NMSUAPE
PEP 455/555 Adapted Physical Education
Audience: This spring semester course is designed to help physical education teachers plan age and developmentally appropriate curricula to include students with all types of disabilities within their educational environment.
Lecture Description: This is an introductory course to the
field of adapted physical education. Students will: gain medical and pedagogical
knowledge concerning children with disabilities ages three to
twenty-one; be taught how to develop appropriate individual 
physical education plans for individuals with various developmental
disabilities; receive specialized training in the areas of assessment
of motor competency, physical fitness, play, and sport skills. Examples of
disabilities covered in this course include: mental retardation, blind,
deaf, spinal bifida, autism spectrum disorders, muscular dystrophy, and
cerebral palsy.
Practicum:
- Students enrolled in this course will have an opportunity to learn how adapted physical education is practiced in the public school system under the supervision of the Las Cruces Public School Adapted Physical Education Department. Students will gain hands-on experience engaging local children with disabilities in physical activity on multiple occasions; then have a chance to reflect on their experiences in the classroom with their professor and peers. Towards the end of this practicum experience each student will prepare and teach a physical education lesson to their assigned class.
- Students also have a chance to participate in disability sport by playing (wheelchair) tennis with community members with and without disabilities in the Walk-n-Roll Tennis League.
Graduate Student Responsibilities:
Graduate students enrolled in this course (PEP 555) will have unique responsibilities that will showcase their past teaching experiences. These tasks may include:
- teaching adapted physical education (on and off campus)
- advising undergraduate students
- researching a line of inquiry for graduate study
- writing grants to seek funding
- presenting at state conferences
If you would like further information please contact Scott Pedersen,
Ph.D., CAPE at (575) 646-2071 or pedersen@nmsu.edu.