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Exercise and Sport Science

Major / Minor Requirements

The Exercise and Sport Science Department offers a variety of programs, including those leading to teaching licensure or certifications.

Major in Exercise and Sport Science
Coursework leading to physical education teaching license (K-12)
Minor in School Health Education leading to teaching license (K-12) (Certification 910)
Adaptive Physical Education Certification
Athletic Coaching Certification
 College-wide Physical Education Requirements

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.

Exercise and Sport Science Major Requirements

44 credits

TAKE ALL:

  • EXS 1010 Foundations of Exercise and Sport (3 credits)
  • EXS 1051 Theory and Practice of Individual Sports I (1 credit)
  • EXS 1052 Theory and Practice of Individual Sports II (1 credit) 
  • EXS 1061 Theory and Practice of Team Sports I (1 credit)
  • EXS 1062 Theory and Practice of Team Sports II (1 credit)
  • EXS 1071 Teaching and Practice of Dance and Gymnastics (1 credit)
  • EXS 1072 Water Safety Instruction (1 credit)
  • EXS 2180 Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries (2 credits)
  • EXS 2200 Nutrition for Health and Performance (3 credits)
  • EXS 2300 Applied Principles of Strength Training (3 credits)
  • EXS 2620 Adapted Physical Education and Sport (3 credits)
  • EXS 2700 Elementary Physical Education: Principles of Movement (4 credits)
  • EXS 3010 Tests and Measurement in Exercise and Sport Science (4 credits)
  • EXS 3030 Sport and Recreation Management (4 credits)
  • EXS 3070 Applied Exercise Anatomy and Biomechanics (4 credits)
  • EXS 4050 Physiology of Exercise (4 credits)

SENIOR THESIS – CHOOSE ONE:

  • EDU 4900 Student Teaching (12 credits)
  • EXS 4900 Field Placement in Exercise and Sport Science (4 credits) 

Physical Education Teaching Certification (K-12 Licensure)
Students who intend to teach physical education in a school setting can obtain grades K-12 licensure from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction if they do the following:

  • Complete all courses in the Exercise and Sport Science major.
  • Complete all required education courses for the K-12 Physical Education Licensure Program (Secondary Education minor).
  • 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.
  • Pass the edTPA.

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.

Required EDUCATION Courses for physical education K-12 Licensure (54 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)
  • EDU 3900 Junior Thesis Seminar (2 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.

Adaptive Physical Education Certification
Students seeking Certification 860 (Adaptive Physical Education) must complete:

  • All courses in the Exercise and Sport Science major
  • All required courses for the Secondary Education minor
  • 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.

Health Minor Requirements

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 (23 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 (3 credits)
  • EXS 3120 Issues in Emotional and Mental Health (2 credits)
  • EXS 4210 Methods and Materials of Teaching Health Education (4 credits)

Athletic Coaching Certification
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:

  • 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 4020 Theory and Practice of Coaching (4 credits)
  • EXS 4050 Physiology of Exercise (4 credits)

College-wide Physical Education Requirements

All Carthage students pursuing graduation are required to participate in and pass two physical education experiences (graded S/U) offered through the Exercise and Sport Science Department. The first is EXS 0010 Concepts of Physical Fitness (1 credit). This is a seven-week lecture/laboratory experience that presents basic knowledge and methods relevant to maintaining and developing good health, fitness, and overall wellness. After completing that course, all students are required to take a seven-week course in a lifetime or fitness activity.

Exceptions: A student who participates on an athletic team for an entire season can fulfill the one lifetime/fitness activity requirement. Exercise and Sport Science Department majors are not required to take either the EXS 0010 Concepts of Physical Fitness class or a lifetime/fitness activity.

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.

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