Welcome to the Physical Education Teacher Education program! We believe great PE teachers help students grow into healthy, happy, and helpful humans. Our unique PE teacher preparation program has dedicated faculty with decades of experience who are committed to guiding you to be the best teacher you can be.
The Physical Education program is not one of the larger programs in the state, but we think it is one of the best. More than once, a retired Health and Physical Education Curriculum Director from a school district in Wisconsin told us our graduates are better prepared than students coming out of any other program. We feel good about that.
In addition to the Physical Education major, we also offer a minor in Adapted Physical Education and a minor in Health Education. The Adapted minor is important for teaching at all levels and the Health minor is important for teaching at the secondary level. You can develop the program to fit your needs and graduate with just the Physical Education major, the major and one minor, or the major and both minors.
The UW–Madison School of Education Teacher Pledge can financially support your dreams of becoming a teacher. You pledge to teach in Wisconsin PK-12 schools for 3-4 years after graduation. In return, we pledge to pay the equivalent of in-state tuition and fees, testing, and licensing costs.
We are committed to transforming physical education into a powerful experience in which students develop physical, mental, and social skills for life. To that end, our program includes the following elements:
- Standards-based curriculum models
- Culturally responsive teaching techniques in inclusive and multicultural settings
- Social and emotional learning that incorporates community building and behavior management
Physical Education students also benefit from:
- Nationally and state-recognized faculty and staff members
- Student teaching placements in urban, suburban, or rural settings, depending on the needs of the individual
- Small class sizes and advising groups
- A strong science and technology-based curriculum
- Instruction within the #1 nationally ranked UW–Madison School of Education
From the beginning, you will get to work with students from diverse educational backgrounds, ensuring you will be prepared to thrive in any setting after graduation. We offer many "out-of-the-classroom" opportunities to strengthen and expand your physical education knowledge, and proudly have a presence in Special Olympics, adapted clubs, and local Boys & Girls Clubs.
You'll also have a chance to study abroad and take our team-building course in Costa Rica! We go every May after the spring semester, and our students learn how to create a safe, inclusive learning community in a unique cultural setting.
Throughout the Physical Education program, you’ll observe PE teachers, team teach home-schooled elementary students, and participate in community service opportunities in the Madison area. In your final year at UW, you’ll be mentored by veteran PE teachers who use various PE curriculum models: Adventure Learning, Fitness Education, Teaching Games for Understanding, and Sport Education. These invaluable teaching practices will prepare you for the joys and responsibilities of your own PE classroom.
Physical Education students also have the opportunity for professional growth as they earn their degree. Students have given presentations at the Wisconsin, Midwest, and national Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America) conferences. Several students have recently served in leadership positions at the state and district levels.
The world needs individuals like you who want to make a difference through physical education. We are excited you want to be a part of the movement!
On, Wisconsin!
"I think one of the most impactful and important aspects of this program is how often I go into schools, am involved in volunteer opportunities, and just work directly with students and people with and without disabilities. There's a lot of great opportunities to get involved in hands-on experiences instead of just being in a classroom."
–Lucas Mandel (read more)
How to Get In
Physical Education Declaration Overview
Students interested in a degree in Physical Education can enter UW–Madison with a Pre-Physical Education classification. They spend their initial semesters completing liberal studies, general education, and science core requirements.
UW-Madison students who started in another major can move to Pre-Physical Education by completing a Pre-Professional Declaration. A GPA of 2.75, based on all UW–Madison coursework or the last 60 credits, is required to transfer into Pre-Physical Education.
It is not necessary to be a Pre-Physical Education student before declaring the Bachelor of Science in Physical Education.
Declaring Bachelor of Science in Physical Education (BSPE)
On-Campus Students
On-campus students may declare the Bachelor of Science in Physical Education degree at any time, provided they have met the following requirements:
- Have second-year academic standing.
- Earned a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA (4.00 scale) on all college work attempted, or a 2.75 on the last 60 credits.
- Have met with a Physical Education or School of Education Student Services advisor who will submit the declaration form; see Contact Information for details.
- 1
Last 60 Credits Rule - Two grade point averages may be calculated to determine a candidate's eligibility to declare Physical Education. A GPA may be calculated using (1) UW-Madison and all other all transferable college level coursework attempted and (2) the last 60 credits attempted. The higher GPA of these two calculations will be used for determining eligibility. Once declared, students must earn a semester GPA of 2.75 each semester after declaration. More information on this rule is available here.
Off-Campus Transfers to UW-Madison
Off-campus students wishing to transfer to UW-Madison and declare the Bachelor of Science in Physical Education degree must be admitted to UW-Madison. Admission to the university has its own application, admission process, and application deadlines; see Office of Admissions and Recruitment for application information. Students also need to meet with a Physical Education or School of Education Student Services advisor, who will determine if the following eligibility requirements to declare the BSPE degree have been met:
- Have second year academic standing.
- Earned a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA (4.00 scale) on all college work attempted or 2.75 on the last 60 credits.
See Contact Information for details. The advisor will submit the declaration form if the student has met the eligibility requirements. Transfer students who do not meet the declaration eligibility requirements may be admitted to UW-Madison with the Pre-Physical Education classification.
Students with a Previous Undergraduate Degree
Students who already hold a Bachelor’s degree and wish to become certified to teach Physical Education must be admitted to UW-Madison. Admission to the university has its own application, admission process, and application deadlines; see Office of Admissions and Recruitment for university application information.
Students need to meet with a Physical Education or School of Education Student Services advisor who will (1) review the student's eligibility to declare the BSPE degree, and (2) discuss their admission status, see below. Eligibility requires that a student has:
- Earned a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA (4.00 scale) on all college work attempted or 2.75 on the last 60 credits.
See Contact Information for details. The advisor will submit the declaration form if the student has met the eligibility requirement.
An applicant with a previous undergraduate degree will be admitted to Physical Education as a second degree candidate or as a School of Education "Special Student," depending on their academic background. Second degree candidates in the School of Education are changing their academic direction and wish to complete a degree that is unrelated to their first degree. A large number of credits are usually required to complete the new degree requirements and a second degree is awarded upon its completion; more information is available here.
Admission as an Education Special Student indicates that the applicant wishes to pursue teacher certification in Physical Education and studied it extensively during their initial degree. An individual enrolls in Physical Education as a Special Student to complete the requirements that were not taken during the first degree; these are assessed on a case by case basis. Another degree is not awarded for this "certification only" coursework.
All returning students are strongly advised to meet with an advisor in the School of Education Student Services office before applying for admission to UW-Madison. Consultations with advisors are available in person, virtually, or via telephone; email studentservices@education.wisc.edu or call 608-262-1651 to schedule an appointment.
Background Checks
Pursuant to State of Wisconsin law PI 34.018(2), the School of Education is required to administer a background check on all students entering teacher education programs. This check is intended to determine if the applicant has engaged in any behavior that endangers the health, welfare, safety, or education of PK-12 pupils. Local school districts frequently conduct background checks on teacher education students prior to the start of their in-classroom field work, and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) will also conduct a background check on each applicant for a Wisconsin educator license.
Students should be aware that background checks may be initiated by other agencies or organizations when they are seeking employment or a professional license. School administrators have the authority to determine the appropriateness of a student placement and may choose not to permit a placement based on a student’s background check results.
An individual who has been deemed ineligible to participate in field or clinical experiences based on the results of their background check may not be able to complete the requirements for their degree or certification. Students with questions about these processes should contact the Teacher Education Center, tec@education.wisc.edu.
- University Requirements
- School of Education Degree Requirements
- Program Structure
- Science and Kinesiology Core Courses
- Physical Education Courses
- Professional Education Courses
- Additional Certification Options
- Continuation Requirement: Department of Kinesiology
- GPA and Other Graduation Requirements
- Additional Certification Requirements and Applying for a License
University Requirements
All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later.
Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.
Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements
| Civics & Perspectives | 3 credits of Civics & Perspectives coursework. |
| Communication & Literacy | 6 credits of Communication & Literacy coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. More information: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingenglishplacement |
| Humanities & Arts | 6 credits of Humanities & Arts coursework. |
| Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning | 6 credits of Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. More information: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingmathplacement |
| Natural Science & Wellness | Complete both:
|
| Social & Behavioral Science | 3 credits of Social & Behavioral Science coursework. |
| Total Credits | 30 credits. |
For more information see the policy.
University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements
All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.
| Total Degree | 120 degree credits. |
| Residency | Complete 30 credits in residence. A course is considered “in residence” if it is taken when in undergraduate degree-seeking status and:
|
| Quality of Work | Achieve at least the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, and/or academic program. |
| Math | Demonstrate minimal mathematics competence by: |
| English Language | If required to take the UW-Madison English as a Second Language Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT), demonstrate minimal English language competence by:
|
| Language | Complete one:
|
| Major Declaration | Declare and complete the requirements for at least one major. |
School of Education Degree Requirements
Communication: Breadth and Depth
Courses designated as Communication A (Comm A) and Communication B (Comm B) help students learn how to gather and assess information from a variety of sources and to present different kinds of information, insight, and analysis to diverse audiences. Comm A courses focus on essential communication skills and Comm B courses teach research, writing, and communication skills within a disciplinary area.
| Communication A | Complete either:
|
| Communication B | One course with the Communication B designation. |
Quantitative Reasoning: Breadth and Depth
Quantitative Reasoning A courses provide students with foundational skills in mathematics, computer science, statistics or formal logic that are needed for dealing with quantitative information. In Quantitative Reasoning B courses, students use quantitative tools in the context of other disciplines or course material.
| Quantitative Reasoning A | Complete either:
|
| Quantitative Reasoning B | One course with the Quantitative Reasoning B designation. |
Liberal Studies Requirements
All students are required to complete a minimum of 40 credits of Liberal Studies coursework. This requirement provides an opportunity to do some academic exploration beyond the scope of the major. Students take courses in areas of particular interest and also have an opportunity to sample the wide selection of courses offered across the university. Coursework is required in humanities, social studies (social science), science, and cultural and historical studies. Some elective coursework is also needed to reach the required number of credits.
The School of Education’s Liberal Studies requirements can be used to satisfy the campus-wide Core General Education requirements. Communication A and B, and Quantitative Reasoning A and B coursework can also be used towards Core General Education and other requirements. Academic advisors can suggest courses that will count in multiple places.
A basic outline of the liberal studies is included below. Students must consult the detailed version of the requirements for more information about course selection and how the liberal studies requirements apply to this major.
Are you interested in switching to the School of Education? If so, you should run a “what-if” DARS report. It will show how many of these requirements you have already met and are unmet.
Humanities
Complete a minimum of 9 credits from these categories.
| Literature | Complete a course with the Literature designation, minimum of 2 credits |
| Fine Arts | Complete a minimum of 2 credits from the list of courses below. |
| Humanities | Courses to total 9 Humanities credits. Select from:
|
Fine Arts Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN/AFROAMER 220 | HipHop, Youth Culture, and Politics in Senegal | 3 |
| AFRICAN/AFROAMER 233 | Global HipHop and Social Justice | 3 |
| AFROAMER 154 | Hip-Hop and Contemporary American Society | 3 |
| AFROAMER 156 | Black Music and American Cultural History | 3 |
| AFROAMER 225 | Introduction to African American Dramatic Literature | 3 |
| AFROAMER/ART HIST 241 | Introduction to African Art and Architecture | 3 |
| AFROAMER/ART HIST 242 | Introduction to Afro-American Art | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 267 | Artistic/Cultural Images of Black Women | 3 |
| AFROAMER/DANCE/MUSIC 318 | Cultural Cross Currents: West African Dance/Music in the Americas | 3 |
| AFROAMER 338 | The Black Arts Movement | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 367 | Art and Visual Culture: Women of the African Diaspora and Africa | 3 |
| AFROAMER/AFRICAN 413 | Contemporary African and Caribbean Drama | 3-4 |
| AMER IND 325 | American Indians in Film | 3 |
| Any ART course | ||
| Any ART HIST course | ||
| COM ARTS 350 | Introduction to Film | 3 |
| COM ARTS 357 | History of the Animated Film | 3 |
| Any DANCE course | ||
| DS 120 | Design: Fundamentals I | 3 |
| ENGL 207 | Introduction to Creative Writing: Fiction and Poetry Workshop | 3 |
| ENGL 307 | Creative Writing: Fiction and Poetry Workshop | 3 |
| ENGL 407 | Creative Writing: Nonfiction Workshop | 3 |
| ENGL 408 | Creative Writing: Fiction Workshop | 3 |
| ENGL 409 | Creative Writing: Poetry Workshop | 3 |
| ENGL 410 | Creative Writing: Playwriting Workshop | 3 |
| ENGL 411 | Creative Writing: Special Topics Workshop | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/HIST SCI/HISTORY 125 | Green Screen: Environmental Perspectives through Film | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/MUSIC 103 | Introduction to Music Cultures of the World | 3 |
| GERMAN 253 | Introduction to German Cinema | 3 |
| GERMAN 267 | Yiddish Song and the Jewish Experience | 3-4 |
| ILS 203 | Western Culture: Literature and the Arts I | 3 |
| ILS 204 | Western Culture: Literature and the Arts II | 3-4 |
| LITTRANS 207 | Slavic Science Fiction through Literature and Film | 3 |
| LITTRANS 231 | Manga | 3 |
| LITTRANS 232 | Anime | 3 |
| LITTRANS 233 | Russian Life and Culture Through Literature and Art (to 1917) | 3-4 |
| LITTRANS 234 | Soviet Life and Culture Through Literature and Art (from 1917) | 3-4 |
| LITTRANS/FOLKLORE 327 | Vampires | 3 |
| LITTRANS/THEATRE 335 | In Translation: The Drama of Henrik Ibsen | 3-4 |
| Any MUSIC course | ||
| Any MUS PERF course | ||
| Any THEATRE course | ||
Social Studies
| Social Studies | Complete 9 credits with the Social Science designation. The following programs have specific requirements:
|
Science
Complete a minimum of 9 credits, including Physical and Biological Science. A laboratory science course is also required. The lab course can count toward the Biological or Physical Science requirement if it has the requisite breadth designation.
| Physical Science | Complete one course with the Physical Science designation. |
| Biological Science | Complete one course with the Biological Science designation. |
| Lab Science | Complete one course with the Biological, Physical, or Natural Science designation with a lab component; see Course Search and Enroll. Additional eligible courses are listed below. |
| Science Elective(s) | If needed, complete a course with the Biological, Physical, or Natural Science designation to total 9 Science credits. |
Laboratory Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHRO 105 | Principles of Biological Anthropology | 3 |
| ATM OCN 101 | Weather and Climate | 4 |
| BOTANY 100 | Survey of Botany | 3 |
| BOTANY/PL PATH 123 | Plants, Parasites, and People | 3 |
| FOOD SCI/MICROBIO 324 | Food Microbiology Laboratory | 2 |
| GEOSCI 100 | Introductory Geology: How the Earth Works | 3 |
| PHYSICS 109 | Physics in the Arts | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 110 | Introduction to Plant Science and Technology | 4 |
Cultural and Historical Studies
Complete three requirements met by separate courses. Any of these courses can also be used to meet other requirements if it has the relevant breadth designation. A single course cannot satisfy more than one of the three Cultural and Historical Studies requirements listed below.
| Ethnic Studies | Complete 3 credits with the Ethnic Studies Designation. |
| United States or European History | Complete 3 credits from the list of courses below. |
| Global Perspectives | Complete 3 credits from the list of courses below. |
United States or European History Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFROAMER 154 | Hip-Hop and Contemporary American Society | 3 |
| AFROAMER 156 | Black Music and American Cultural History | 3 |
| AFROAMER 231 | Introduction to African American History | 3 |
| AFROAMER 272 | Race and American Politics from the New Deal to the New Right | 3 |
| AFROAMER/AFRICAN/HISTORY/POLI SCI 297 | African and African-American Linkages: An Introduction | 4 |
| AFROAMER 302 | Undergraduate Studies in Afro-American History | 3 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 321 | African American History Since 1900 | 3-4 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 322 | African American History to 1900 | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 323 | Gender, Race and Class: Women in U.S. History | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 324 | Black Women in America: Reconstruction to the Present | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 326 | Race and Gender in Post-World War II U.S. Society | 3 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 347 | The Caribbean and its Diasporas | 3-4 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 393 | Slavery, Civil War, and Reconstruction, 1848-1877 | 3-4 |
| AFROAMER/HIST SCI/MED HIST 523 | Race, American Medicine and Public Health | 3 |
| AFROAMER/ED POL 567 | History of African American Education | 3 |
| AFROAMER 621 | Slavery and Capitalism in the United States | 3 |
| AFROAMER 623 | Women and Slavery in the United States | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 624 | African American Women's Activism (19th & 20th Centuries) | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 625 | Gender, Race and the Civil Rights Movement | 3 |
| AFROAMER 626 | Slavery and Emancipation in the United States | 3 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 628 | History of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States | 3 |
| AFROAMER 631 | Colloquium in African American History | 3 |
| AFROAMER 671 | Selected Topics in African American History | 3 |
| AMER IND 100 | Introduction to American Indian Studies | 3 |
| AMER IND 185 | Indigenous Athletes and Sports | 3 |
| AMER IND/HISTORY 190 | Introduction to American Indian History | 3-4 |
| AMER IND 230 | Indigenous Resistance and Activism | 3 |
| AMER IND 250 | Indians of Wisconsin | 3 |
| AMER IND/ANTHRO 314 | Indians of North America | 3 |
| AMER IND/HISTORY 380 | Sovereignty and the Schoolhouse | 3 |
| AMER IND/SOC WORK 636 | Social Work in American Indian Communities: The Indian Child Welfare Act | 3 |
| ART HIST 357 | History of Wisconsin Architecture, 1800-present | 3 |
| ASIAN AM/AFROAMER/AMER IND/CHICLA 102 | Introduction to Comparative US Ethnic, American Indian, and Indigenous Studies | 3 |
| ASIAN AM/HISTORY 160 | Asian American History: Movement and Dislocation | 3-4 |
| ASIAN AM/HISTORY 161 | Asian American History: Settlement and National Belonging | 3-4 |
| ASIAN AM 170 | Hmong American Experiences in the United States | 3 |
| ASIAN AM/SOC 220 | Ethnic Movements in the United States | 3-4 |
| ASIAN AM/ASIAN/HISTORY 246 | Southeast Asian Refugees of the "Cold" War | 4 |
| ASIAN AM 253 | Critical Refugee Studies | 3 |
| ASIAN AM 441 | Hmong American Social Movements in the 20th and 21st Centuries | 3 |
| C&E SOC/HISTORY/POLI SCI/SOC 259 | Forward? The Wisconsin Idea, Past and Present | 1-3 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY 151 | The North American West to 1850 | 3-4 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY 152 | The United States West Since 1850 | 3-4 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY 153 | Latina/Latino/Latinx History | 3-4 |
| CHICLA 201 | Introduction to Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies | 3 |
| CHICLA/GEN&WS/HISTORY 245 | Chicana and Latina History | 3 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY/LACIS/POLI SCI 268 | The U.S. & Latin America from the Colonial Era to the Present: A Critical Survey | 3 |
| CHICLA 301 | Chicana/o and Latina/o History | 3 |
| CHICLA 315 | Racial Formation and Whiteness | 3 |
| CHICLA/GEN&WS 332 | Latinas: Self Identity and Social Change | 3 |
| CHICLA/SPANISH 364 | Survey of Latinx/e Popular Culture | 3 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY/POLI SCI 422 | Latino History and Politics | 3 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY 435 | Colony, Nation, and Minority: The Puerto Ricans' World | 3 |
| CLASSICS/HISTORY 110 | The Ancient Mediterranean | 4 |
| CLASSICS 206 | Classical Influences on Western Art and Science | 3 |
| CLASSICS/HISTORY/POLI SCI 362 | Athenian Democracy | 3 |
| CLASSICS/HISTORY/RELIG ST 517 | Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean | 3 |
| CURRIC/ED POL/HISTORY/JEWISH 515 | Holocaust: History, Memory and Education | 3 |
| ECON/HISTORY 466 | The American Economy Since 1865 | 3-4 |
| ED POL/HISTORY 107 | The History of the University in the West | 3 |
| ED POL/HISTORY 143 | History of Race and Inequality in Urban America | 3 |
| ED POL/HISTORY 412 | History of American Education | 3 |
| ED POL/HISTORY 478 | Comparative History of Childhood and Adolescence | 3 |
| ED POL/HISTORY 612 | History of Student Activism from the Popular Front to Black Lives Matter | 3 |
| ENGL/HISTORY/RELIG ST 360 | Early Medieval England | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/HIST SCI/HISTORY 125 | Green Screen: Environmental Perspectives through Film | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GNS 210 | Cultures of Sustainability: Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/HISTORY 328 | Environmental History of Europe | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG/HISTORY 460 | American Environmental History | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/HISTORY/LEGAL ST 430 | Law and Environment: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/GNS 200 | Folklore of Central, Eastern and Northern Europe | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 442 | Immigration and Indigeneity in the Upper Midwest | 3 |
| GEN&WS/HISTORY 353 | Women and Gender in the U.S. to 1870 | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS/HISTORY 354 | Women and Gender in the U.S. Since 1870 | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS/HISTORY 392 | Women and Gender in Modern Europe | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS/HIST SCI 537 | Childbirth in the United States | 3 |
| GEOG/HISTORY/POLI SCI/SLAVIC 253 | Russia: An Interdisciplinary Survey | 4 |
| GEOG/HISTORY/POLI SCI/SLAVIC 254 | Eastern Europe: An Interdisciplinary Survey | 4 |
| HIST SCI/HISTORY/MED HIST 132 | Bees, Trees, Germs, and Genes: A History of Biology | 3 |
| HIST SCI 150 | The Digital Age | 3 |
| HIST SCI 201 | The Origins of Scientific Thought | 3 |
| HIST SCI 218 | History of Twentieth Century American Medicine | 3 |
| HIST SCI/AFROAMER 275 | Science, Medicine, and Race: A History | 3-4 |
| HIST SCI/HISTORY 323 | The Scientific Revolution: From Copernicus to Newton | 3 |
| HIST SCI 404 | A History of Disease | 3-4 |
| HIST SCI/HISTORY/MED HIST 508 | Health, Disease and Healing II | 3-4 |
| HIST SCI/MED HIST 509 | The Development of Public Health in America | 3 |
| HIST SCI/GEN&WS/MED HIST 531 | Women and Health in American History | 3 |
| HIST SCI/GEN&WS/MED HIST 532 | The History of the (American) Body | 3 |
| HISTORY 101 | Amer Hist to the Civil War Era, the Origin & Growth of the U S | 4 |
| HISTORY 102 | American History, Civil War Era to the Present | 4 |
| HISTORY 109 | Introduction to U.S. History | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 115 | Medieval Europe 410-1500 | 4 |
| HISTORY 119 | Europe and the World, 1400-1815 | 4 |
| HISTORY 120 | Europe and the Modern World 1815 to the Present | 4 |
| HISTORY 124 | Britain since 1688 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 136 | Sport, Recreation, & Society in the United States | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 145 | America and China, 1776-Today | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 154 | Who is an American? | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 155 | The Long Black Freedom Struggle from the Civil War to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/JEWISH 156 | The American Jewish Experience: From Shtetl to Suburb | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 170 | East Meets West: Myth, Meaning, and Modernity | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 201 | The Historian's Craft (topic must be approved) | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/RELIG ST 208 | Western Intellectual and Religious History to 1500 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/RELIG ST 209 | Western Intellectual and Religious History since 1500 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/RELIG ST 212 | The History of Western Christianity to 1750 | 4 |
| HISTORY/JEWISH 213 | Jews and American Pop. Culture | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/JEWISH 220 | Introduction to Modern Jewish History | 4 |
| HISTORY 221 | Explorations in American History (H) | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 223 | Explorations in European History (H) | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 227 | Explorations in the History of Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| HISTORY/ART HIST/ENVIR ST/GEOG/LAND ARC 239 | Making the American Landscape | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/LACIS 243 | Colonial Latin America: Invasion to Independence | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/LEGAL ST 261 | American Legal History to 1860 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/LEGAL ST 262 | American Legal History, 1860 to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 269 | War, Race, and Religion in Europe and the United States, from the Scramble for Africa to Today | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 270 | Eastern Europe since 1900 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 271 | Study Abroad in History: European History | 1-4 |
| HISTORY 272 | Study Abroad in History: United States History | 1-4 |
| HISTORY 302 | History of American Thought, 1859 to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 303 | A History of Greek Civilization | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 306 | The United States Since 1945 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 307 | A History of Rome | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/MEDIEVAL/RELIG ST 309 | The Crusades: Christianity and Islam | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/JEWISH 310 | The Holocaust | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 329 | History of American Capitalism | 4 |
| HISTORY/INTL ST 332 | East Asia & The U.S. Since 1899 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 344 | The Age of the American Revolution, 1763-1789 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 345 | Military History of the United States | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 348 | France from Napoleon to the Great War, 1799-1914 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 349 | Contemporary France, 1914 to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 350 | The First World War and the Shaping of Twentieth-Century Europe | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/CHICLA/LACIS/POLI SCI 355 | Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective | 3 |
| HISTORY 357 | The Second World War | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 358 | French Revolution and Napoleon | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 359 | History of Europe Since 1945 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/INTL ST 366 | From Fascism to Today: Social Movements and Politics in Europe | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 401 | Public History Workshop | 3 |
| HISTORY 403 | Immigration and Assimilation in American History | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/RELIG ST 409 | Christianity in the Atlantic World, 1500-1800 | 3 |
| HISTORY 410 | History of Germany, 1871 to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/RELIG ST 411 | The Enlightenment and Its Critics | 3 |
| HISTORY 417 | History of Russia | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 418 | History of Russia | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 419 | History of Soviet Russia | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 420 | Russian Social and Intellectual History | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 424 | The Soviet Union and the World, 1917-1991 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/CHICLA/POLI SCI 422 | Latino History and Politics | 3 |
| HISTORY/LEGAL ST 426 | The History of Punishment | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 427 | The American Military Experience to 1902 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 428 | The American Military Experience Since 1899 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/SCAND ST 431 | History of Scandinavia to 1815 | 3 |
| HISTORY/SCAND ST 432 | History of Scandinavia Since 1815 | 3 |
| HISTORY 434 | American Foreign Relations, 1901 to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/SCAND ST 577 | Contemporary Scandinavia: Politics and History | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/LEGAL ST 459 | Rule of Law: Philosophical and Historical Models | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/LEGAL ST 476 | Medieval Law and Society | 3 |
| HISTORY/LEGAL ST 510 | Legal Pluralism | 3 |
| HISTORY 500 | Reading Seminar in History | 3 |
| HISTORY/JEWISH/SOC 518 | Antisemitism in European Culture | 3 |
| HISTORY/JOURN 560 | History of U.S. Media | 4 |
| HISTORY 607 | The American Impact Abroad: The Historical Dimension | 3 |
| ILS 201 | Western Culture: Science, Technology, Philosophy I | 3 |
| ILS 202 | Western Culture: Science, Technology, Philosophy II | 3 |
| MUSIC 202 | Delta Blues | 3 |
| MUSIC 203 | American Ethnicities and Popular Song | 3 |
| MUSIC 317 | Musical Women in Europe and America: Creativity, Performance, and Identity | 3 |
| SCAND ST 348 | The Second World War in Nordic Culture | 3 |
Global Perspectives Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A A E/ENVIR ST 244 | The Environment and the Global Economy | 4 |
| A A E 319 | The International Agricultural Economy | 3 |
| A A E/NUTR SCI 350 | World Hunger and Malnutrition | 3 |
| A A E/INTL ST 373 | Globalization, Poverty and Development | 3 |
| A A E/INTL ST 374 | The Growth and Development of Nations in the Global Economy | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 473 | Economic Growth and Development in Southeast Asia | 3 |
| AFRICAN/HISTORY 106 | Introduction to African History | 3-4 |
| AFRICAN/HISTORY 129 | Africa on the Global Stage | 3-4 |
| AFRICAN 201 | Introduction to African Literature | 3 |
| AFRICAN 202 | Introductory Topics in African Cultural Studies | 3 |
| AFRICAN 203 | Introductory Topics in African Literature | 3 |
| AFRICAN 204 | Introductory Topics in African Languages | 3 |
| AFRICAN/FOLKLORE 210 | The African Storyteller | 3 |
| AFRICAN 212 | Introduction to African Popular Culture | 3 |
| AFRICAN/FRENCH 216 | Modern and Contemporary Francophone Topics | 3 |
| AFRICAN/AFROAMER 220 | HipHop, Youth Culture, and Politics in Senegal | 3 |
| AFRICAN 230 | Introduction to Yoruba Life and Culture | 3 |
| AFRICAN/AFROAMER 233 | Global HipHop and Social Justice | 3 |
| AFRICAN 231 | Introduction to Arabic Literary Culture | 3 |
| AFRICAN/AFROAMER/ANTHRO/GEOG/HISTORY/POLI SCI/SOC 277 | Africa: An Introductory Survey | 4 |
| AFRICAN/AFROAMER/HISTORY/POLI SCI 297 | African and African-American Linkages: An Introduction | 4 |
| AFRICAN 300 | African Literature in Translation | 3 |
| AFRICAN/INTL ST 302 | Arabic Literature and Cinema | 3 |
| AFRICAN/ASIAN/RELIG ST 370 | Islam: Religion and Culture | 3-4 |
| AFRICAN 403 | Theories of African Cultural Studies | 3 |
| AFRICAN/RELIG ST 408 | Everyday Religion in Africa | 3 |
| AFRICAN/RELIG ST 414 | Islam in Africa and the Diaspora | 3 |
| AFRICAN/COM ARTS/L I S 444 | Technology and Development in Africa and Beyond | 3 |
| AFROAMER/ART HIST 241 | Introduction to African Art and Architecture | 3 |
| AFROAMER/ANTHRO/C&E SOC/GEOG/HISTORY/LACIS/POLI SCI/SOC/SPANISH 260 | Latin America: An Introduction | 3-4 |
| AFROAMER/DANCE/MUSIC 318 | Cultural Cross Currents: West African Dance/Music in the Americas | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 367 | Art and Visual Culture: Women of the African Diaspora and Africa | 3 |
| AGROECOL 377 | Global Food Production and Health | 3 |
| ANTHRO 100 | General Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 102 | Archaeology and the Prehistoric World | 3 |
| ANTHRO 104 | Cultural Anthropology and Human Diversity | 3 |
| ANTHRO 105 | Principles of Biological Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO/FOLKLORE/INTL ST/LINGUIS 211 | Global Language Issues | 3 |
| ANTHRO 237 | Cut 'n' Mix: Music, Race, and Culture in the Caribbean | 3 |
| ANTHRO 265 | Introduction to Culture and Health | 3 |
| ANTHRO 300 | Cultural Anthropology: Theory and Ethnography | 3 |
| ANTHRO/ASIAN 305 | Anthropology of South Asia | 3 |
| ANTHRO/AMER IND 314 | Indians of North America | 3 |
| ANTHRO 321 | The Emergence of Human Culture | 3 |
| ANTHRO 322 | The Origins of Civilization | 3 |
| ANTHRO 330 | Topics in Ethnology (topic must be approved) | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 333 | Prehistory of Africa | 3 |
| ANTHRO 339 | Archaeology of Warfare and Human Nature | 3 |
| ANTHRO 350 | Political Anthropology | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 357 | Introduction to the Anthropology of Japan | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 365 | Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| ART HIST/ASIAN 179 | Passage Through India: South Asia's Global Architectural Histories | 3 |
| ART HIST 205 | Global Arts | 3-4 |
| ART HIST 305 | History of Islamic Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ART HIST 307 | From Tomb to Temple: Ancient Chinese Art and Religion in Transition | 3 |
| ART HIST 308 | The Tastes of Scholars and Emperors: Chinese Art in the Later Periods | 3 |
| ART HIST 354 | Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present | 3-4 |
| ART HIST/ASIAN 379 | Cities of Asia | 3 |
| ART HIST 411 | Topics in Asian Art | 3-4 |
| ART HIST 412 | Topics in African and African Diaspora Art History | 3-4 |
| ART HIST 413 | Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs | 3 |
| ART HIST/ASIAN 428 | Visual Cultures of India | 3 |
| ART HIST 440 | Art and Power in the Arab World | 3 |
| ART HIST 510 | Proseminar in Islamic Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ASIAN 100 | Gateway to Asia: Special Topics | 3-4 |
| ASIAN 205 | Animal Ethics in Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN/LITTRANS 212 | Classical South Asian Literatures | 3 |
| ASIAN 252 | Contemporary Indian Society | 3 |
| ASIAN 253 | Japanese Popular Culture | 3 |
| ASIAN 254 | Korean Popular Culture | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 274 | Religion in South Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN 277 | Kendo: Integration of Martial Arts and Liberal Arts | 2 |
| ASIAN 300 | Topics in Asian Studies | 3 |
| ASIAN 301 | Social Science Topics in Asian Studies | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 303 | Jainism: Religion and Culture of Nonviolence | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 306 | Hinduism | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 307 | A Survey of Tibetan Buddhism | 3 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY/RELIG ST 308 | Introduction to Buddhism | 3-4 |
| ASIAN 310 | Introduction to Comics and Graphic Novels: Theory, History, Method | 3 |
| ASIAN/SOC 334 | Gender, Work, and Family in East Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN/SOC 336 | Social Change in Contemporary South Korea | 3 |
| ASIAN 351 | Survey of Classical Chinese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 352 | Survey of Modern Chinese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 353 | Lovers, Warriors and Monks: Survey of Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 355 | Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 361 | Love and Politics: The Tale of Genji | 3 |
| ASIAN 371 | Topics in Chinese Literature | 2-3 |
| ASIAN 374 | Korean Cinema | 3 |
| ASIAN 378 | Anime | 3 |
| ASIAN 403 | Southeast Asian Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 405 | Gods and Goddesses of South Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 444 | Introduction to Sufism (Islamic Mysticism) | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 466 | Buddhist Thought | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 505 | The Perfectible Body in Religions, Medicines, and Politics | 3 |
| ASIAN 533 | Readings in Early Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 642 | History of Chinese Literature II | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST/GEOG 322 | Polar Regions and Their Importance in the Global Environment | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 140 | Introduction to Community and Environmental Sociology | 4 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 222 | Food, Culture, and Society | 3 |
| C&E SOC/F&W ECOL/SOC 248 | Environment, Natural Resources, and Society | 3 |
| C&E SOC/POP HLTH 370 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| CHICLA/SPANISH 215 | Border and Migration Studies of Latinx America | 3 |
| CHICLA/POLI SCI 231 | Politics in Multi-Cultural Societies | 3-4 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY/LACIS/POLI SCI 268 | The U.S. & Latin America from the Colonial Era to the Present: A Critical Survey | 3 |
| CHICLA/GEN&WS 334 | Feminist Social Movements Across the Americas | 3 |
| CHICLA/ED POL/LACIS 342 | Education across the Americas: Empire, Capitalism, and Resistance | 3 |
| CLASSICS 321 | The Egyptians: History, Society, and Literature | 3 |
| DANCE 118 | African Dance | 1 |
| DANCE 165 | Introduction to the Histories of Dance | 3 |
| ENTOM/NUTR SCI 203 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 |
| ENTOM/ENVIR ST 205 | Our Planet, Our Health | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 139 | Global Environmental Issues | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/HIST SCI 213 | Global Environmental Health: An Interdisciplinary Introduction | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 309 | People, Land and Food: Comparative Study of Agriculture Systems | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 339 | Conservation and Climate Change - Local to International Strategies | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/HISTORY 465 | Global Environmental History | 3-4 |
| FOLKLORE 100 | Introduction to Folklore | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/MUSIC 103 | Introduction to Music Cultures of the World | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/RELIG ST 352 | Shamanism | 3 |
| GEN&WS 102 | Gender, Women, and Society in Global Perspective | 3 |
| GEN&WS 104 | Gender, Sexuality, and Global Health | 3 |
| GEN&WS/HISTORY 134 | Women and Gender in World History | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS 423 | The Female Body in the World: Gender and Contemporary Body Politics in Cross Cultural Perspective | 3 |
| GEN&WS/POLI SCI 435 | Politics of Gender and Women's Rights in the Middle East | 3 |
| GEN&WS 444 | From Past Feminisms to Postfeminism: Feminisms for the 21st Century | 3 |
| GEN&WS/PORTUG 450 | Brazillian Women Writers | 3 |
| GEOG 101 | Human Geography: Space, Place, Society, and Politics | 4 |
| GEOG/ASIAN/HISTORY/POLI SCI/SOC 244 | Introduction to Southeast Asia: Vietnam to the Philippines | 4 |
| GEOG/INTL ST 311 | The Global Game: Soccer, Politics, and Identity | 3-4 |
| GEOG 307 | International Migration, Health, and Human Rights | 3 |
| GEOG/INTL ST 315 | Universal Basic Income: The Politics Behind a Global Movement | 3 |
| GEOG 340 | World Regions in Global Context | 3 |
| GEOG 355 | Africa, South of the Sahara | 3 |
| GEOG 358 | Human Geography of Southeast Asia (German, Nordic, and Slavic) | 3 |
| GEOG/GEN&WS 504 | Feminist Geography: Theoretical Approaches | 3 |
| GEOG 507 | Waste Geographies: Politics, People, and Infrastructures | 3 |
| GNS 460 | Readings in Turkish: Contemporary Turkey through Literature and Media | 4 |
| GNS/HISTORY 265 | An Introduction to Central Asia: From the Silk Route to Afghanistan | 3 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 103 | Introduction to East Asian History: China | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 104 | Introduction to East Asian History: Japan | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 108 | Introduction to East Asian History - Korea | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/CLASSICS 110 | The Ancient Mediterranean | 4 |
| HISTORY 130 | An Introduction to World History | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 133 | Global Military History (5000 BCE - Present) | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 137 | The History of War in Film | 3 |
| HISTORY 139 | Introduction to the Modern Middle East | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 142 | History of South Asia to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 145 | America and China, 1776-Today | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/INTL ST 146 | A Global History of Now | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 170 | East Meets West: Myth, Meaning, and Modernity | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 179 | Afro-Atlantic Histories and Peoples, 1791-Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 201 | The Historian's Craft (Latin American Topics) | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/RELIG ST 205 | The Making of the Islamic World: The Middle East, 500-1500 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 225 | Explorations in Third World History (H) | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 229 | Explorations in Transnational/Comparative History (Humanities) (topic must be approved) | 3 |
| HISTORY/INTL ST/LACIS 242 | Modern Latin America | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/LACIS 243 | Colonial Latin America: Invasion to Independence | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/CHICLA/GEN&WS 245 | Chicana and Latina History | 3 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN/ASIAN AM 246 | Southeast Asian Refugees of the "Cold" War | 4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN/POLI SCI 255 | Introduction to East Asian Civilizations | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 273 | Study Abroad in History: Non-Western History | 1-4 |
| HISTORY 278 | Africans in the Americas, 1492-1808 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/MEDIEVAL/RELIG ST 309 | The Crusades: Christianity and Islam | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 319 | The Vietnam Wars | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/INTL ST 332 | East Asia & The U.S. Since 1899 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 335 | The Koreas: Korean War to the 21st Century | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 336 | Chinese Economic and Business History: From Silk to iPhones | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 337 | Social and Intellectual History of China, 589 AD-1919 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 340 | Cultural History of Korea | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 341 | History of Modern China, 1800-1949 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 342 | History of the Peoples Republic of China, 1949 to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/AFROAMER 347 | The Caribbean and its Diasporas | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 363 | China and World War II in Asia | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/INTL ST 375 | The Cold War - From World War II to End of Soviet Empire | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/RELIG ST 409 | Christianity in the Atlantic World, 1500-1800 | 3 |
| HISTORY/CHICLA/POLI SCI 422 | Latino History and Politics | 3 |
| HISTORY/CHICLA 435 | Colony, Nation, and Minority: The Puerto Ricans' World | 3 |
| HISTORY 450 | Making of Modern South Asia | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 454 | Samurai: History and Image | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 456 | Pearl Harbor & Hiroshima: Japan, the US & The Crisis in Asia | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 458 | History of Southeast Asia Since 1800 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/HIST SCI/MED HIST 564 | Disease, Medicine and Public Health in the History of Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| INTL BUS 200 | International Business | 3 |
| INTL ST 101 | Introduction to International Studies | 3-4 |
| INTL ST 266 | Introduction to the Middle East | 3 |
| INTL ST 310 | International Learning Community Seminar (topic must be approved) | 1-3 |
| INTL ST/ED POL 335 | Globalization and Education | 3 |
| JOURN 567 | Mass Media and Global Communication | 4 |
| LITTRANS 226 | Introduction to Luso-Afro-Brazilian Literature | 3 |
| LITTRANS 231 | Manga | 3 |
| LITTRANS 261 | Survey of Chinese Literature in Translation | 3 |
| LITTRANS 263 | Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation | 3 |
| LITTRANS 264 | Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation | 3 |
| LITTRANS 373 | Topics in Japanese Literature | 3 |
| MUSIC 260 | Global Hand Drumming Ensemble: Survey of Selected Global Hand Drumming Traditions | 1 |
| POLI SCI 120 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 4 |
| POLI SCI 182 | Introduction to Comparative Politics (Honors) | 3 |
| POLI SCI 320 | Governments and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 324 | Chinese Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 325 | Social Movements and Revolutions in Latin America | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 328 | Politics of East and Southeast Asia | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 329 | African Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 336 | Democracy (and Its Uncertain Future) | 4 |
| POLI SCI 349 | Global Access to Justice | 3 |
| POLI SCI/CHICLA/HISTORY/LACIS 355 | Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective | 3 |
| POLI SCI 370 | Islam and Politics | 3-4 |
| RELIG ST/ASIAN 206 | The Qur'an: Religious Scripture & Literature | 3 |
| RELIG ST 400 | Topics in Religious Studies - Humanities (topic must be approved) | 3-4 |
| RELIG ST 401 | Topics in Religious Studies - Social Studies (topic must be approved) | 3-4 |
| RELIG ST 407 | Buddhism and Anti-Racism | 3 |
| SOC 170 | Population Problems | 3-4 |
| SPANISH 223 | Introduction to Hispanic Cultures | 3 |
| THEATRE 526 | The Theatres of China and Japan | 3 |
Liberal Studies Electives
| Liberal Studies Electives | Complete additional liberal studies coursework as needed to reach the required 40 Liberal Studies credits. |
Program Structure
The Physical Education program has six components:
- Liberal studies courses expose students to a broad range of academic disciplines. The university-wide General Education requirements also encourage this breadth of study.
- Science Core coursework offers in-depth study of the basic sciences and mathematics.
- Kinesiology Core courses look at how the body responds and adapts to exercise, the role of psychological factors in sports and exercise, mechanics applied to biological systems, and how movement is controlled, learned, and developed over the life span.
- The Physical Education requirements focus on advanced study in Physical Education pedagogy, including teaching methods coursework and field experiences in the schools.
- Education coursework includes an examination of the school's relationship to our society and also of the processes by which students grow and learn.
- Elective coursework is taken to reach the minimum of 120 credits required for the degree.
While not required, teaching certifications in Adapted Physical Education and Health Education are also offered. See Additional Certification Options, below.
Science and Kinesiology Core Courses
With the exception of KINES 116 First Aid and Basic Life Support and KINES 121 Foundations of Physical Education, Kinesiology coursework must be taken after admission into the professional part of the undergraduate program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 112 | College Algebra | 3 |
| CHEM 108 | Chemistry in Our World | 5 |
| or CHEM 103 | General Chemistry I | |
| ANAT&PHY 337 | Human Anatomy | 3 |
| ANAT&PHY 235 | Human Physiology and Health | 4 |
| KINES 116 | First Aid and Basic Life Support 1 | 2 |
| KINES 308 | Biomechanics of Physical Activity | 2 |
| KINES 314 | Physiology of Exercise | 4 |
| KINES 361 | Motor Learning and Performance | 3 |
- 1
Students may exempt from KINES 116 First Aid and Basic Life Support by completing American Red Cross First Aid AND either American Red Cross Basic Life Support or American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers, enroll here.
If a student wishes to request that a different course (or courses) be considered, contact the Department of Kinesiology undergraduate office PRIOR to enrolling.
Physical Education Courses
Effective for Fall, 2023 program admission.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| KINES 121 | Foundations of Physical Education | 2 |
| KINES 315 | Assessment and Research in Physical Activity Pedagogy | 3 |
| KINES 316 | Adapted Physical Activity | 3 |
| KINES 325 | Group Development and Behavior Management | 3 |
| KINES 327 | Current Topics in Outdoor Pursuits | 1 |
| KINES 353 | Health and Physical Education in a Multicultural Society | 3 |
| KINES 372 | Methods and Practicum of Teaching PK-5 Physical Education | 4 |
| KINES 373 | Methods and Practicum of Teaching 6-12 Physical Education | 4 |
| KINES 478 | Elementary School Physical Education Student Teaching | 6 |
| KINES 479 | Middle School or High School Physical Education Student Teaching | 6 |
Professional Education Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Learning (Minimum of 3 credits) | ||
| ED PSYCH 301 | How People Learn | 3 |
| Foundations of the Profession: (Minimum of 3 credits) | ||
| ED POL 300 | School and Society | 3 |
| or ED POL/HISTORY 412 | History of American Education | |
Additional Certification Options
Physical Education students are encouraged to increase their content knowledge and teaching capabilities through additional training. Although not required, teaching certifications are available in Health Education and Adapted Physical Education. Students may pursue more than one additional certification.
Continuation Requirement: Department of Kinesiology
All students admitted to undergraduate programs in the Department of Kinesiology, including Physical Education, must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75, based on all UW–Madison campus course work. Consult the School of Education's Academic Policies and Procedures for additional information about the continuation requirement.
GPA and Other Graduation Requirements
Graduation Requirements
Based on UW–Madison coursework.
- 2.75 cumulative grade point average. This may be modified by the Last 60 Credits Rule.
- 2.75 cumulative grade point average across all professional education courses (excluding practicum and student teaching).
- 2.75 cumulative grade point average in the major.
- A minimum of 120 credits.
- Major residency: Degree candidates must complete at least 15 credits of upper-level major coursework (numbered 300–699) in residence on the UW–Madison campus.
- Senior residency: Degree candidates must complete their last 30 credits in residence on the UW–Madison campus. Student teaching and practicum are considered part of the 30 credits.
Degree Audit (DARS)
UW–Madison uses “DARS” to document a student's progress toward the completion of their degree, including any additional majors and certificates. A DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) report shows all the requirements for completing a degree and, against courses that are planned or completed, shows the requirements that have been met, and those that are unmet. A report can offer suggestions about courses that may be taken to meet specific requirements and can assist in the academic planning and enrollment process. Students can access a DARS report in the Course Search & Enroll app or Student Center via My UW.
DARS also has a "what-if" function. This feature makes it possible to request a DARS report as if pursuing another program, major, or certificate. It is an excellent tool if considering a new or additional area of study. School of Education students in a pre-professional classification such as Pre-Elementary (PRE) or Pre-Kinesiology should request a "what if" DARS report of their professional program of interest. For example, Pre-Elementary Education (PRE) students will request Elementary Education K-9; Pre-Kinesiology (PKN) students will request the Kinesiology report. Minors have their own DARS programs and are run separately from the main degree audit.
More information (including tutorials) on how to request and read regular and what-if DARS reports is available under the Resources tab on the Office of the Registrar’s website.
DARS is not intended to replace student contact with academic advisors. It creates more time in an advising appointment to discuss course options, research opportunities, graduate school, or issues of personal interest or concern to students.
DARS is used as the document of record for degree program, major, and certificate completion in the School of Education.
Additional Certification Requirements and Applying for a License
In addition to completing UW-Madison's program requirements, students must also complete Wisconsin statutory requirements and certification requirements established by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Many of these requirements are embedded within the program's requirements and require no additional attention. The endorsement of the program coordinator/faculty is also required to receive certification through UW–Madison.
The State of Wisconsin requires that anyone wishing to teach in a public K–12 setting hold a valid teaching license issued through the Department of Public Instruction. In addition to completing a certification program, students must submit a separate application for this license.
Detailed information about certification requirements and applying for a license is available under Certification/Licensure.
Learning Outcomes
- Standard 1: Scientific Foundational Knowledge. Physical education candidates demonstrate an understanding of scientific foundations for the delivery of an effective preK-12 physical education program.
- Standard 2: Physical Education Foundational Knowledge. Physical education candidates demonstrate an understanding of theoretical foundations for the delivery of an effective preK-12 physical education program.
- Standard 3: Physical Education Content Knowledge. Physical education candidates understand physical education content, concepts and skills associated with the development of a physically educated student.
- Standard 4: Planning for Instruction. Physical education candidates plan developmentally appropriate learning experiences aligned with local, state and/or SHAPE America National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education.
- Standard 5: Instructional Delivery and Management. Physical education candidates engage students in meaningful learning experiences through effective use of pedagogical skills. They use communication, feedback, and instructional and managerial skills to enhance student learning.
- Standard 6: Assessment of Student Learning. Physical education candidates select and implement appropriate assessments to monitor students’ progress and guide decision making related to instruction and learning that do not marginalize students.
- Standard 7: Technology. Physical education candidates select and implement a variety of technologies to enhance learning, as well as personal and professional productivity.
- Standard 8: Social-Emotional Learning and Trauma Based Practices. Physical education candidates understand and utilize a variety of practices critical to SEL and positive mental health outcomes.
- Standard 9: Professional Responsibility. Physical education candidates demonstrate behaviors essential to becoming effective professionals.
Four-Year Plan
Physical Education – Sample Four-Year Plan
This sample four-year sample graduation plan is designed to guide your course selection throughout your academic career; it does not establish a contractual agreement. Use it along with your DARS report, the Guide, and the Course Search and Enroll app to create a four-year plan reflecting your placement scores, incoming credits, and individual interests. Consult with your academic advisor(s) to develop a personalized plan of study and refer to the Guide for a complete list of requirements. You will likely revise your plan several times during your academic career here, based on your activities and changing academic interests.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| KINES 121 | 2 | KINES 116 | 2 |
| Communication A | 3 | CHEM 108 | 5 |
| POLI SCI 104 | 4 | MATH 112 | 3 |
| Liberal Studies coursework | 6 | Liberal Studies coursework | 3 |
| General Electives | 2 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| KINES 325 | 3 | KINES 315 | 3 |
| ED PSYCH 301 | 3 | KINES 316 | 3 |
| Liberal Studies coursework | 6 | KINES 327 | 1 |
| General Elective | 4 | ANAT&PHY 337 | 3 |
| General Electives | 5 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| KINES 308 | 2 | KINES 372 | 4 |
| KINES 353 | 3 | ANAT&PHY 235 | 4 |
| KINES 361 | 3 | Liberal Studies coursework | 3 |
| General Electives | 7 | General Electives | 5 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| KINES 314 | 4 | KINES 478 | 6 |
| KINES 373 | 4 | KINES 479 | 6 |
| ED POL/HISTORY 412 (Also meets U.S./European History) | 3 | ||
| General Electives | 5 | ||
| 16 | 12 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Advising and Careers
Physical Education Advising
Prospective off-campus and on-campus Physical Education students will meet with Prof. Michael Norris in the Department of Kinesiology. Students considering this major should schedule an appointment with Dr. Norris as soon as possible. Pre-declaration advising is conducted by the Department of Kinesiology and staff in the School of Education Student Services office, see below.
Students with either a pre-certification (PED) or certification (BSPE) classification are required to meet with their department advisor at least once per semester. Mandatory advising meetings are conducted every semester, just before enrollment begins for the following semester.
Academic Advising in the School of Education
Dedicated to supporting and promoting student success, academic advisors are here to assist students with the adjustment to college, understanding their degree and career goals, and connecting them to resources. Advisors support prospective and current School of Education students in all programs through:
- Course selection
- Mentoring and advocacy for underrepresented and international students
- Understanding degree requirements and progression
- Interpreting academic policies
- Helping students recognize their strengths and suggesting ways to expand their skills
- Expanding learning through activities such as study abroad, volunteering/work/internship, and by assuming leadership roles
Advising appointments are available in person, virtually, or over the phone. Current students schedule appointments through the Starfish app in MyUW. Appointments can also be made by calling 608-262-1651, or in person in Room 139 Education Building.
Academic Dean Support staff are also here for you when facing academic or personal challenges. We provide undergraduate School of Education students support, problem-solving, advocacy, resources, and approve exceptions to policies.
Career Advising in the School of Education
Through individual appointments, events, courses, and online resources, the Career Center provides students and alumni with the tools needed to be successful in their career development.
Career and Internship Advisors are prepared to help students with:
- Exploration of career and academic pathways
- Resumes
- Cover letters
- Job/Internship search
- Interview preparation
- Mock interviews
- Graduate school search, applications and decisions
- Negotiating job or internship offers
- Professional networking
- Connecting with employers
Students are encouraged to meet with their Career and Internship Advisor early in their college experience to take full advantage of the resources and support available.
To make an appointment: log into Starfish from the MyUW dashboard.
For more information, visit the School of Education Career Center website or reach out at career-center@education.wisc.edu.
Wisconsin Experience
UW–Madison’s vision for the total student experience, the Wisconsin Experience, combines learning in and out of the classroom. Tied to the Wisconsin Idea and steeped in long-standing institutional values — the commitment to the truth, shared participation in decision-making, and service to local and global communities — the Wisconsin Experience describes how students develop and integrate these core values across their educational experience.
UW–Madison encourages students to mindfully engage in four core concepts throughout their time on campus: Empathy & Humility, Relentless Curiosity, Intellectual Confidence, and Purposeful Action.
Since its inception, the School of Education has embraced the concepts of the Wisconsin Experience, providing opportunities for students to learn in venues beyond the traditional classroom. Our students also independently seek out related activities and experiences, thus creating their own unique Wisconsin Experience.
Physical Education and the Wisconsin Experience
On-Campus Activities and Experiences
Homeschool Physical Education
Physical Education students in an elementary PE methods course provide an eight-week physical education program for local homeschool students. This experience is a win-win for both groups, as PE students practice their teaching skills while homeschool students get the vital motor and social skill development they need.
Participation in the Virginia Horne Henry PE History Project
Current students met with Physical Education alumni to share stories, learn about the rich program history, and establish new traditions to enhance the program.
Off-Campus Activities and Experience
Camp Courageous
Students completing the Adapted Physical Education minor volunteer for a weekend as camp counselors at Camp Courageous, working one to one with campers with disabilities. The students provide activities such as a scavenger hunt, support in the pool for aquatic activities, and other adventures like ziplining with their camper.
Walk for Autism (Fitchburg, WI)
Students enrolled in several Adapted Physical Education minor courses participate in the annual Walk for Autism, hosted by The Autism Society of Wisconsin - Madison. They help organize equipment and supplies prior to the walk and make posters supporting the children and families participating in the event. All student volunteers are posted around the walking track to guide and cheer on the walkers.
Team Building Activities
In KINES 325 Group Development and Behavior Management, students develop and plan team-building activities. The students then visit a local elementary school to teach these activities and help students develop positive social and emotional skills.
Teaching in Area Schools
Students in physical education courses provide physical education and social skill development in area schools.
Partnering with Boys & Girls Club of Dane County
Physical Education students and staff provide training on the implementation of social and emotional learning for after-school staff.
Volunteering to Support Local Programs
Students volunteer with the Madison School and Community Recreation Department in a variety of sports and activities and assist in numerous capacities with the Adapted Sports Program at Sun Prairie Area School District.
Multicultural Field Experience
As part of KINES 353 Health and Physical Education in a Multicultural Society, students complete the Multicultural Field Experience in which they work with individuals from a cultural background different than their own. Placements for the MFE have included assisting teachers in school health or physical education classes, volunteering with an after-school program through Madison School and Community Recreation, and supporting a community organization.
Additional Activities and Accomplishments
Student Organizations and Memberships
Students have organized the local Physical Education Club on campus and have memberships with Wisconsin Health and Physical Education.
Additional Certifications
In addition to the Physical Education major, most students also complete the Adapted Physical Education minor and/or the Health Education minor.
State Association Leadership Positions - Wisconsin Health and Physical Education
Several students have served as Future Professionals President and Vice President with Wisconsin Health and Physical Education (WHPE). They have also served as Future Professionals Secretary and Treasurer. Additionally, they have served as the Future Professionals representative on the Leadership Council for the Midwest District of the Society of Health and Physical Educators, the parent body of the WHPE association.
Professional Presentations and Workshops
Students are active participants as presenters at the Wisconsin Health and Physical Education Convention, Best Practices in Health and Physical Education Conference, Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) Convention, and UW–Madison Undergraduate Symposium. Students also participated in the Society for Public Health Education/CDC sponsored Skills-Based Health Education Workshop implemented by Health Education faculty and students in the spring.
Let's Talk - First Year Teacher Program
Physical Education staff and retirees partner with first-year alums to help them incorporate social and emotional learning across their Physical Education curriculum and provide a place to debrief as they go through their first year or two of teaching.
Study Abroad Courses
- In 2023-2025, the Department of Kinesiology began offering a summer study-abroad course in Costa Rica for PE students. The study abroad was designed to enhance the group development skills of its participants while engaging in various activities to encourage group and team development by white-water rafting, ziplining, and hiking. The course linked to this experience, KINES 325 Group Development and Behavior Management, encourages students to learn and practice social and emotional learning and apply it in a group setting. These outdoor pursuits and group activities provide opportunities for conversations, discussions, and processing. Each day during the trip also provides opportunities to not only explore the Pura Vida (Pure Life) of Costa Rica, but also to engage in personal reflection. Participants experience the process of growing together as a community and develop skills to create lasting communities in their personal and professional lives. Students earn credit for KINES 325, a required course in the Physical Education program.
- Anticipated study abroad destinations include a return to Costa Rica, and also consideration for developing opportunities in Brazil in 2028, or Botswana in 2029.
Certification/Licensure
Additional Certification Requirements
In addition to completing UW–Madison's program requirements, certification also requires the completion of Wisconsin statutory requirements related to teacher education and certification requirements established by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Students must complete all requirements and also obtain the endorsement of the program faculty to receive certification through UW–Madison. For a description of additional certification requirements and information about applying for a license, see the Mary T. Kellner Teacher Education Center.
Professional Certification/Licensure Disclosure (NC-SARA)
The United States Department of Education (via 34 CFR Part 668) requires institutions that provide distance education to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure. The expectation is that institutions will determine whether each applicable academic program meets state professional licensure requirements and provide a general disclosure of such on an official university website.
Professional licensure requirements vary from state-to-state and can change year-to-year; they are established in a variety of state statutes, regulations, rules, and policies; and they center on a range of educational requirements, including degree type, specialized accreditation, total credits, specific courses, and examinations.
UW-Madison has taken reasonable efforts to determine whether this program satisfies the educational requirements for certification/licensure in states where prospective and enrolled students are located and is disclosing that information as follows.
Disclaimer: This information is based on the most recent annual review of state agency certification/licensure data and is subject to change. All students are strongly encouraged to consult with the individual/office listed in the Contact Information box on this page and with the applicable state agency for specific information.
The requirements of this program meet certification/licensure requirements in the following states:
Wisconsin
The requirements of this program do not meet certification/licensure requirements in the following states:
Not applicable
Updated: 1 June 2026
Resources and Scholarships
Information about scholarships, academic and career advising, study abroad opportunities, student well-being, and other resources for students in the School of Education can be found on the School's Resources page.