KINESIOLOGY
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Contact: Graduate Program Director
Application Deadlines:
For domestic classified status, the deadline is approximately a month before the start of classes (Definite dates are on the application itself). International students, please see the FAQs #16 for your deadline. NOTE: If you are a new graduate student and you intend to apply for a Competitive Graduate Award (CGA), the deadline for having all of your application materials turned in moves up to January 15th. If you apply for the CGA but your SIUE application is incomplete, your application for the Competitive Graduate Award will be removed from consideration.
THE SPORT MANAGEMENT OPTION IS NOT BEING OFFERED AT THE PRESENT TIME.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION
The Department of Kinesiology and Health Education offers a program of study leading to the Master of Science in Education degree with a major in kinesiology. Within the degree program, one specialization and three options are available.
The Exercise Physiology option provides coursework and laboratory experiences that prepare students for careers in adult fitness, hospital or corporate-based wellness programs, and cardiac rehabilitation. Through classroom, laboratory, and real-world experiences, the program produces exceptional graduates that are well prepared for the professional work environment. For those students interested in advanced research intensive or professional careers in medicine, physical/occupational therapy, dentistry, or pharmacy, this emphasis offers a medical and scientific curriculum focused on the study of the human body's responses and adaptations to physical activity. Faculty advisors work to match the coursework and culminating experience with the goals of the students to provide an optimal educational experience.
The Sport and Exercise Behavior option focuses on the psychosocial factors that influence, and are influenced by, physical activity. While this emphasis will appeal to those individuals currently teaching and/or coaching, it is also designed to provide a solid foundation for those desiring to further their graduate education in fields associated with behavioral medicine including exercise psychology, sport psychology, rehabilitation psychology, and health psychology. Focusing on strategies for enhancing sport performance or adherence to exercise, for example, the Sport and Exercise Behavior program provides students with knowledge and skills that can be readily applied to numerous aspects of their own lives as well to the lives of their professional “clients.”
The Sport Management option prepares students for administrative careers in settings such as intercollegiate and interscholastic athletics, minor and major league professional sport, physical education, parks, recreation, and fitness departments, and sport broadcasting and communications. The program is noted for its preparation of administrators in the areas of intercollegiate and interscholastic athletics, encompassing roles and responsibilities of the athletic director, compliance coordinator, academic advisor, coach, and other athletic department staff. Knowledge obtained during the course of the program, combined with the culminating internship in a sport organization of the student’s choice, render the program’s graduates excellent candidates for competitive positions in the burgeoning sport industry. The Sport Management program collaborates extensively with the School of Business, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, and other campus units to optimally prepare graduates for their professional pursuits.
The Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy specialization Focuses on research and contextual factors that influence physical education teaching. While this degree will appeal to those individuals currently teaching and/or coaching, it is also designed to provide a solid foundation for those desiring to further their graduate education in fields associated with physical activity. Focusing on strategies for enhancing teaching performance or student outcomes, for example, the Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy program provides students with knowledge and skills that can be readily applied to numerous aspects of their own lives as well as to the lives of their students.
ADMISSION
Selection for admission is determined by the graduate faculty in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education. In addition to Graduate School admission standards, the student’s grade point average and course work content from previous professional preparation will be used to determine qualifications for entrance into the program. Specifically, applicants must have an undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75 (A=4.0) to be considered for admittance into the program. In addition, only courses in which the student earned a grade of "B" or better will be considered for transfer credit. For international students, a minimum total internet-based TOEFL score of 100 is required to be considered for admission. Admission may be granted to applicants who have a bachelor's degree and meet the aforementioned criteria, although any prerequisites necessary to study in a particular emphasis are at the discretion of the program adviser.
Students are eligible to apply for the physical education and sport pedagogy program if they are certified or are certifiable to teach in the public schools. The master’s program includes a balance of technology-assisted on-campus courses (fall, spring and summer). Normal time to completion is approximately two years. Practical application of research based and developmentally appropriate teaching practices is emphasized by the program. No more than 12 graduate hours may be taken toward the master’s degree as an unclassified graduate student.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
A non-thesis plan of study is available for all options. A thesis option is available for the Exercise Physiology and Sport and Exercise Behavior options and the Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy specialization.
Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy Specialization: (30 hours)
Required courses: (21 hours): KIN 521, 522, 523, 524, 526, 527 (a&b)
Non-thesis Electives: (9 hours).
Thesis Option Electives: (9 hours) seeking a doctoral degree or research focus
KIN 599 (6) thesis
PSYC 520 (3) – Research Design and Inference
Exercise Physiology Option: (Thesis, 30 hours; non-thesis, 33 hours)
Required courses (18 hours): KIN 505, 510, 515, 540, 500 or 552, 560.
Thesis (12 hours): KIN 599 (6 hours), PSYC 520 (3 hours) or SOC 515 (3 hours), Elective (3 hours).
Non-Thesis: Electives (15 hours).
Sport and Exercise Behavior Option: (Thesis, 30 hours; non-thesis, 33 hours)
Required courses (18 hours): KIN 490 or 530, 500, 505, 510, 515, 552.
Thesis (12 hours): KIN 599 (6 hours), PSYC 520 (3 hours) or SOC 515 (3 hours), Electives (3 hours).
Non-Thesis: Electives (15 hours).
Sport Management Option: (33 hours)
Required Courses (27 hours): KIN 500, 510, 515, 535, 536, 537, 555, ECON 439, MKTG 470.
Electives (6 hours): Choose two courses from the following:
FIN 595, KIN 552, MGMT 595, PSYC 573, PSYC 564, or other approved electives.
EXIT REQUIREMENTS
Exercise Physiology: Students selecting the non-thesis track must demonstrate competence in the content comprising the major (kinesiology and area of emphasis) by successful performance on a written final examination. Students who elect to prepare a thesis must present an oral defense of the thesis.
Sport and Exercise Behavior: Students selecting the non-thesis track must demonstrate competence in the content comprising the major (kinesiology and area of emphasis) by passing a written comprehensive examination. Students who elect to prepare a thesis must present an oral defense of the thesis.
Sport Management: Students must demonstrate competence in the content comprising the major (kinesiology and area of emphasis) by passing a written comprehensive examination.
Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy: Students must demonstrate competence in the content comprising the major (kinesiology and area of emphasis) via written and oral presentations of Action Research Projects. Those selecting the thesis option must successfully defend the thesis.
