A Masters in Physical Education will allow you to fill a range of sports and fitness related jobs at schools and universities. It can also qualify you to fill roles in government and other organizations relating to physical education policy, which allows you to have a broader impact across your city, state or even the entire country.

In addition to teaching, this qualification can also open up jobs in sports science and sports management. If you’re interested in a professional career in coaching or carrying out research to help athletes reach peak performance, this qualification may be what you need to achieve those goals.

The Best Masters in Physical Education Programs

From our research of physical education graduate programs, here are what we think will be some of your best options for pursuing a Masters in Physical Education.

Boston University runs a Masters of Education in Physical Education and Coaching which is one of the most comprehensive courses you can do in this field. It takes a broad view of the discipline, giving you the necessary knowledge and skills to take on a range of jobs at virtually any level in the education system, as well as jobs outside schools and universities.

Texans love their sports, so it’s not surprising that Texas A & M University has developed one of the better Masters in Physical Education programs from around the country. There are two separate programs, one of which includes teaching certification and one without certification (although if you’re already a certified teacher, this will give you what you need to switch from teaching another subject to teaching physical ed).

California State University – Long Beach

Masters in Adapted Physical Education

A Masters in Adapted Physical Education will prepare you for a physical education role in which you’ll be helping people with physical disabilities. This can include people who have suffered a loss of a limb through accident or disease, and people who have physical problems that have been with them since birth. This is a particularly rewarding specialization as you’ll be helping disadvantaged people to lead healthy and normal lives.

Masters in Health and Physical Education

A Masters in Health and Physical Education combines key elements of health education with the essentials of P.E. This is a particularly good degree for someone intending to teach at a high school level, where the role of physical education and health teacher is often blended. You will develop a strong understanding of how health, disease and the functioning of the body relates to physical activity.

Online Masters in Physical Education

Boston University’s Physical Education, Health Education and Coaching Certificate can be done fully online, but it doesn’t grant you licensure. Although you can learn principles, history and techniques for physical education online, licensure has to be done in person in a practical environment.

The University of South Florida offers a good online Masters in Physical Education program, which takes a curriculum that has been built up and honed over several decades on campus and presents it in an interactive online format. This program is best for someone who already has certification and a bit of practical teaching experience.

Ball State University has an online Master of Arts in Physical Education, with a specialized focus on Coaching. This degree is useful for anyone who is already deeply involved in coaching within a school or university and wants to take their ability to lead a team to the next level, with advanced knowledge of training methods, physical conditioning, strategic planning and other elements of coaching.

Masters in Physical Education Jobs

There are many careers in physical education, and not just in schools and universities. There are the obvious teaching and coaching roles throughout the elementary, secondary and university levels – but you can also move into areas like personal training, working at a gym or starting your own business. Exercise science is another field you can move into, with jobs available working with exercise equipment manufacturers and high-level sports teams but for starters, a masters in physical education is a must.