Physical Education Department
Lynn Couturier MacDonald, chair and graduate coordinator
Park Center, Room 1126
607-753-5577
Fax: 607-753-5975

Overview

Inspire youth to enjoy the benefits of an active and healthy life. Be a positive role model for people of all ages. Share your love of physical activity and fitness with upcoming generations. Become a leader and advocate for constructive change in the physical education profession by studying for the M.S.Ed. in physical education at SUNY Cortland. Your graduate-level course work is informed by the  National Advanced Standards for Physical Education Teacher Education, including elements of professional knowledge, professional practice and professional leadership.

The program can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. Course delivery is fully online except for a one-time two-week summer on-campus requirement.

Program Highlights

The program of study prepares you to take a leadership role in developing and implementing progressive physical education curricula and advocating for quality physical education programs. Through authentic learning experiences, you will study research on teaching effectiveness, curriculum models, fitness programming, technology and leadership techniques and utilize them in school-based field experiences that will include working with diverse populations and applying various technologies to enhance student learning.  

Culminating Experience

The concentration in physical education leadership requires you to complete an action-based research project that will be embedded in your field experiences. The program's course sequence scaffolds preparatory content and experiences to be successful in the culminating project.

Career Potential

The purpose of the Physical Education Leadership program is to prepare physical educators to be leaders of, and advocates for, quality physical education programs. The course of study is designed to prepare candidates for employment in K-12 physical education programs in the state of New York and throughout the nation. Successful completion of the degree contributes to the attainment of New York State professional certification.

Graduate Admission

Evaluation Policy

At the State University of New York College at Cortland we seek a diverse and academically strong student body. Our admission policy and practice will not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin or marital status.

Required Materials

1. Completed online Graduate School Application - Apply Now
2. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended to be forwarded directly to the SUNY Cortland Graduate Admissions Office
   Note: candidates for admission must present evidence of bachelor's degree conferral prior to the start of their academic program.
3. A resume, which must include the contact information for three references. One of those contacts must be a public school employee (submitted online with the application)
4. Letter of application indicating why you are interested in the program (submitted online with the application)
5. Documentation of initial certification in physical education within six months of starting classes.
6. New York State mandates that all SUNY teacher preparation programs adopt college entrance assessments for admissions consideration.  Effective August 31, 2015 - anyone submitting an application for admission is required to submit scores for either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT).

Admissions Criteria

• An undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.

Deadlines

Fall semester applications: July 1
Spring semester applications: Dec. 1
Summer semester applications: April 1

Applications submitted after the deadline may be considered on a space availability basis.
Please contact the Graduate Admissions Office at 607-753-4800 to check availability.