DEPARTMENT MENU
Human Performance Education
In a society of social media and unhealthy living empowering our society, physical education has taken a back seat all over the world. Here in the College of Education, we would like to enhance your every day living and encourage you to make healthier choices as you pursue your collegiate endeavors in Health & Physical Education.
The Nicholls Human Performance Education program provides aspiring students seeking employment within the K-12 school system as Health & Physical Education teachers and/or aspiring coaches great opportunities and experiences in order to prepare them for their life dream. HPED gives you many opportunities to experience the environment provided by K-12 schools; but most importantly, we allow you ample opportunities to interact with your counterparts, such as your classmates, other faculty members to prepare you with classroom management of your Health & Physical Education class within your course work.
Is there a desire to seek experience with professional coaches on the collegiate level, we can assist you on your journey in order to accomplish that goal. There are many opportunities within our program to assist with athletic sports for Nicholls State University.
HPED courses focus on personal and community health issues, fitness, sports conditioning, coaching, and we even give you the opportunity to gain psychological knowledge of students and athletes who participate in the health & fitness environment. Motor learning and Exercise Physiology plays a huge role in our curriculum; we have to understand how to interact with all levels of individuals so that we do not limit ourselves in this world of physical fitness. As a K-12 major in Health & Physical Education, you will not only be given an opportunity to enhance your personal fitness, but you will also be given opportunities to interact with students while you teach and gain field experience through our individual and team sports courses. HPED gives you a “TRUE” foundation in order for you to begin your future as a Health & Physical Education educator.
All candidates in the K-12 Education program must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA and a “C” or above in all coursework.
- K-12 Education candidates are required to take courses in:
- Methods in providing a multicultural environment
- Classroom Management and Lesson Planning
- Methods of teaching specific to concentration area of instruction
Field Experiences: K-12 Education candidates complete various field experiences throughout required coursework which encompasses a student teaching experience that is completed at the end of the program. These experiences include observations and teaching whole group, small group and individual instruction within the public school setting.
Candidates must also complete Praxis I and the following sections of Praxis II for Louisiana Teacher certification in Secondary Education: PLT: K-6th , PLT: 5-9th , PLT 7-12th , and Praxis exam specific to concentration area.
Praxis I must be completed prior to entering EDUC 250 (Introduction to Education) and Praxis II must be completed prior to the final student teaching semester.
Teaching is a rewarding yet challenging career path. To insure that students are well prepared, most states require education majors to successfully complete Praxis exams as part of the teacher licensing certification process.
For teacher certification in Louisiana, education candidates must pass Praxis I and Praxis II. An ACT composite score of 22 or higher can be substituted for Praxis I.
When do I need to take the Praxis?
Praxis I should be taken during your freshman year. It must be taken before entering EDUC 250 — Introduction to Education. Students must score a 156 in Reading, 162 in Writing and 150 in Math on the Core Academic Skills for Educators (CASE) effective 9/1/14 (Praxis I). An ACT composite score of 22 or higher can be substituted for Praxis I.
Praxis II must be successfully completed prior to your student teaching semester.
General Praxis Information
Who creates Praxis tests?
The tests are developed by educators for educators. Advisory committees of distinguished teachers, teacher educators, key administrators and professional organizations help determine test content and review, revise and approve all questions and exercises. The Praxis Series is grounded in current research, including a complete job analysis of the most important tasks and skills required of beginning teachers and extensive surveys to confirm test validity.
How do I know which tests to take?
Visit Louisiana Praxis Test Requirements.
How do I register for a test?
View Registration Instructions for Praxis I or Praxis II.
What if I miss the registration deadlines?
If you miss both the regular and late registration deadlines, you can attempt to test as a standby. Standbys are accepted at test centers based on the availability of staff, space and test materials. Although we will try to accommodate you, there is no guarantee that you will be admitted as a standby. If you are planning to test as a standby, have a check or money order for $60 ready, plus the test and registration fees. You will also need a completed registration form.
Is the computer-based Academic Skills Assessment (CBT) just a computerized version of the paper-based PPST (Pre-Professional Skills Tests)?
Both the PPST and the CBT consist of three tests: Reading, Mathematics and Writing. Both formats cover similiar basic skills, but the tests are not the same. The CBT is a computer-adaptive test in which the computer customizes your test by selecting questions for you based on your answers to previous questions. For more information, see Praxis I Overview.
If I do not know the answer to some particular questions, should I leave them blank?
No, you should not leave any question blank. You are not penalized for choosing an incorrect response, so it is better to make an educated guess than not to answer a question at all. If you do not know the answer to a question, narrow down the responses and pick one response that seems most likely to be correct. That will improve your chances of doing well on the test.
Do I have to score well or just pass the tests in order to teach?
In order to meet the testing requirements for a particular certification area, you are required to pass the test(s) in that area. Once you have passed a test, you are not required to take that test again. If two tests are required for your field, you must pass both. However, if you pass one test and not the other, you are only required to retake the test that you did not pass. Only passing scores will be reported to the Teacher Certification unit.
Can I still teach if I do not pass the test?
Typically no. For answers to specific questions about certification requirements, go to the Louisiana State Department of Education Web site or contact Dr. Mary Helen McCoy, assistant director of the Division of Teacher Standards, Assessment and Certification, Louisiana Department of Education, P.O. Box 94064, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064, phone: 225.342.3490, fax: 225.342.3499.
How do I know if I passed the test?
Students will receive passing score information on their score report for those score recipients they listed on their registration form. If you test in a state with automatic score reporting, you will receive passing score information for that state. A list of states and their passing scores will be included with your score report. You can locate the same information under Louisiana Praxis Test Requirements.
Who gets a copy of my score report?
Scores are sent to you and to the institutions or agencies that you have designated on the registration form as score recipients. In Louisiana, scores are automatically reported to the State Department of Education.
What if I need to send my scores to additional institutions after I register?
Complete the Additional Score Report Request form. You can also order them online or call the toll-free number 1.800.772.9476 (credit card required). You will be charged $30 per score report request.
What if I am absent from the test?
For a fee of $35, you can request a transfer of your registration to a future test date.
Do I receive a refund if I cancel my registration?
If you cancel by the late registration deadline, you can receive a refund of your test fees but not the registration fee or any service fee.
What if I need to make changes to the information on my record?
To make changes to your record before a test, complete the correction form attached to your admission ticket and either send it to ETS before the test date or turn it in on the test date. After the test, you can request a file correction by following the directions in The Praxis Series Registration Bulletin.
Preparing for the Praxis
How can I practice for the Praxis test and learn more about what’s covered in each test?
Anyone considering taking a test in The Praxis Series should spend some time reviewing the Tests at a Glance booklet in each relevant content area. Tests at a Glance booklets include content outlines, sample questions with rationale for the best answers and test-taking strategies.
Access Tests at a Glance booklets.
Tests at a Glance booklets are in downloadable PDF files. In order to view and print these files, you need Acrobat Reader software. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you prefer to order your own free copy of any of the Tests at a Glance booklets, check with your university or call ETS at 1.609.771.7395.
Learning Express is a resource for Praxis that candidates are experiencing success. This program is available through all public libraries and is also available through our NSU library database link. If accessed through the NSU library, please follow the below instructions.
- Click onto the Learning Express database
- If you are off campus, it will ask you for a Nicholls login to access the database. Your username will be your third party id or the first part of your Nicholls email before the @ sign. Your password will be your Banner number. If you are on campus you will not need these passwords.
- Once you have database access, you will need to register with Learning Express.
- Once you have established a username and password and have logged in, you can search the term “Praxis” in the search box on the upper right corner.
If accessed through public libraries, please follow the below instructions.
- On the Left hand column (Other Links), choose “The Louisiana Library Connections.”
- Under Statewide Databases – Scroll to Learning Express 3.0
- Register as new user
- Scroll through the options at the top and choose your career
- Search for the term “Praxis” and choose your corresponding Praxis exam
Praxis I
Praxis I measures basic academic skills in reading, writing and mathematics. The reading, writing and mathematics assessments are available in paper-based and computer-based formats.
What types of questions will I find on Praxis I?
Praxis I: Academic Skills Assessments features sophisticated multiple-choice questions and candidate-constructed responses that measure both the breadth and depth of knowledge.
How long will it take to receive my scores?
Scores for computer-based tests are available faster than scores for paper-based tests. Scores for the Reading and Mathematics sections of the computer-based Praxis I are reported on the screen immediately following the test. Official scores for these sections and for the Writing section are mailed to you and to your designated score recipients about two to three weeks after your test dates. Scores for paper-based tests are mailed out four to six weeks following the test date.
Praxis II
Praxis II tests required for teacher certification are the Subject Assessment test and the Principles of Learning and Teaching test. Subject Assessments measure general and subject-specific testing skills and knowledge. They include both multiple-choice and constructed-response test items. The Principles of Learning and Teaching Test measures your general pedagogical knowledge at four grade levels: Early childhood, K-6, 5-9 and 7-12. These tests use a case study approach and feature constructed-response and multiple-choice items. Find out what tests are required for your area of certification.
What types of questions will I find on Praxis II?
Praxis II: Subject Assessments features sophisticated multiple-choice questions and candidate-constructed responses that measure both the breadth and depth of knowledge.
COURSES / DEGREE PLAN
Suggested Course Sequence:
| YEAR* | COURSE NAME | COURSE NUMBER | REQUIREMENT | CREDIT HRS |
| 1 | Physical Sciences Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | BIOL | 114 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | ENGL | 101 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | ENGL | 102 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | GOVT | 101 or 252 | 3 | |
| 1 | HIST | 150 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | HIST | 151 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | HPED | 141 | 3 | |
| 1 | MATH | 101 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | MATH Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | Freshman Seminar Course | UR | 1 | |
| 2 | BIOL | 116 | GER | 3 |
| 2 | EDUC | 250 | 3 | |
| 2 | EDUC | 251 | CLR | 3 |
| 2 | EDUC | 339 | GER | 3 |
| 2 | ENGL Literature Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 2 | HPED | 240 | 3 | |
| 2 | HPED | 246 | 3 | |
| 2 | DIET | 211 | 2 | |
| 2 | HPED | 280 | 3 | |
| 2 | ATTR | 210 | 3 | |
| 2 | PSYC | 206 or 210 | GER | 3 |
| 3 | EDUC | 312 | 3 | |
| 3 | EDUC | 368 | 3 | |
| 3 | EDUC | 394 | 3 | |
| 3 | ENGL | 366 or 368 | GER | 3 |
| 3 | HPED | 320 | 3 | |
| 3 | HPED | 340 | 3 | |
| 3 | HPED | 360 | 3 | |
| 3 | HPED | 375 | 3 | |
| 3 | HPED | 412 | 3 | |
| 3 | HPED | 499 | 3 | |
| 3 | PSYC | 311 | GER | 3 |
| 4 | EDUC | 450 | 3 | |
| 4 | EDUC | 309 | 3 | |
| 4 | EDUC | 313 | 3 | |
| 4 | HPED | 373 | 3 | |
| 4 | EDUC | 454 | OCR | 6 |
| 4 | EDUC | 321 | 3 | |
| 4 | HPED | 390 | 3 | |
| TOTAL HOURS | 120 |
*Recommend complete as Freshman (1), Sophomore (2), Junior (3), Senior (4)
Total Hours Required for Degree: 120
PROGRAM FACULTY
Dr. Dennis Guillot
132 College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Building
Phone: 985.448.4296
E-mail: dennis.guillot@nicholls.edu
CONTACT INFORMATION
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
220 College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Building
P.O. Box 2053
Thibodaux, LA 70310
LOCATION
