A Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) is a great option for students who want to get a well-rounded education while also pursuing their passion for sports and fitness. Arkansas State’s BGS in Physical Education program combines traditional core curricula of writing, math, government, science and the arts with a focus on sports and recreation.
The BGS-PE degree incorporates a variety of different perspectives and professional disciplines. In addition to the core subjects, students study professional leadership and development, critical thinking, and the following areas of sports and wellness:
- Physical education curricula and teacher preparation.
- Planning and managing public school physical education programs.
- Athletic coaching and training.
- The significance of sports, and its impact on society.
- Ethical and moral issues that influence sports operations.
Physical Education Careers
Graduates can pursue many different career paths in the fields of health and fitness, athletics, education, organized sports, recreation and more. Physical education fields that offer good entry-level jobs and opportunities of career advancement include:
Coaching:
Athletes competing at every level of sport require coaching. In the next decade, coaching jobs are projected to grow at almost twice the average rate of other occupations in America (13 percent), due to rising participation in sports activities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Many new graduates start their career as an assistant coach, working with players on areas such as strength and conditioning or in a teaching capacity with groups or individuals. They may also assist more experienced coaches by working with athletes one-to-one, or collecting and analyzing data that helps resolve performance issues.
A bachelor’s degree is required for most coaching positions, especially those that involve skill assessment, conditioning or health maintenance. Coaching opportunities with high school and college teams, amateur athletic groups, recreational sports leagues, and professional sports organizations also require playing experience or detailed knowledge of the sport that applicants want to coach.
Administration:
Graduates who work as administrators oversee sports and wellness programs. They may guide services delivered in city parks and recreation programs, youth sports leagues, or in public and private schools.
Graduates also take on management roles with school districts or in college or professional sports, serving as athletic directors, corporate officers or in other roles responsible for day-to-day operations. They even run nonprofit organizations and programs that promote the health benefits of physical activity or the social benefits of active play. Administrators and their work are essential to the quality and accessibility of physical education, and to every sport.
Athletic Training:
Students who wish to become certified trainers must begin by earning a bachelor’s degree, and many go on to earn a master’s in this field. Trainers focus on preventing injury and helping athletes meet the physical demands of the games they play. They are part of the sports medicine side of athletics.
In addition to working with sports teams, athletic trainers work for schools, hospitals, clinics, health and recreation departments, police and fire departments, and even arts programs.
These are just a few of the many choices available to graduates with a BGS in Physical Education in the wide world of sports and wellness careers.
Learn more about A-State’s online Bachelor of General Studies program.
Sources:
Arkansas State University: BGS Emphasis Areas