DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND KINESIOLOGY
Master of Science Degree in Health and Kinesiology
The Master of Science degree in Health and Kinesiology is designed for students seeking advanced skills and professional development in Health and Kinesiology. The program is also designed for students who wish to pursue a research career in Health and Kinesiology or to continue their studies at the doctoral level at other universities. The Master of Science degree in Health and Kinesiology offers three specializations (Health Promotion, Exercise Science, and Sport Pedagogy/Psychology) with a thesis option (33 credit hours) or nonthesis option (36 credit hours):
- The Health Promotion Specialization provides advanced training in public health education and community health promotion.
- The Exercise Science Specialization provides advanced training to students who are interested in kinesiology-related research, and careers in therapeutic professions and wellness/fitness.
- The Sport Pedagogy/Psychology Specialization prepares future leaders in physical education and coaching.
Program Admission Requirements. Admission to the program is based on the following criteria:
- Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution.
- Acceptance to the M.S. program is contingent on having a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 semester credit hours of coursework for the baccalaureate degree, as well as in all graduate-level work taken. If an applicant’s GPA is between 2.7 and 2.99, probationary admission may be granted and the student must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA during the first 12 hours of coursework. Applicants who have a GPA below 2.7 are denied admission as degree-seeking students.
- Applicants whose undergraduate major was not in Kinesiology or Health may be required to take 6 undergraduate leveling hours, or more if prerequisites are required for taking graduate courses.
- Applicants are required to submit two professional references to the Graduate Committee.
- A professional résumé and Statement of Purpose are required of all applicants. The Statement of Purpose cannot be longer than one typed page.
- Students who are admitted with leveling course requirements must take the following undergraduate courses: HTH 3503 Foundations of Health Theory (for Health Promotion Specialization) or KIN 2303 Cultural and Scientific Foundations (for Exercise Science and Sport Pedagogy/Psychology Specializations), and one additional course at the discretion of the student’s faculty advisor.
Degree Requirements
Nonthesis option: Minimum 36 semester credit hours, including: 9 hours of core courses, 12 required specialization hours, 6 prescribed KAH elective hours, and 9 free elective hours.
Thesis option: Minimum 33 semester credit hours, including: 9 hours of core courses, 12 required specialization hours, 6 prescribed KAH elective hours, and 6 thesis hours.
- Core Courses (9 semester credit hours required):
KAH 5003 Current Trends in Kinesiology and Health Education
KAH 5093 Statistics and Research in Health and Kinesiology
KAH 5123 Research in Health and Kinesiology
- Specialization Courses (12 semester credit hours required):
Health Promotion Specialization
KAH 5063 Health Behaviors
KAH 5073 Essential Concepts in Health Promotion
KAH 5083 Epidemiology
KAH 5133 Health Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
Exercise Science Specialization
KAH 5053 Principles of Exercise Physiology
KAH 5103 Biomechanics
KAH 5403 Cardiovascular Fitness
KAH 6203 Psychological Perspectives of Motor Learning and Control
Sport Pedagogy/Psychology Specialization
KAH 5173 Measurement and Evaluation in Physical Education
KAH 6013 The Role of Sport in Society
KAH 6033 Sport Psychology
KAH 6213 Motor Development
- Prescribed KAH Electives (6 semester credit hours required, chosen from the following):
KAH 5023 Management of Kinesiology and Health Programs
KAH 5043 Child and Adolescent Health Promotion
KAH 5053 Principles of Exercise Physiology
KAH 5063 Health Behaviors
KAH 5073 Essential Concepts in Health Promotion
KAH 5083 Epidemiology
KAH 5103 Biomechanics
KAH 5113 Advanced Structural and Functional Anatomy
KAH 5133 Health Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
KAH 5143 Ethics in Health Education
KAH 5153 Health Communication and Technology
KAH 5173 Measurement and Evaluation in Physical Education
KAH 5243 Learning and Teaching Styles in Physical Education
KAH 5253 Enhancing Behavior and Performance in the Physical Education Environment
KAH 5303 Community Health
KAH 5403 Cardiovascular Fitness
KAH 6013 The Role of Sport in Society
KAH 6023 Exercise Psychology
KAH 6033 Sport Psychology
KAH 6043 Applied Sport Psychology
KAH 6053 Nutrition in Health and Disease
KAH 6063 Obesity and Health
KAH 6203 Psychological Perspectives of Motor Learning and Control
KAH 6213 Motor Development
KAH 6953 Independent Study
KAH 6973 Special Problems
KAH 6983 Master’s Thesis (for thesis option only) - Free Electives. 9 semester credit hours (nonthesis option); 6 semester credit hours of KAH 6983 Master’s Thesis (thesis option)
