Physical Education

Kinesiology — All-level Teacher Certification

Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology

About
Courses

A teacher’s impact extends far beyond the academic classroom. As a teacher, you can affect your students in a positive way every day. If you’ve ever dreamed of making a difference in a child’s life by helping learners become more physically active, a Kinesiology major with teacher certification at the University of North Texas is the path for you.

A Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology is the next step toward your career goals. With an EC- 12 teacher certification, career options may include:

Elementary Physical Education Teacher
Middle or High School Physical Education Teacher

A minimum of 120 semester hours (124 semester hours for those seeking all-level teacher certification), of which 36 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree as specified in the “University Core Curriculum.”

All Kinesiology major

Kinesiology pre theory core, 12 hours

(has pre req of BIOL 2301/2311 & BIOL 2302/2312)

PHED 1000 - Scientific Principles and Practices of Health-Related Fitness

Kinesiology theory core, 15 hours

All Kinesiology majors take the following courses and must meet all prerequisites.

Major capstone, 3 hours

KINE 4102 - Student Teaching in Physical Education, Grades EC–5

Physical performance courses, 3 hours

Students must complete a total of 3 courses. (Students are encouraged to select courses that will expand their competence in a variety of physical activities.)

At least one course from Group I
At least one course from Group II
One of the courses must be at the intermediate or advanced level.
Only one course can come from each section (i.e., A, B, or C within Group I and within Group II).

Group I

Section A

Section B

Section C

Group II

Section A

Section B

Section C

Minor, 18 hours

Minimum of 18 hours from area other than Kinesiology, 6 of which must be advanced.

Admission to Teacher Education (2.75 GPA);

Junior standing (minimum of 60 earned hours)
2.75 overall GPA and 2.75 UNT GPA
Acceptable scores on SAT, ACT, Praxis
Approved online interview questionnaire
An official degree audit with certification
A signed application for admission to Teacher Education

Contact the College of Education Student Advising Office, 940-565-2736; Matthews Hall, Room 105.

Required Courses, 35 hours

Faculty

Andrew Colombo-Dougovito

Andrew Colombo-Dougovito

Associate Professor

Assistant Professor

Physical Education Building 210-A

940-565-3403

Andrew.Colombo-Dougovito@unt.edu

Andrew Mark Colombo-Dougovito

Faculty Profile

Andrew Colombo-Dougovito is an Associate Professor of Sport Pedagogy and Motor Behavior in the Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion, and Recreation at University of North Texas. He serves as the Director of the UNT Physical Activity and Motor Skill program and Faculty Liaison to the Kristin Farmer Autism Center at UNT. Colombo-Dougovito's research focuses on understanding the motor abilities and development characteristics of individuals on the autism spectrum and how the development motor skills impact social and adaptive skill development, as well as physical activity participation across the lifespan. Through this research, he strives to develop intervention, assessment and teaching strategies to better improve the quality of physical activity participation of autistic individuals.

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Karen H. Weiller-Abels

Karen H. Weiller-Abels

Associate Professor

Associate Chair for Undergraduate Affairs

Physical Education Building 209-A

940-565-2856

Karen.Weiller@unt.edu

Faculty Profile

Kinesiology Undergraduate Program Coordinator PhD 1986 - Texas Woman's University - Humanistic Foundations of Physical Education Specialization in Elementary Physical Education, Sociology of Sport, and Women in Sport Former Chair of the Sport Sociology Academy Former Southern District Representative to the Council on Physical Education for Children Former Editorial Board of Strategies: A Journal for Physical and Sport Educators Authored or Co-Authored 26 peer-reviewed papers, plus various other publications. Presented more than 50 papers at professional meetings. Research interests: Gender issues in sport across the lifespan, with a focus on media representation women in sport; Youth pedagogy

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Tao Zhang

Tao Zhang

Professor

Director of the Pediatric Movement and Physical Activity Laboratory
Ph.D., 2009, Louisiana State University

Physical Education Building 210-B

940-565-3415

tao.zhang@unt.edu

Pediatric Movement and Physical Activity Laboratory

Faculty Profile

Dr. Tao Zhang earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Kinesiology from Shanghai University of Sport, and his Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University in 2009. He has been at the University of North Texas (UNT) since that time. 

Dr. Zhang is a tenured Full Professor and serves as the Director of the Pediatric Movement and Physical Activity Laboratory at UNT. As a Kinesiology scholar, Dr. Zhang has made more than 170 research presentations at international, national and state conferences, published about 100 refereed research articles and book chapters, authored about 110 peer-reviewed research abstracts and conference papers, and secured about 20 funded research grant projects from federal agencies and research foundations, including Project HSHL and Project MOVE. His research focuses on supportive physical activity environments, achievement motivation, motor skills, and physical activity and health promotion in underserved children and families from psychological, pedagogical, and behavioral perspectives. Dr. Zhang is currently the Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, and the Fellow of SHAPE America Research Council.

Dr. Zhang earned the Mabel Lee Award from SHAPE America in 2013, won the Joy of Effort Award from SHAPE America in 2020, and earned the Curriculum and Instruction Honor Award from SHAPE America in 2022. Since 2010, he has already mentored both undergraduate and doctoral students who have received over 25 state, national, and international awards for their research. He earned the Outstanding Mentor of the Year Award from SHAPE America in 2017 and won the Toulouse Scholar Award in 2022 at UNT. Dr. Zhang serves as the Editor-in-Chief for Journal of Teaching, Research, and Media in Kinesiology, Associate Editor for Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, and Editorial Board Members for multiple journals such as International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity and Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal. He has also served on several committees of professional organizations (American College of Sports Medicine, SHAPE America, International Chinese Society for Physical Activities and Health, and American Educational Research Association). Recently, Dr. Zhang was inducted as a Fellow of American Kinesiology Association Leadership Institute.

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College of Education

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Kinesiology — All-level Teacher Certification

All Kinesiology major

Kinesiology pre theory core, 12 hours

Kinesiology theory core, 15 hours

Major capstone, 3 hours

Physical performance courses, 3 hours

Group I

Section A

Section B

Section C

Group II

Section A

Section B

Section C

Minor, 18 hours

Admission to Teacher Education (2.75 GPA);

Faculty

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