Adapted Physical Education Specialist Credential

The Adapted Physical Education Specialist Credential program uses research-based practices to prepare K-12 teachers to design and implement physical education programs that promote healthy and active lifestyles for children and youth with disabilities. This program includes coursework and extensive fieldwork (180 hours) to prepare candidates to teach physical education to individuals with disabilities in public schools and community settings. Candidates develop teaching competencies in motor development, aquatics, game and sports skills, and physical activity/fitness. The program supports both candidates who already hold a prerequisite teaching credential and those who are in the process of/concurrently completing a prerequisite credential program. 

For admission into the program, applicants must have: 

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Applicants with a bachelor's degree in a major other than Kinesiology/Physical Education or the equivalent may be required to take prerequisite or foundational upper-division undergraduate coursework in Kinesiology. 
• A minimum of a 2.67 overall GPA is required for application to our credential programs. If you do not meet this minimum, we do also consider a 2.75 GPA for the last 60 semester units. A low-GPA appeals process is available. Please contact Jill Anderson for more details at jp319@humboldt.edu.
• Hold a valid or be accepted into a concurrent Teaching Credential Program. Please refer to the list of acceptable credentials defined on the California Commission on Teacher Credentialling Website. 

All students receiving the Adapted Physical Education Specialist Credential must:

• Meet basic competency requirements through one of the following: A passing score on the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), Completion of a content area bachelor's degree, or completion of twelve semester units of physical education coursework with a minimum of three semester units in both kinesiology and motor development. 
• Complete a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) approved subject matter program in Physical Education Teaching or pass the CSET Physical Education exam authorizing the teaching of physical education.
• Hold a valid teaching credential from CCTC in an approved area (see admission requirements)
• Complete all program coursework with a GPA of 3.00 or better.
  • REC 302 - Inclusive Recreation Units: 3
  • KINS 385 - Adapted Physical Activity Units: 3
  • KINS 475 - Elementary School Physical Education Units: 3
  • KINS 484 - Motor Development/Motor Learning Units: 3
  • KINS 535 - Assessment Techniques Units: 2
  • KINS 577 - Adapted Physical Education Programs Units: 4
  • KINS 578 - Adapted Aquatics for Instructors Units: 2
  • KINS 695 - Directed Field Experience Units: 4 (Student Teaching Placements) 

The Kinesiology Master’s with a focus in Adapted Physical Education at Cal Poly Humboldt was awarded a 1.25 million dollar federally funded grant by the Office of Special Education Programs. This grant is designed to provide full financial support (tuition, fees, and a stipend) for students who have graduated with a Bachelor’s degree and are interested in working towards a teaching credential and master’s degree in Kinesiology. This is an interdisciplinary program that requires students to complete a Teaching Credential in either Secondary Education - Physical Education or Education Specialist Credential (special education) and complete course work for the adapted physical education Specialist Credential (APESC), as well as a master’s degree in Kinesiology in a two-year program.

Students who are interested in applying for this program should contact Dr. Jill Anderson (jp319@humboldt.edu) or Dr. David Adams (dha13@humboldt.edu) for more information. 

A Service Obligation is Required

If you are accepted into the program and receive funding, you will be required to work with students with disabilities in at least 50% of the classes you teach in the public schools. This requirement is based on the number of years funded (2 years funded, 4 years of service required). The National Center on Service Obligations (NCSO) is responsible for tracking the service obligations of scholars/obligates funded by our grant.  You will also be required to update NCSO annually with your contact and employment information. Visit https://pdp.ed.gov/OSEP/Institution for complete information about the service obligation process.

Students completing the Adapted Physical Education Specialist Credential Program are required to complete a two-week in-person intensive at Humboldt. This intensive is held the last two week of June. All other program requirements offer more flexibility with in-person and remote options. Please contact program coordinator, Jill Anderson at jp319@humboldt.edu for more information. 

To apply to the Adapted Physical Education Specialist Credential Program, apply to the Kinesiology Master's Program through Cal State Apply and complete all application requirements including: 

Two Digital Recommendations via Cal State Apply
Request at least two digital recommendations to be submitted directly through Cal State Apply. Academic and professional recommendations are both acceptable. If you are currently enrolled in college, a recommendation from a professor may be most appropriate. If you have been working professionally, a supervisor or colleague may be a stronger reference. We recommend you submit a recommendation from someone who can speak to your ability to complete the credential program and one from someone who is able to speak to how you work with young people. Applicants may submit an optional third recommendation.

Once you save a recommendation request in Cal State Apply, an email will automatically be sent to your recommender. Please advise recommenders to check their Spam folder if they do not receive the email. Be sure to monitor the status of your recommendations, as applications with fewer than two completed recommendations submitted by the application deadline will be not be considered. 

Personal Statement
A personal statement describing your experiences and your motivation for becoming an adapted physical education teacher is required as part of your Cal State Apply application. If you are reapplying to the program, please also explain why you feel prepared to complete the program at this time and/or describe what has changed since your previous application.

Transcripts and Resume
You will attach unofficial copies of your transcript to your application as well as a copy of your most up to date resume. If you are in need of a subject matter transcript evaluation, be sure to attach all transcripts with relevant coursework to your application and apply as early in the application window as you are able.

Note: if you are a credentialed teacher who has made previous progress towards an Adapted Physical Education Specialist Credential and are looking to complete your outstanding requirements, please contact program coordinator Jill Anderson at jp319@humboldt.edu before applying.