Special Physical Education Masters Program
The objective of the Master's degree program in Special Physical Education is to train individuals to provide instruction in physical education to individuals with disabilities of all ages in a variety of settings. The graduate program combines a strong theoretical, non-categorical, competency-based program with a wide variety of quality field-based practica experiences. Many and varied opportunities are provided for students to develop the competencies deemed necessary of a special physical educator.
Practica
The practica experiences available to the graduate students include teaching in the following programs:
- Basic Instruction Program which provides instruction in physical activities for university students and staff.
- Physical Education for the Disabled course at the university in which university students, staff, and individuals from the community who have a disability can participate in an individualized physical activity program.
- UFIT Program in which children with disabilities from the community participate in a physical activity program one night a week.
- Public and private schools in the Salt Lake Metropolitan area.
- Other practicum opportunities include providing instruction through community service organizations such as:
These organizations provide a number of outdoor activities to include alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, horseback riding, tennis, swimming, water skiing, rock climbing, river rafting, etc.
Program of Study
The Master's program in Special Physical Education is a two-year program.
Both a thesis and a non-thesis option are available.
The Faculty
Assistantships Available
There are a number of assistantships funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education that are available both at the Master's level. Master's assistantships are $10,500 stipend each year and a tuition waiver.
Research Opportunities
There are a number of opportunities to do research with individuals with disabilities in the public and private schools, the PE for the Disabled course, the U FIT Program, the National Ability Center, etc. In addition, there are faculty in a variety of disciplines at the university with whom to develop collaborative research to include sport psychology, exercise physiology, athletic training, pedagogy, special education, therapeutic recreation, physical therapy, occupational therapy, communication disorders, health education, medicine, etc.
Contact
Applications for a graduate degree in Exercise and Sport Science are due by January 15th of each year for acceptance into the graduate program for Fall of the following year. If there are openings in the graduate program after the deadline, applications will be reviewed as they are received.
For further information on degree programs in Special Physical Education and available graduate assistantships, contact:
Hester L. Henderson, Ph.D.
Director of Special Physical Education Program
University of Utah
Department of Exercise and Sport Science
250 South 1850 East Room 241
Salt Lake City, UTAH 84112-0920
(801) 581-7964
E mail: hester.henderson@health.utah.edu
