010 Education and Society (4 credits)
  • EDU 2010 Educational Psychology and Assessment (4 credits)
  • EXS 2700 Elementary Physical Education: Principles of Movement (4 credits)
  • EDU 2050 Teaching and Supporting Learners with Diverse Characteristics and Needs (4 credits)
  • EDU 3520 Developmental and Content Area Reading (4 credits)
  • EXS 4200 Methods and Materials of Teaching Physical Education (4 credits)
  • EDU 4900 Student Teaching Seminar (12 credits)
  • BIO 1040 Human Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
  • HIS 1000 Issues in American History (4 credits)
  • Any appropriate* physical science course (4 credits)
  • Any appropriate* social science course (4 credits)

* Contact the Education Department for a list of appropriate courses.

Students seeking Certification 860 (Adaptive Physical Education) must complete a total of 44 credits, including:

  • All courses in the Exercise and Sport Science major.
  • All required courses for the Secondary Education major.
  • Complete 2 additional courses (8 credits) 
    • PYC 2850* Child and Adolescent Development (4 credits)
    • EXS 3520 Field Placement in Specially Designed Physical Education (4 credits)

* PYC 2850 must be completed before taking EXS 3520 Field Placement in Specially Designed Physical Education, the required capstone class.

Students who earn a K-12 certification in physical education and wish to teach health education in the school setting need to complete this coursework for a health minor, pass the Praxis II health exam (or waiver), and complete student teaching:

Required Courses for Minor and School Health Certification 910 (24 credits)
  • EXS 1080 Introduction to Health and Wellness Education (3 credits)
  • EXS 2200 Nutrition for Health and Performance (3 credits)
  • EXS 2270 Consumer Health Issues (2 credits)
  • EXS 2500 Comprehensive School Health Programming (2 credits)
  • EXS 2810 Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD) Education (2 credits)
  • EXS 3090 Sexuality Education (2 credits)
  • EXS 3110 Personal and Community Health (4 credits)
  • EXS 3120 Issues in Emotional and Mental Health (2 credits)
  • EXS 4210 Methods and Materials of Teaching Health Education (4 credits)

This program is very desirable for students who intend to coach athletic teams in a public or private school setting. It will assist students from three distinct academic areas:

  • Exercise and Sport Science major pursuing Physical Education, K-12 Licensure. Most of the coursework is part of the major. Students who receive teaching licensure also will receive a coaching certification recognition on their transcripts.
  • Education majors who will be licensed in a subject area. Students who receive teaching licensure also will receive a coaching certification recognition on their transcripts.
  • A non-Education major or an Exercise and Sport Science major who does not seek a teaching licensure. These students cannot receive a coaching certification from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. However, upon request, the EXSS department chair will have the following statement placed on those students’ transcripts: “This student has completed the coursework for coaching certification required by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.”
Required Courses for the Athletic Coaching Certification (25 credits)
  • BIO 1040 Human Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
  • EXS 2180 Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries (2 credits)
  • EXS 2300 Applied Principles of Strength Training (3 credits)
  • EXS 3030 Sport and Recreation Management (4 credits)
  • EXS 3070 Applied Exercise Anatomy and Biomechanics (4 credits)
  • EXS 3080 Physiology of Exercise (4 credits)
  • EXS 4020 Theory and Practice of Coaching (4 credits)

Please see department chair for details. Basic requirements are listed under All-College Programs in the catalog.

Current students: You should follow the official College Catalog from the year you entered Carthage and work with your advisors and the department chair to ensure all requirements are met.