February 2024 NCPEID Collaborative APE Doctoral Programs

What's New in Adapted Physical Education

The podcast episode featuring professors from various universities discussing PhD programs in Adapted Physical Education (APE). Dr. Andrew Pitchford from Oregon State University started by highlighting the importance of their interdisciplinary connections between the adapted physical activity program and other departments, such as the Psychological Science Program and the global health department. Oregon State’s program has five faculty members that can use their unique backgrounds to advise their graduate students. Other things that Oregon State has to offer students is their adaptive exercise clinic, community outreach, and fellowship opportunities through the federal government. Next, members of the University of South Carolina spoke about their program, mentioning that a strength of their program is their core group of faculty with specific interests in adapted physical education and activity. The program is organized into four types of experiences: knowledge, teaching, scholarship and service. Students have the opportunity to teach courses independently, successfully complete their dissertation, and co-author research manuscripts among other things. Then, Nicole Kirk from the University of Georgia spoke on their PhD program that features a focus in adapted physical education. The program also houses a sport instruction research lab that works on lifespan physical activity among other topics. Another important aspect of their work is community outreach, which is accomplished by hosting events such as field days with kids from all over the state of Georgia. Coursework is offered in the areas of APA, PE, and parasport training. Finally, a representative of the University of Illinois spoke on their PhD program for Adapted Physical Activity. They are featured within the pedagogy and physical activity program, with a focus in pedagogical kinesiology. The Kinesiology Lab is the centerpiece of their curriculum, which allows students to study PE workforce development, experiences of children with and without disabilities in physical education, and social and emotional learning of all children.