About this Program
Adapted physical education is the specialized field of physical education designed for students with disabilities. Adapted physical educators (also called adapted PE specialists) work in K-12 schools, designing modified curricula, assessing motor and physical fitness, collaborating with IEP teams, and partnering with special education teachers to ensure students with disabilities receive the physical education experience required by federal law under IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).
Old Dominion University's M.S.Ed. in Adapted Physical Education is a 30-credit graduate program offered through the Department of Human Movement Studies & Special Education within the Darden College of Education & Professional Studies. The program is designed for in-service teachers seeking to add adapted PE specialist credentials, graduate students preparing for K-12 specialist roles, and researchers entering the adapted physical activity field. Courses are taught in the evening to accommodate working teachers, and competitive graduate assistantships are available for full-time students.
The curriculum is aligned with the Adapted Physical Education National Standards (APENS) and prepares graduates to sit for the APENS certification exam — the central national credential for adapted physical educators. Graduates pursue K-12 adapted PE specialist roles in Virginia and nationally, with additional pathways into adapted sport coaching, recreation therapy adjacencies, and research-track doctoral programs in adapted physical activity.
APENS Certification Preparation
The Adapted Physical Education National Standards (APENS) certification is the central national credential for adapted physical educators. APENS is administered by the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID) and is the credential most commonly required or preferred for K-12 adapted PE specialist roles, particularly in larger school districts and at the state endorsement level.
APENS Certification Preparation
The Adapted Physical Education National Standards (APENS) certification is the central national credential for adapted physical educators. APENS is administered by the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID) and is the credential most commonly required or preferred for K-12 adapted PE specialist roles, particularly in larger school districts and at the state endorsement level.
Program Highlights
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APENS-aligned curriculum. Coursework is aligned with the Adapted Physical Education National Standards, the curriculum framework that prepares graduates to sit for the APENS certification exam.
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Faculty research mentorship. Program faculty include Dr. Justin Haegele. Students have direct access to active research in visual impairment in physical activity, autism and motor behavior, and disability sport participation.
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Evening courses for in-service teachers. Classes are scheduled in the evening to fit the schedules of practicing K-12 educators pursuing the degree alongside full-time teaching.
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Competitive graduate assistantships. Full-time students may compete for graduate assistantships covering tuition and providing a stipend, supporting research, teaching, or administrative work in the department.
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K-12 placement and field experience. Students complete supervised field experience in adapted physical education settings, with placements across Hampton Roads public school districts including Norfolk Public Schools, Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Chesapeake Public Schools, and Portsmouth Public Schools.
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Requirements
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A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.80 and a GPA of 3.00 in the undergraduate major courses.
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A score of at least 291 (900 by former scoring standard) in the quantitative and verbal portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) - GRE scores are required for consideration of admission for all candidates. (In some circumstances, students who have either a low GPA or a low GRE score may be considered for admission with provisional status).
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A demonstrated computer literacy.
Careers and K-12 Specialist Roles
Most graduates of adapted physical education master's programs pursue K-12 adapted PE specialist roles.
Career pathways include:
- K-12 Adapted PE Specialist. Dedicated APE specialist role in public school districts (typically required to hold state endorsement and increasingly APENS certification).
- Special Education Teacher with APE Specialization. Some districts combine adapted PE responsibilities with broader special education teaching roles.
- Adapted Sport Coach. Coaching positions in adapted athletics, Special Olympics, paralympic pipeline programs, and disability sport recreation.
- Recreation Therapy Adjacency. Some graduates pursue paths into therapeutic recreation, working in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, or community recreation programs serving people with disabilities.
- Higher Education and Research. Graduates pursuing doctoral study enter higher education faculty positions or research roles in adapted physical activity. ODU's program with its thesis pathway and faculty research mentorship is structured to support this trajectory.
- Higher Education Adapted Recreation Programs. Coordinator and director roles in university disability services, campus recreation, and adapted athletics programs.
Provide individualized physical education instruction or services to children, youth, or adults with exceptional physical needs due to gross motor developmental delays or other impairments.
Virginia Endorsement Pathway
Virginia teachers seeking to teach adapted physical education in the state's public schools typically pursue an add-on endorsement through the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). The endorsement requirements include holding a Virginia teaching license with an existing endorsement in Physical Education and Health (PreK-12), completing additional coursework in adapted physical education, and meeting any specific assessment requirements VDOE specifies.
For in-service teachers already holding a Virginia PE endorsement, the ODU M.S.Ed. provides both the academic preparation for VDOE endorsement and a path toward APENS national certification — meeting both regulatory frameworks simultaneously.
Cost of Attendance
Tuition is charged per credit hour. Amounts shown are tuition only and do not include mandatory fees, technology-delivered course fees, course-specific fees, books, housing, meal plans, or other costs. Campus-based students may take technology-delivered or online courses. Tuition is based on student classification. Fees for technology-delivered courses and other costs are listed on the ODU tuition and fees page.
Ways to Fund Your Degree
There are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending Old Dominion University, including scholarships, assistantships, and student loans. For more details about financial aid at Old Dominion, visit the Financial Aid Office page.
Assistantships
Competitive graduate assistantships available for full-time students.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The M.S.Ed. is delivered on-campus only at ODU's main campus in Norfolk. Evening courses accommodate in-service teachers maintaining full-time K-12 positions.
Yes. ODU requires GRE scores (291 minimum quantitative + verbal combined) for the M.S.Ed. in Adapted Physical Education. Provisional admission may be available for applicants with a low GRE score who otherwise meet program criteria.
Yes. Competitive graduate assistantships are available for full-time students. Assistantships typically cover tuition and provide a stipend in exchange for research, teaching, or departmental work.
Most graduates pursue K-12 adapted PE specialist roles in public school districts. Additional pathways include adapted sport coaching, recreation therapy adjacencies, and (for thesis-track students) doctoral study and higher education research.
Program faculty conduct active research in visual impairment in physical activity, autism and motor behavior, disability sport participation, and inclusive physical education pedagogy.
Tuition costs vary by program and are subject to change. Visit the Current Tuition Rates page for the most up-to-date tuition information
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