Best Online Associate in Physical Education Programs

An associate in physical education is a two-year degree offered at some community colleges. These programs give students an understanding of the human body and how it performs during physical activity.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average total cost of room, board, tuition, and fees at a two-year college was $11,391 per year during the 2019-20 school year. That’s a total of $22,782 for a two-year degree. Most schools charge the same amount for online or in-person tuition, but some top online schools offer in-state rates to out-of-state students who attend classes online.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that job opportunities for fitness trainers and instructors will increase 39% from 2020-30. This is much faster than the average for all occupations. The BLS projects that there will be an additional 121,700 jobs for fitness trainers and instructors between 2020-30.

According to the BLS, fitness trainers and instructors earn a median of $40,510 per year. They need at least a high school degree, but many employers prefer candidates with an associate or bachelor’s degree in a recreation and fitness or healthcare-related field.

Effective fitness trainers are easy for clients to relate to. They not only know how to keep in shape, but they set a good example by eating a healthy diet and working out regularly. They don’t have to be perfect, but they should model the results that they promise their clients.

Most associate in physical education programs require credits in some sort of physical activity, such as aerobics, weight training, or yoga. These classes are often offered in-person only, so it may be difficult to find a fully online associate in physical education.

An associate in physical education program requires approximately 60-65 credits and takes about two years to complete. Some schools call this program by a related name, such as physical education and wellness or physical education, fitness, and sport studies.

An associate in physical education degree requires general education courses and courses related to physical education. Some programs require science courses that have a lab component.

Some colleges offer the associate in physical education as an associate of arts (AA) degree, while others offer an associate of science (AS) degree. An AS typically requires more science courses, whereas an AA requires more humanities classes.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

This course introduces physical education, emphasizing curriculum design, classroom management, and the best practices for teaching physical education. Students learn teaching philosophies and the history of physical education.

Students enrolled in this course learn the basics of personal health and wellness. The course covers physical fitness, mental health, and nutrition. Throughout the course, students learn strategies for maintaining their own health and fitness.

Basic human nutrition introduces food and nutrition science. Students learn about the essential nutrients, including their chemical composition and how they are processed by the body. The curriculum covers healthy eating practices, nutrient requirements, and menu planning.

This course introduces the fundamental concepts of human and cellular biology. The course covers human anatomy, organ systems, cellular organization, the chemistry of life, and the calculation of biometric measurements.

Educational psychology teaches the principles and theories of psychology as related to teaching and learning. Students learn about measurement and evaluation, classroom management, instruction, differences between students, memory, and motivation.

While Payscale does not publish information about the associate in physical education degree, the site reports that the average base salary for those with a physical education teaching degree is $44,000 per year. Although Payscale reports that there was limited data available for this degree, it is interesting that the most common job titles were unrelated to physical fitness.

The career that most closely matches the associate in physical education degree is fitness trainer, which the BLS projects will grow at 39% from 2020-30. This is much faster than the average for all occupations and indicates a career that is in demand with employers.

About half of all fitness trainers and instructors work at fitness and recreational sports centers. About 18% are self-employed, while others work for civic, social, educational, and government organizations.

Fitness trainers help clients implement and stick to a physical fitness program. They demonstrate various exercises and make sure their clients know how to do them without injuring themselves. They watch their clients work out and make changes to their fitness programs as needed.

Median Annual Salary (May 2020): $40,510

Gym managers manage the operation of fitness clubs. They do financial projections and hire fitness trainers and other workers. They oversee the cleanliness of the facility and order equipment and supplies. Some employers require a degree in business administration or management. Gym managers should demonstrate interest in physical fitness.

Median Annual Salary (March 2022): $36,050

Aerobics instructors lead individual and group instruction in aerobic exercise routines. This position requires a high level of physical fitness, since the instructor must have the stamina to make it through multiple classes every day. They often work in group settings at gyms and fitness centers.

Median Annual Salary (March 2022): $38,500

Yoga instructors teach groups and individuals to perform various yoga moves. They often work for gyms and fitness centers. They must be able to model the poses correctly so that their students can copy what they are doing. Yoga instructors provide hands-on guidance to ensure that their students perform the moves correctly.

Median Annual Salary (March 2022): $37,500

Health coaches usually work with individuals one-on-one to help them make improvements to their health and wellness. They help clients establish monitoring systems, exercise routines, and meal plans. While some employers require health coaches to be certified as nutritionists, this is not always the case.

Median Annual Salary: $49,050

Sometimes fitness trainers go back to school to become physical therapists, physical education teachers, or nutritionists. To practice as a physical therapist, you will need to earn a doctor of physical therapy degree and pass a licensure exam. But first, you will need to earn your bachelor’s degree. Biology is a common choice for those who plan to pursue a doctorate of physical therapy.

If you want to work as a high school, elementary, or middle school physical education teacher, you will need a bachelor’s degree in physical education, or a related field, and a state teaching license.

To become a nutritionist, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree in nutrition. If you want to become a certified nutrition specialist, you will need either a master of science in nutrition or a doctoral degree in nutrition, as well as 1,000 hours of supervised practice.