The master’s program is designed to provide a high-quality graduate program for students who desire advanced study to enhance their professional knowledge and skills as well as for students who complete the master’s degree as an intermediate step toward doctoral work. Students can select from a variety of specializations (Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, Health Promotion, Physical Education, Coaching, and Sport Leadership) to meet their interest areas and career goals as described below.
The objective of the program is to prepare the student to:
• permit an in-depth study of a specialized content area within the field;
• effectively locate, analyze, and use significant elements of the professional literature and research materials;
• acquire a knowledge of sound research procedures; and
• engage in clinical, applied, and/or experiential learning opportunities to enhance students’ professional development
The course work and program experiences are designed to enable graduate students in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion to demonstrate:
1. Educational, professional and technological standards.
2. Literacy skills for life-long professional learning.
3. Current, factual, and functional content knowledge.
4. Functional skills and dispositions of professionals.
5. Skills for research and reflection for learning and leading.
6. Skills to plan, implement, and evaluate basic and applied research.
7. Skills to analyze and interpret research data.
To accomplish these outcomes, students are introduced to a combination of departmental course offerings, supporting electives, and a required core of statistics and research methods. Students work with their advisor to tailor course work and additional opportunities to their interests areas and career goals. Master’s candidates with the approval of the department may select either a thesis (Plan A) or a non-thesis option (Plan B).
BIOMECHANICS SPECIALIZATION
The specialization in human biomechanics is a multidisciplinary program working together with Kinesiology, Health Sciences, and Engineering. The program helps address critical problems related but not limited to sport, exercise, health, aging, space science and ergonomics.
EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY SPECIALIZATION
The specialization in Exercise Physiology offers a robust science-based curriculum to prepare students for a variety of careers in research, clinical, and practitioner-based settings. The curriculum offers numerous clinical, applied, and experiential learning opportunities to enhance students’ professional development. Students may pursue research or internship-based tracks to effectively prepare for their professional endeavors.
HEALTH PROMOTION SPECIALIZATION
The specialization in Health Promotion is for students passionate about health and wellness who want to make a positive impact on other people’s lives. With a flexible distance learning degree option, students will gain advanced professional skills, build professional relationships with top alumni, and engage with internationally recognized faculty in health promotion. The curriculum offers numerous applied and experiential learning opportunities to enhance students’ professional development. Students may pursue research or internship-based tracks to effectively prepare for their professional endeavors. Students will also be prepared to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination, a professional credential widely respected in the health promotion field.
SPORT LEADERSHIP SPECIALIZATION
The Sport Leadership specialization focuses on preparing leaders in all sport, recreation, and fitness related fields. The goal is to help students develop the knowledge and skills to be more effective practitioners and researchers in the field of leadership.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION SPECIALIZATION
The Physical Education (Teaching) specialization focuses on connecting theory of effective teaching processes and the practice of effective teaching in physical education. In addition to learning about appropriate teaching methods, you learn very valuable experiences in the field. Please note: This degree does not lead to teacher certification.
COACHING SPECIALIZATION
The master’s degree with a specialization in coaching is directed primarily at preparing graduate students to be coaches at the elementary school, middle school, high school, and collegiate levels. The aim is to help teaching and coaching master’s students develop the knowledge and skills to be more effective practitioners and researchers in the field of coaching.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the Graduate School requirements set forth in the first part of this Catalog as well as those set forth for each specialty area. Additional information can be found on the departmental website and is briefly summarized below: https://education.uky.edu/khp/grad/ Specific prerequisites for graduate study at the master’s level are determined by a committee of the departmental graduate faculty based upon area of emphasis.
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Priority deadline for upcoming academic year: February 1
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Fall: July 15 (international students: April 15)
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Spring: December 1 (international students: August 22
Please note: all of our specializations are slightly different so information on each is included below.
BIOMECHANICS SPECIALIZATION
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with adequate preparation in health, physical education, or related fields.
- GRE Requirements: not required A total of three letters of recommendation are required.
- A minimum of 2 out of 3 of these letters must be submitted by someone with a terminal degree (i.e. Ph.D., M.D., Ed.D., etc.) and must be from a person with direct knowledge of the applicant’s academic capabilities (e.g., instructor, research supervisor, advisor, etc.).
EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY SPECIALIZATION
- Students must contact a program faculty member prior to applying to the program. It is important to identify a faculty member for which the student has similar research/scholarly interests.
- Personal Statement (must indicate a primary and secondary program faculty member)
- GRE Requirements: Not required
- GPA requirement: 3.2 or higher
HEALTH PROMOTION SPECIALIZATION
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with adequate preparation in health, physical education, or related fields.
- GRE Requirements: Not required.
- GPA requirement: 2.75 or higher
- Resume/CV
- A professional goal statement describing the applicant’s professional background, motivations for seeking a graduate education in this specialty area, why the current program is an ideal fit, and career/research aspirations.
- Three letters of recommendation: At least two must be from a person with direct knowledge of applicant’s academic capabilities (e.g., instructor, research supervisor, advisor, etc.).
SPORT LEADERSHIP SPECIALIZATION
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with adequate preparation in health, physical education, or related fields.
- GRE Requirements: not required.
- GPA requirement: 2.75 or higher
- Three letters of recommendation
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement indicating how and why this degree aligns with career outcome goals.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION SPECIALIZATION
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with adequate preparation in health, physical education, or related fields.
- GRE Requirements: Not required.
- GPA requirement: 2.75 or higher
- Three letters of recommendation
COACHING SPECIALIZATION
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with adequate preparation in health, physical education, or related fields.
- GRE Requirements: Not required.
- GPA requirement: 2.75 or higher
- Three letters of recommendation
Degree Requirements
Please note: all of our specializations are slightly different so information on each is included below.
BIOMECHANICS SPECIALIZATION
Research Methods and Statistics (6-7 hours) are required for all Kinesiology and Health Promotion majors while the remainder of the courses are specific to the biomechanics specialization. A minimum of 30 total hours is required. See program website for pre-requisites and possible electives.
Plan A
- Research Methods (6-7 hours)
- Area of concentration (12 hours)
- Disciplinary Support/Supporting Electives (6 hours)
- Thesis (6 hours)
Plan B
- Research Methods (6-7 hours)
- Area of concentration (15 hours)
- Disciplinary Support/Supporting Electives (6 hours)
- Independent research/study (3 hours)
EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY SPECIALIZATION
Research Methods and Statistics (6-7 hours) are required for all Kinesiology and Health Promotion majors while the remainder of the courses are specific to the exercise physiology specialization. A minimum of 30 total hours is required. See program website for pre-requisites and possible electives.
Plan A
- Research Tools (Minimum 6 hours of required course work)
- Area of concentration (12 hours)
- Disciplinary Support/Supporting Electives (6 hours)
- Thesis (6 hours)
Plan B
- Research Tols (Minimum 6 hours of required course work)
- Area of concentration (15 hours)
- Disciplinary Support/Supporting Electives (6 hours)
- Independent research/study (3 hours)
HEALTH PROMOTION SPECIALIZATION
Research Methods and Statistics (6-7 hours) are required for all Kinesiology and Health Promotion majors while the remainder of the courses are specific to the health promotion specialization. A minimum of 33 total hours is required. See program website for pre-requisites and possible electives.
Plan A
- Research Tools (6-7 hours)
- Area of concentration (9 hours)
- Disciplinary Support/Supporting Electives (12 hours)
- Thesis (6 hours)
Plan B
SPORT LEADERSHIP SPECIALIZATION
Research Methods and Statistics (6-7 hours) are required for all Kinesiology and Health Promotion majors while the remainder of the courses are specific to the sport leadership specialization. A minimum of 30 total hours is required. See program website for pre-requisites and possible electives.
Plan A
- Research Tools (6-7 hours)
- Area of concentration (12 hours)
- Disciplinary Support/Supporting Electives (6 hours)
- Thesis (6 hours)
Plan B
PHYSCIAL EDUCATION SPECIALIZATION
Research Methods and Statistics (6-7 hours) are required for all Kinesiology and Health Promotion majors while the remainder of the courses are specific to the teaching specialization. A minimum of 30 total hours is required. See program website for pre-requisites and possible electives.
Plan A
- Research Tools (6-7 hours)
- Area of concentration (6 hours)
- Disciplinary Support/Supporting Electives (12 hours)
- Thesis (6 hours)
Plan B
- Research Tools (6-7 hours)
- Area of concentration (6 hours)
- Disciplinary Support/Supporting Electives (18 hours)
COACHING SPECIALIZATION
Research Methods and Statistics (6-7 hours) are required for all Kinesiology and Health Promotion majors while the remainder of the courses are specific to the coaching specialization. A minimum of 30 total hours is required. See program website for pre-requisites and possible electives.
Plan A
- Research Tools (6-7 hours)
- Area of concentration (9 hours)
- Disciplinary Support/Supporting Electives (9 hours)
- Thesis (6 hours)
Plan B
- Research Tools (6-7 hours)
- Area of concentration (9 hours)
- Disciplinary Support/Supporting Electives (15 hours)
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