Frequently Asked Questions

Answer: The UAB School of Education is located at 901 13th Street South, in Birmingham, Alabama. The school sits in the middle of a block between 13th and 14th Streets South, and University Blvd and 10th Avenue South. Parallel parking spaces (most with 2-hour meters) are available along 13th and 14th Streets, and along 10th Avenue South. If you plan to park in a UAB lot, you must first obtain a permit from UAB Parking and Transportation Services. Parking permits can be applied for online or in person.

2. Are there any specific physical education concentrations offered?

Answer: Yes. We offer undergraduate concentrations in physical education teacher certification, exercise science (approved for pre-med, pre-physical therapy, and pre-occupational therapy), and fitness leadership. We offer graduate concentrations in physical education and also in exercise physiology. For advising information about physical education teacher certification, contact either our program coordinator, Dr. Donna Hester (dhester@uab.edu); our graduate student advisor, Dr. Kristi Menear (kmenear@uab.edu); or our undergraduate student advisor, Dr. Sandra Sims (sksims@uab.edu). For undergraduate advising related to exercise science, contact Dr. Jane Roy (jroy@uab.edu). For graduate advising related to exercise physiology, contact Dr. Gary Hunter (ghunter@uab.edu).

3. How many hours are required for the undergraduate physical education degree?

Answer: Undergraduate Teacher Certification: 132 hours; Exercise Science: 120 hours; Fitness Leadership: 123 hours. Graduate programs in physical education and in exercise physiology range from 31-37 hours.

4. Is a physical education minor required in order to graduate?

Answer: No.

5. Do I have to take my coursework in a particular order?

Answer: Yes. Please see your faculty advisor for information specific to your course of study. Refer to question #2 above for advisor contact information.

6. Do I have to apply for a degree?

Answer: Yes, and the application is your responsibility. Your advisors and the general SOE advisors in the Office of Student Services (Room 100 of the Education Building) will answer related questions. Be sure you keep up with dates released by the University Records Office.

7. What is the faculty to student ratio in the Physical Education courses?

Answer: Our course ratios can be 1:10 or better and they can be as high as 1:40, depending on the specific course. Our activity courses and introduction courses typically have higher enrollments than our 300-level and 400-level courses.

8. Is fieldwork required for graduating with an undergraduate physical education degree?

Answer: Yes. Student teaching is required near the completion of the teacher certification program. An internship is required near the completion of the exercise science and fitness leadership programs.

9. Are there any student organizations for physical education?

Yes. Please see the website for PHLAME, the student organization (http://www.ed.uab.edu/phlame/index.htm). Professional websites are linked from the physical education homepage.

10. What graduate level programs are offered?

Answer: There are four graduate programs in physical education. We offer a masters degree in physical education for students who have previously received teacher certification. We offer an Alternative Masters Program for students who have a bachelors degree but not teacher certification; teacher certification and a masters degree are obtained through this program. We offer a masters degree in exercise physiology. And, we offer an education specialist degree in physical education.

11. Do I have to already be a physical education teacher to enter into graduate level courses?

Answer: No.

12. Are there advisors specifically for physical education students?

Answer: Yes. Dr. Sandra K. Sims (sksims@uab.edu) is the advisor for undergraduate level physical education teacher certification students and athletic coaching minors. Dr. Kristi S. Menear (kmenear@uab.edu) provides advising for graduate level physical education (teacher) students.

Dr. Donna Hester (dhester@uab.edu) is the faculty advisor for masters students in physical education who already have a physical education teaching certificate. She is also the advisor for the EdS program in physical education. Dr. Jane Roy (jroy@uab.edu). is the faculty advisor for fitness leadership, exercise science, and exercise science minors. Dr. Gary Hunter (ghunter@uab.edu) is the faculty advisor for exercise physiology.

13. Do I have to take a comprehensive exam towards the end of my program in order to graduate?

Answer: Graduate students take comprehensive exams just prior to the completion of their coursework.

14. Are there any physical education undergraduate and/or graduate scholarships available?

Answer: Refer to the SOE scholarship link: http://www.ed.uab.edu/scholarships/

15. What employment resources are available?

Answer: UAB Career Services offers free registration for E-Recruiting as well as online job listings. UAB hosts recruiting interviews for teaching jobs annually in the Spring. Watch for notices on Education Career Fairs.