Kinesiology, Master of Science (0454)
Department website: http://www.wku.edu/krs/
Program Coordinator
Whitley J. Stone, whitley.stone@wku.edu, (270) 745-4321
The M.S. in Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology concentration prepares students to pursue various health/wellness, fitness, rehabilitation, performance-based and research careers. Students looking to further develop their knowledge and skills in the field of kinesiology/exercise physiology in preparation for a professional career will do so through relevant coursework, laboratory experiences, practical experiences, and a field experience and/or research project tailored to their personal interests and goals. Students interested in pursuing a doctoral program will also have the opportunity to engage in faculty-led and self-directed research, in addition to relevant coursework, which will foster the development of advanced methodological and laboratory skills necessary for doctoral level study. The Exercise Physiology concentration does not lead to rank change for Kentucky teachers.
The M.S. in Kinesiology, Sport Science concentration prepares students for careers in sports science. Graduates will acquire foundational concepts and theories in the field of kinesiology, enabling them to work effectively with athletes, colleagues, and coaches to maximize human performance. Additionally, this concentration emphasizes data analytics, equipping students with the skills to collect, manage, and communicate data findings to relevant stakeholders. The Sport Science concentration does not lead to rank change for Kentucky teachers.
The M.S. in Kinesiology, Physical Education Teacher Leader concentration focuses on teaching and meeting the Kentucky teacher requirements for advanced teaching standards. The concentration requires 10-16 credit hours of Professional Education Core, including 3 credit hours of Action Research; and 15 credit hours of Physical Education Specialization courses. The Teacher Leader concentration is designed to develop Teacher Leaders who can positively impact student learning in their classrooms and schools. Courses and experiences include Professional Learning Communities in which students interact with other graduate students from various content areas to discuss and work on real world challenges and promising practices they encounter in schools.
Concentration(s)
- Exercise Physiology (KIEP)
- Sport Science (KISS)
- Physical Education Teacher Leader (KIPE)
Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP)
This degree offers a Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) which provides academically outstanding students the opportunity to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in an accelerated timeframe. Contact the graduate program coordinator for additional information.
Program Admission
Exercise Physiology
- Current resume
- Statement of Professional Intent providing a sample of the applicant's writing style and ability. Please refer to the program website for additional information regarding the Statement of Intent.
Students with an undergraduate GPA lower than 3.0 are required to submit 2 letters of recommendation from professors in their major and/or their academic advisor.
Sport Science
- Current resume
- Statement of Professional Intent providing a sample of the applicant's writing style and ability. Please refer to the program website for additional information regarding the Statement of Intent.
Students with an undergraduate GPA lower than 3.0 are required to submit 2 letters of recommendation from professors in their major and/or their academic advisor.
Teacher Leader Concentration
Criteria vary, depending on the student's undergraduate institution and GPA.
- WKU Graduate: Automatic admission with a current teaching certificate in Physical Education or a statement of eligibility.
- Graduate of a Kentucky Higher Education Institute other than WKU: A 2.75 GPA or higher or a GAP1 score of 550. A current teaching certificate in Physical Education or a statement of eligibility.
- Graduate of an Out-of-State Institution of Higher Education: A 2.75 GPA or higher or a GAP1 score of 550. A current teaching certificate in Physical Education or a statement of eligibility.
Kentucky applicants whose certificates have expired may be admitted, but they may enroll for only six hours before they must apply to the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board for reissued certificates. After completion of six hours, a student admitted with an expired certificate must submit a copy of the reissued certificate before being allowed to register for any additional course.
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GAP=(GRE-V+GRE-Q)+(undergraduateGPAx100)
Graduate Studies Admission
Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate Studies admission requirements.
Program Requirements (31-33 hours)
Exercise Physiology Concentration (33 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| KIN 501 | Research Methods in Kinesiology | 3 |
| KIN 504 | Advanced Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| KIN 518 | Advanced Statistics in Kinesiology | 3 |
| KIN 512 | Advanced Strength & Conditioning | 3 |
| KIN 514 | Lab Methods in Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| KIN 522 | Advanced Exercise Testing and Prescription | 3 |
| KIN 524 | Applied Biomechanics | 3 |
| KIN 503 | Advanced Motor Learning and Control | 3 |
| KIN 523 | Seminar in Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| KIN 599 | Thesis Research/Writing | 6 |
| or KIN 596 | Internship in Exercise Physiology | |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Sport Science (33 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Coursework | ||
| KIN 501 | Research Methods in Kinesiology | 3 |
| KIN 504 | Advanced Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| KIN 512 | Advanced Strength & Conditioning | 3 |
| KIN 536 | Applied Sport Science (Applied Sport Science) | 3 |
| KIN 596 | Internship in Exercise Physiology | 6 |
| BDAN 513 | Contemporary Business Analytics | 3 |
| BDAN 515 | Data Management | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Advanced Motor Learning and Control | ||
| Lab Methods in Exercise Physiology | ||
| Advanced Measurement and Evaluation | ||
| Advanced Statistics in Kinesiology | ||
| Seminar in Exercise Physiology | ||
| Applied Biomechanics | ||
| Dynamics of Injury Management | ||
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Physical Education Teacher Leader Concentration (31 hours)
The program is divided into two instructional components. The first component, Professional Education, provides advanced level pedagogy, leadership, and content related to Kentucky Teacher Standards and applicable to all P-12 teachers working in various grade levels, content, and community areas. The second component is the specialization that allows the candidate to expand content, pedagogy, and/or leadership skills. The Physical Education Teacher Leader concentration consists of KIN 503, KIN 505, KIN 508, KIN 520, and RSA 534. This specialization allows for professional growth concurrent with the goals of the candidate. An Action Research Project for Teacher Leaders focusing on a classroom, school, or district issue is the capstone for the completion of the degree.
During the first course in the program, TCHL 500, students will complete an assessment process that will be used in determining which TCHL core courses they must take in the professional education core. All students must complete TCHL 500, TCHL 530, TCHL 545, TCHL 555, TCHL 559, and TCHL 560 or pass proficiency evaluations for TCHL 545 and TCHL 555.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Professional Education Component | ||
| TCHL 500 | Foundations of Teacher Leadership | 3 |
| TCHL 530 | Curriculum Development | 3 |
| TCHL 545 | Classroom Instruction Strategies 1 | 3 |
| TCHL 555 | School and Classroom Assessment 1 | 3 |
| TCHL 559 | Capstone Project Design for Teacher Leadership | 1 |
| TCHL 560 | Capstone Project for Teacher Leadership | 3 |
| Mid-Point Assessment Requirements | ||
| To ensure that all master's candidates are proficient on Advanced Level Kentucky Teacher Standards, all Critical Performances associated with the above TCHL courses must be completed, even if a candidate's program of study does not include the courses. Candidates may only complete 6 hours in Level 2 before they have uploaded all Critical Performances and have achieved an average score of 3.0 on all performances and an average score of 3 on dispositions. Additional course work during Level 2 may be required based on the assessment results. | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| Specialization Component | ||
| KIN 503 | Advanced Motor Learning and Control | 3 |
| KIN 505 | Foundations of Curriculum Construction | 3 |
| KIN 508 | Adaptive Physical Education | 3 |
| KIN 520 | Teaching Strategies in Physical Education | 3 |
| RSA 534 | Facility Management | 3 |
| Total Hours | 31 | |
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If the proficiency exams for TCHL 545 and TCHL 555 are passed, 6 hours of advisor approved electives will be needed to replace those courses.
Completion Requirements
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TCHL 560 - Action Research for Teacher Leaders
-
Present research results in a venue approved by the advisor.
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Achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA in overall coursework.
Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP)
The Kinesiology Master's Program offers a Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) which provides academically outstanding students the opportunity to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in an accelerated timeframe. The primary advantage of the JUMP program lies in its capacity to enable students to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in an expedited timeframe. Contact the graduate program coordinator for additional information.
This JUMP program allows students to start working toward their MS in Kinesiology with a concentration of Exercise Physiology or Sport Science while completing their Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. Undergraduate students admitted into JUMP may take graduate courses that count toward both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Those who choose Exercise Physiology or Sport Science concentrations are permitted to take up to 15 hours of graduate courses while remaining an undergraduate student and double count up to 12 of those hours toward both degrees.
To be considered for admission to the JUMP program for Exercise Science (BS) and Kinesiology (MS) with a concentration of Exercise Physiology or Sport Science, a student must meet the following criteria:
- Be an Exercise Science major;
- Has completed at least 60 hours total, with at least 24 hours earned at WKU;
- Have at least 15 or more credit hours remaining to complete a bachelor's degree;
- Have a minimum of 3.25 overall GPA and a 3.25 in the Exercise Science major