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Program Overview

The Department of Coaching and Teaching Studies offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in Physical Education Teacher Education for students who have a professional goal of physical education teaching licensure and related employment in PK-12 school-based settings. The BS in PETE program is accredited nationally by the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Program graduates are qualified for PK-Adult Physical Education initial teaching licensure in West Virginia. The bachelor's program is 120-hour credit hours and is delivered on-campus. The 30-credit hour MS in PETE program includes summer sessions and is delivered fully online.

The newly developed Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s (ABM) program in PETE affords highly qualified undergraduate students the opportunity to work toward BS and MS degrees simultaneously through early enrollment in graduate courses and credit-sharing across programs of study. This accelerated approach makes graduate study more cost-effective in that students can earn both degrees in fewer credits and semesters. The benefits of ABM program enrollment include improved personal marketability, enhanced networking opportunities and the potential for higher starting salary.

Admission requirements

• Students must complete a separate application for admission to the master’s degree program (including payment of an application fee).
• Students may apply for regular admission to the ABM in PETE program in the fall semester following the completion of 60 credits.
• Only enrolled PETE majors may be considered for regular admission to the program.
• Transfer students must complete at least 24 credit hours as degree-seeking students at WVU before applying.
• The minimum standard for regular admission is a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0, with no provisional admissions allowed.
  • Additional criteria include acceptable performance on the PETE Professionalism Assessment used to monitor undergraduate student dispositions each semester in the major.
• Regular admission will not be offered any later than the semester after which the student needs two additional semesters to complete the bachelor’s degree.
• The ABM in PETE program is not available to students seeking a second (or subsequent) bachelor’s degree.
• Online applications and fees are due by October 15 with program admissions decisions communicated by December 15.
• Applications will be reviewed by a three-member work group (2 PETE faculty and 1 academic advisor) and presented to the program faculty for a final admissions decision.

Continuation in the program

Students in the ABM in PETE program must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in both their undergraduate and graduate courses throughout enrollment. Grades in courses at the 400-level or higher that will be counted toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degree (maximum of 12 credits) will be included in the calculation of both the undergraduate and the graduate GPA for determining satisfactory performance. Unless given permission by the Dean’s Office, students admitted to an ABM in PETE program must maintain continuous full-time enrollment during fall and spring terms. Enrollment requirements summer terms include the completion of up to 8 credits per term at the graduate level.

Students who are admitted to the ABM in PETE program may not pursue a dual degree, double major, or certificate. They may pursue minors and areas of emphasis as approved by an advisor. However, students admitted to the ABM in PETE program will not be approved for course overloads (more than 17 credits in any term that includes more than one graduate-level course, more than 20 credits in any term that does not include graduate-level courses).

Students’ eligibility to remain in the ABM in PETE program will be evaluated at the end of each semester. Students failing to meet program or University standards will be placed on program probation for no more than one semester, after which they will be terminated from the ABM in PETE program. Terminated students, as well as students who choose not to continue in the ABM degree program, will be eligible to receive their BS degree after completing the bachelor’s degree requirements.

ABM students are classified as graduate students in their final semester, which could impact the type of financial aid resources (e.g., subsidized loans and/or Pell Grants) students are eligible to receive. Students are encouraged to meet with a WVU Hub representative to learn more about the impact on their specific financial aid package.