On this page:
Why Choose Adapted Physical Education?
You will explore the many facets of adapted physical education and sport for individuals with disabilities in Wright State’s Adapted Physical Education (APE) endorsement program. Physical education is federally mandated in public schools for all students with disabilities. It is important that you experience physical education designed with those students’ needs in mind. This program will better prepare you to meet the needs of all individuals in your classes with disabilities.
Benefits of Studying Adapted Physical Education at Wright State
If you are a current teacher, this program is ideal for you. APE endorsement classes at Wright State are small, typically 25 students or less, and are delivered online during the school year. You will be on campus for one week during the summer for adapted aquatics and to sit for the Adapted Physical Education National Standards (APENS) exam. Once you complete all the endorsement classes at Wright State, you will be eligible to take the APENS exam, a national certification for adapted physical education teachers.
Certification
You are required to sit for the APENS exam (at your expense) at the completion of the endorsement courses. Successful completion of all the courses and program requirements will lead to an Ohio APE endorsement while passing the APENS exam in addition to the program requirements at Wright State will lead to the Certified Adapted Physical Educator designation.
Program Highlights
- Help students who have a variety of needs experience physical education
- Small class size
- Leads to national certification and endorsement to be an adapted physical education teacher
- Required 200-hour field experience in an inclusive physical education classroom
Contact Information
Beth Hersman, Ph.D, C.A.P.E.
312 Nutter Center
937-775-2615
bethany.hersman@wright.edu
Adapted Physical Education Brochure (PDF)
Careers
The adapted physical education endorsement is for current educators to expand their knowledge and credentials in teaching physical education to students with a variety of needs. This teaching field is expected to grow 6 percent for secondary school teachers and 12 percent for elementary school teachers. Your job possibilities increase because these additional certifications allow you to work with traditional and disabled children, in public and private education, and across all ages and grades.
Real-World Experience
Students are required to complete a 200-hour field experience teaching adapted physical education or in an inclusive physical education setting. All placements are handled through the Office of Partnerships and Field Experiences and must be in an inclusive or adapted physical education setting with a qualified physical education teacher.
Success Stories
"When I started teaching K-6 physical education 10 years ago, my small rural school district did not offer adapted physical education. All 700 of my students, regardless of their ability or disability, were in a traditional PE class with their same-aged peers. During my first five years teaching PE, I absolutely loved my job and my typical students were learning so much and really enjoyed participating in my PE classes. However, I could not say the same for my students with special needs. I had no idea how to teach them so that they could enjoy PE class as much as the other students. |
"The adapted PE program at Wright State is absolutely top-notch. The program allowed us to explore the entire gamut of the APE field learning about specific types of disabilities through games types and developing individually based equipment. In our cohort, we were able to access teachers and programs from across the country and support each other as we developed in our niche fields. This program gave me the ability to not only enrich my understanding and capabilities as a teacher but helped me to develop the vision needed to keep this growing field moving forward. |
Academics and Curriculum
View the Adapted Physical Education endorsement program requirements, degree requirements, and graduation planning strategy in the Academic Catalog.
Admission
Admission Requirements
- Current teaching license in multi-age physical education
AND
- 2.5 Cumulative minimum GPA
Admission Process
