Application Information

Graduate Programs

Health and Fitness MS

The Master of Science degree in Health and Fitness is designed for graduate students who seek career/professional opportunities in both traditional and emerging health and fitness settings, such as: corporate/worksite health, wellness and fitness, hospital/medical-based health promotion, exercise and fitness, cardiac/occupational rehabilitation programs, commercial/private health and fitness clubs, and others. The program is designed to meet the needs and expectations of the professional disciplines. This degree program is a product of the scholarly literature and professional priorities of the leading health & fitness organizations.

Degree Requirements

The degree is intended for students who complete undergraduate degree programs in health and fitness and who seek entry into a graduate program that will further prepare them to be practitioners in the health and fitness fields. It provides the advantages that a graduate degree can offer toward career enhancement and/or occupational security. Essential prerequisite coursework, if any, prior to admittance into the program is determined on an individual basis.

The program consists of approximately 36 hours of graduate credit in the Department of Health & Kinesiology. These include 9 hours of theoretical foundation coursework in health and fitness, 9 hours of program design, analysis and evaluation (including an individual graduate project), 6 hours of management and marketing principles, and 6 hours that emphasize counseling techniques and exercise prescription. Additionally, students are exposed to contemporary critical issues in health and fitness and will participate in an in-depth field/internship experience.

Applied Experiences:

The M.S. Health and Fitness degree has a strong professional application emphasis throughout the program and includes a 500-hour professional internship (or equivalent experience*) and related individual research project. It is recommended that the full-time internship experience be scheduled over the summer semester after the first academic year of study. The internship should provide the basis for the design and execution of the individual research project.

*Students who have already participated in an approved internship experience can apply on an individual basis for special consideration to substitute elective courses for the internship requirement. However, the individual research project must be completed.

Research Activities:

Although not required, students may choose to pursue a thesis option as part of the Health and Fitness program. However, the minimal expectation requires completion of an individual research and study project as the student’s capstone work.

Funding Opportunities:

Funding of the individual research project may require a grant, contract or other means of financial support. Students and their advisors continually seek sources of funding for both the student’s research and tuition, but such support is by no means guaranteed.

Laboratories:

A designated laboratory facility is not identified with the program; however, students may avail themselves of any of the several established departmental laboratories. Students must receive permission from the faculty director of the laboratory in order to use any of the facilities or equipment.

Proposed Sequence of Courses for the
M.S. Degree in Health and Fitness*

Fall I

HK 566 Biomedical Principles of Health Promotion

HK 568 Advanced Exercise Physiology

HK 667 Theoretical Bases in Physical Testing

HK 501 Graduate Student Orientation Seminar

Spring I

HK 610 Research Methods in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation

HK 675 Design and Analysis of Health Promotion Interventions

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HK 569 Exercise Testing and Prescription for Special Populations

~ OR ~

Elective _____________

Summer I

Internship/Professional Work Experience

Fall II

HK 571 Health Counseling

HK 524 Managing Health, Fitness, and Sports Organizations

HK 676 Theoretical Foundations of Health Behavior

Spring II

HK 525 Marketing and Promotion in Health, Fitness, and Sports Organizations

HPER 605 Contemporary Issues in Health and Kinesiology

HPER 600 Individual Research and Study

* All courses are 3-credit hours except for the Orientation Seminar (1 credit)

Total hours required: approximately 36-37 (excluding internship experience)

Rationale for Sequencing:

Courses prescribed for Fall I provide the theoretical underpinnings in the area of health and fitness. Spring I is focused on, but not limited to, the process of design and evaluation (e.g., programs and interventions for groups and individuals; individuals with special needs; research). Counseling techniques will be presented after students have the general theoretical basis of the area of study (i.e., Fall I) as well as exposure to special problems that could be encountered in the professional setting (i.e., special populations) and therefore is offered during the second year of study (Fall II). Since the principles of marketing and management are presented in a series, this will also comprise part of the second year of coursework. Spring II is reserved for a discussion of the contemporary critical issues facing the profession as well as completion of the student’s capstone work. Course offerings and scheduling of classes are subject to change based on enrollment and availability of faculty. Faculty advisors will make modifications to the plan-of-study and sequence of courses as the need arises.

For general degree requirements for all Health and Kinesiology graduate programs, see Graduate Programs Degree Requirements.

Faculty Mentors

• David R. Black
• David B. Klenosky
• Michael G. Flynn
• Alan L. Smith
• Gerald C. Hyner
• Roseann M. Lyle
• Darlene A. Sedlock
• Roger W. Seehafer