Online Education Information Website Ranks U of A Physical Education Degree No. 2 in Nation

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Jenna White is a graduate of the master's degree in physical education program at the University of Arkansas. In 2014, she won a $25,000 Milken Educator Award for her work as a P.E. teacher in Alaska, and she received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the College of Education and Health Professions in 2015.

The University of Arkansas master's degree in physical education, which is delivered online, was recently ranked No. 2 on a listing of best online master's degree programs in physical education by a company called Early Childhood Education Degrees.

The U of A program was listed second after the University of Nebraska. Three components were used to determine the rankings, each making up one-third of an institution's score, according to the website:

• Affordability, a combined analysis of overall tuition of the program, financial aid or scholarship assistance programs, and estimated cost per credit hour for out-of-state students;
• Flexibility, the number of flexibility-enhancing elements specific to the degree program including teaching philosophy concentrations, degree specialties, prior learning or life experience crediting options, accelerated or self-paced courses, personalized student advisement/guidance, and competency-based credit options; and
• Academic prestige of the parent institution operationally defined through the score of combined rankings and/or reviews of prominent education review entities such as U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review.

The College of Education and Health Professions began offering the master of education in physical education degree online in 2008 through the university's Global Campus. It is a cohort program that can be completed in two years by taking six credit hours of classes per semester, including summer. The program gives practicing physical education professionals the opportunity to receive advanced training in their field along with the master's degree. Internet delivery allows students flexibility to pursue the degree at a time and place that fits their schedule.