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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 other universities at the doctoral level.

There are three specializations (Health, Exercise Science, and Sport Pedagogy) each with a thesis (33 credit hours) or nonthesis (36 credit hours) option.

  • The Health 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 Specialization prepares future leaders in physical education and coaching.

Program Admission Requirements. Admission to the program is based on the following criteria:

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Applicants without adequate preparation in education may be required to complete preparatory courses as a condition of admission. Individuals who do not meet the University-wide graduate admission grade point average standard may be required to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for consideration in admission decisions.

  4. Applicants whose native language is not English must have a score of at least 550 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or 79 on the Internet-based TOEFL or a score of 6.5 on the IELTS.

  5. Applicants whose undergraduate major was not in Kinesiology or Health may be required to take 6 semester credit hours of undergraduate leveling courses.

  6. Applicants are required to submit two professional references to the Graduate Committee.

  7. A professional résumé and Statement of Purpose are required of all applicants. The Statement of Purpose cannot be longer than one single-spaced, typed page and must list the interest of specialization.

  8. Students who are admitted with leveling courses must take the following undergraduate courses: HTH 3503 Theories of Health Behavior (Health Specialization) or KIN 2303 Cultural and Scientific Foundations (Exercise Science and Sport Pedagogy Specializations), and one additional course at the discretion of the student’s faculty advisor.

Degree Requirements

Nonthesis option: Minimum 36 semester credit hours, including: 6 hours of core courses, 12 required specialization hours, 9 prescribed KAH elective hours, and 9 free elective hours.

Thesis option: Minimum 33 semester credit hours, including: 6 hours of core courses, 12 required specialization hours, 9 prescribed KAH elective hours, and 6 thesis hours.

  1. Core Courses. 6 semester credit hours required:

    KAH 5093   Statistics and Research in Health and Kinesiology
    KAH 5123   Research in Health and Kinesiology


  2. Specialization Courses. 12 semester credit hours required:

    Health 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 Specialization
    KAH 5173   Measurement and Evaluation in Physical Education
    KAH 5243   Learning and Teaching Styles in Physical Education
    KAH 6013   The Role of Sport in Society
    KAH 6213   Motor Development


  3. Prescribed KAH Electives. 9 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 6961   Comprehensive Examination
    KAH 6973   Special Problems
    KAH 6983   Master’s Thesis (for thesis option only)


  4. Graduate Free Electives: 9 semester credit hours (nonthesis option); 6 semester credit hours of KAH 6983 Master’s Thesis (thesis option)

  5. Students must successfully pass a comprehensive examination

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