Physical and Health Education (Graduate Diploma)
DOMESTIC APPLICATIONS
Fall 2024: Applications are closed
Fall 2025: Applications open October 1, 2024
Please contact the Program Coordinator, Gord Sturrock sturrockg@douglascollege.ca for more information.
Overview
The Graduate Diploma in Physical and Health Education is designed to give you the practical knowledge and real-life experience you need to become a Physical and Health Education (PHE) Specialist for elementary, middle or high school classrooms.
Designed for working teachers, classes are offered in a blend of online and face-to-face formats that don’t interfere with the regular K-12 school schedule. The program delivers a blend of theory and practical skills through health education, movement education, dance, games-centered approaches, physical literacy, outdoor education and school-based leadership.
The GDPHE community at Douglas College is committed to the continuous pursuit of principles and practices that support and promote equity, diversity and inclusion throughout our program structure, curriculum and pedagogy.
TQS upgrade opportunities and specialized job advancements
The Graduate Diploma in Physical and Health Education prepares you to become a confident leader in your classroom and the wider school community through essential skill development, knowledge building and hands-on practice. Plus, you'll be eligible for TQS salary upgrades in categories 4-5 and 5-5+ once you graduate.
Next application deadline
The next program start date is Fall 2025. The Application deadline is July 15, 2025. It is encouraged to apply early.
Priority intake by cohort
Fall 2025 – Teachers from all grades are encouraged to apply (Elementary, Middle, Secondary).
International students are not currently eligible for this program. For more information, contact Douglas College International.
Admissions Requirements
To enrol in the Graduate Diploma in Physical and Health Education, candidates must:
- meet a prerequisite condition, and
- submit a letter of intent.
1. Candidates must meet one or more of the prerequisite conditions:
- Hold a Professional Teaching Certificate in British Columbia (see note 1), or
- Have completed an undergraduate degree in an education-related field with practicum experience (see notes 2 and 4), or
- Have completed an undergraduate degree and have documented experience working with children in an educational or recreational setting (see notes 3 and 4).
and,
2. Candidates must submit a letter of intent that outlines:
- long and short-term career goals,
- years of teaching experience,
- your education background and why you would like to upgrade your physical and health education curriculum and pedagogy, and
- a description of current and short-term future teaching contexts that demonstrates your access to teaching students in a physical and health education or activity setting.
Notes
- Copy of teaching certificate and/or transcript should be submitted at time of application.
- Examples of educational or recreational settings include, but are not limited to: daycares, community centres, summer camps, teen centres, group tutoring, teaching music or art lessons, etc.
- Two letters of reference are required for option 3. Letters should be submitted at the time of application and should speak to the candidate's (1) experience planning lessons or activities for children or teens, (2) experience implementing lessons and activities for children or teens, and (3) leadership traits demonstrated while working in an educational or recreational setting.
- Individuals who DO NOT hold a current teaching certificate must undergo a Criminal Record Search (CRS) - This program requires students to train in an environment that demands individuals provide proof of a satisfactorily completed, current CRS for the protection of students. To meet this requirement, prospective students must submit a current CRS as a condition of entry to the program. Any CRS forms returned with a notation of a record will be reviewed by the Registrar to determine if there is any relevance to the program. In these cases, final determination of admission rests with the Registrar. All costs related to the completion of this search are the responsibility of the individual student.
Cost
Calculate your tuition and see the approximate cost of taking your program at Douglas College with the tuition & fee estimator. See costs broken down into categories including tuition fees, textbooks, student activity fees, U-Pass and more.
For more information, refer to the tuition fee charts.
Program Requirements
Graduation Requirements For Students Completing By Summer 2023:
- Successful completion of 30 credits as defined below
- Time limit to complete program graduation requirements: four (4) years
Graduation Requirements For Students Completing After Summer 2023:
- Successful completion of 30 credits as defined below
- 100% (30 credits) of all coursework must be completed at Douglas College
- A minimum program GPA 2.33
- Time limit to complete program graduation requirements: four (4) years
Program Content
Year 1 |
SPSC 5398 | Dance Education | 3.0 |
Year 1 Fall/Winter Online Sept to Mar |
SPSC 5591 | Health Education | 3.0 |
Year 1 Spring Apr to June 1 night/week |
SPSC 5391 | Physical Literacy I: Foundations | 3.0 |
Year 1 Winter Jan to Mar 1 night/week |
SPSC 5499 | Curriculum issues: Physical and Health Education | 3.0 |
Year 1 Summer Institute Weeks 1 & 2 of July |
SPSC 5396 | Alternative Environment Physical Education | 3.0 |
Year 2 Fall Sept to Dec 1 night/week |
SPSC 5493 | Physical Literacy II: Dynamic Systems Theory | 3.0 |
Year 2 Fall/Winter Online Sept to Mar |
SPSC 5495 | Applied Studies in Physical and Health Education | 3.0 |
Year 2 Winter Jan to Mar 1 night/week |
SPSC 5395 | Games-centred approaches in PHE | 3.0 |
Year 2 Spring Apr to June 1 night/week |
SPSC 5492 | PHE Leadership Seminar | 3.0 |
Year 2 Summer Institute Weeks 1 & 2 of July |
SPSC 5397 | Developmental Gymnastics and Movement Education | 3.0 |
Program Guidelines
Program Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this program and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the program, consider the previous version as the applicable version.
FAQs
Category 4 teachers: The British Columbia Teacher's Qualification Service (TQS) accepts the Graduate Diploma in Physical and Health Education as an 'integrated program' which makes graduates of the Diploma eligible for a pay scale upgrade from category 4 to 5. Category 5 teachers: TQS accepts the Graduate Diploma for a pay scale upgrade from category 5 to 5+.
TQS is the sole body responsible for issuing payscale upgrades in British Columbia all inquiry regarding unique personal circumstances should be directed to TQS.
The Graduate Diploma in Physical and Health Education is a dynamic learning experience that emphasizes practical applications of current physical and health education curriculum and pedagogy. Building on your experience and your teaching skill set, the program courses combine the latest theory and practice to help you become a confident physical and health education leader. Check out the Curriculum tab (above) for more information.
- One night class/week during the school year, with an extended holiday break during December and January
- One online course, Sept. to March of both years
- 2 week summer institute in July of each year
The program was designed by working teachers, for working teachers, and instructors are sensitive to the uneven workloads of teachers throughout the year.
Upon completion of this graduate diploma, graduates will have an opportunity to bridge into a Master of Physical and Health Education degree through a partnership agreement with the University of Wales, Trinity St. David. Contact the program coordinator for more information.
Please see the Faculty page for details.
Please contact the program coordinator, Dr. Gordon Sturrock, by email.
Career Pathways
If you are a Category 4 teacher, British Columbia Teacher's Qualification Service (TQS) accepts the Graduate Diploma in Physical and Health Education as an "integrated" program which makes graduates of the Diploma eligible for a pay scale upgrade from category 4 to 5.
If you are a category 5 teacher, British Columbia Teacher's Qualification Service (TQS) accepts the Graduate Diploma in Physical and Health Education as an "integrated" program which makes graduates of the Diploma eligible for a pay scale upgrade from category 5 to 5+.
NOTE: Some districts require approval of a Graduate Diploma Plan before starting your program. Check with your Human Resource department to see if this applies in your district.