The MS/PhD program is designed for exceptional students who have demonstrated superior ability and a high level of motivation and dedication to research and learning. This program is expected to span approximately 5 years. Students are expected to meet the requirements of the MS degree following the first 2 years and may elect to complete 6 hours of integrative/research related activity to receive this degree should they choose not to complete the requirements of the PhD.

Areas of Study

Applied Neuromechanics

Exercise Physiology

Curriculum and Pedagogy Studies in Physical Education

Sport and Exercise Psychology

General Kinesiology – Includes specializations in Community Youth Sport Development and Motor Behavior

Exercise Physiology

Exercise Physiology is the study of how exercise affects the functions of the body which can influence health and or performance. Students learn the impact of exercise at the whole body, system, and cellular level. The students can apply this knowledge to work with healthy and clinical populations to impact positive alterations involving various physical activity programs.

Curriculum and Pedagogy Studies in Physical Education

The Curriculum and Pedagogical Graduate Studies program focuses on the development and evaluation of innovative physical activity curricula and programs for children, adolescents, and young adults in variety of settings including elementary, middle, high schools, colleges and beyond. There are quite a few specific areas of study that graduate students can specialize in, depending on your own academic interests.

Sport and Exercise Psychology

Sport and Exercise Psychology (SEP) integrates theory, research, and practice, and includes the study of cognitive, emotional, psychophysiological, and social factors that influence sport and exercise behaviors as well as the effects of physical activity on psychological factors.

Community Youth Sport Development

Within the last decade there has been an influx of school and non-school programs that seek to meet the diverse needs of youth. Shifting social conditions, such as economic hardship, the growing gap between rich and poor, disparate funding of public schools, and the growing elitism and privatization of non-school sport programs make it unlikely that the majority nation’s youth will receive quality physical activity opportunities.

Motor Behavior

The Motor Behavior area focuses on research in the disciplines of motor learning and motor control. This collaborative environment prepares practitioners, researchers, and educators reduce injury risk, return to normal function post-injury, and improve health and performance of physically active individual or all ages.