The dual degree program in Health and Physical Education is a 155-credit program that leads to a Bachelors and Masters degree and New York State Certification to teach both PK 12 Health and Physical Education. Dual certification in health and physical education is the preferred credential for many school districts looking to hire either health or physical education teachers. The Hofstra program provides a variety of field experiences. This dual-degree program is designed to prepare preservice health and physical education teachers to be scholarly, highly skilled, reflective practitioners able to meet the needs of students with a diversity of needs, experiences, cultural backgrounds, disabilities, and special abilities in all grades. The program focuses attention on the acquisition of knowledge and skills that enable the preservice teacher to develop and implement effective, innovative health and physical education programs that meet the New York State Learning Standards in schools. Successful completion of all B.S. in Physical Education & Health and M.S. in Health & Physical Education program requirements will lead to the University's recommendation for Initial Certification in both health and physical education.<br><br>This five-year program includes 125 undergraduate and 30 graduate credits in courses that include health and physical education content courses as well as methods courses that prepare students to develop creative, innovative, culturally sensitive, and developmentally appropriate lessons and unit plans for teaching health and physical education. The program also includes coursework that provides a rich foundation of knowledge in human anatomy, physiology, and the movement sciences, health content, and personal life skills, as well as broad-based exposure to the liberal arts and sciences. Hofstra students gain experience through a variety of field experiences built into the program curriculum. Students are assigned to a school as a part of their methodology courses and work directly with teachers in the field to gain hands-on experience. Students will have a variety of school-based experiences on their r'sum when they graduate from the Hofstra program.