Master of Arts in Health, Physical Education, and Sport Sciences
The Master of Arts in HPS allows specialization in one of two areas: Health and Physical Education or Sport Management (this option is now housed in the College of Business and Public Affairs). The program is designed to provide students with opportunities to develop and demonstrate the expertise and research skills which are necessary to enable them to make independent professional contributions in their chosen specializations.
Admission Requirements
- General admission to graduate study, including a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.50.
- Completion of an appropriate undergraduate major is required for unconditional admission to the program and selected area of specialization:
- Health and Physical Education: health or physical education major
- Sport Management: sport management or administration, physical education, recreation, business, or communication. Candidates with an undergraduate degree in another area(s) may submit a transcript to the department for consideration. The appropriate faculty will make an admission status recommendation, and when appropriate, include a list of undergraduate prerequisites that must be successfully completed prior to unconditional admission.
- A minimum combined score on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE of 750 or a scaled score of 380 or higher on the Miller Analogies Test.
Requirements for the Degree
- Satisfy general degree requirement.
- Complete all professional core courses.
- Fulfill stated requirements for the selected area of specialization and research/internship.
- Pass a written qualifying examination over the professional core curriculum (must have a 3.0 or higher to sit for the exam).
- Pass an oral examination over content area (must have a 3.0 or higher GPA to sit for the exam).
- Pass any additional area of specialization exit assessments (must have a 3.0 or higher GPA).
- Have an exit GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Must be unconditionally admitted.
Program Requirements |
Sem. Hrs. |
Professional Core Curriculum |
|
HPS 600 - Research Methods in Health, P.E., & Sports Management |
3 |
HPS 601 - Interpretation of Data |
3 |
HPS 610 - Readings and Graduate Seminar |
3 |
Areas of Specialization
All students complete the professional core curriculum and then choose to specialize in one of the following areas: Health and Physical Education, or Sport Management.
Health/Physical Education
|
Sem. Hrs. |
Students must select 15-18 hours from the following:
HLTH 608 - General School Safety |
3 |
HLTH 614 - Principles of Epidemiology |
3 |
HLTH 618 - Use and Abuse of Drugs |
3 |
HLTH 603 - Administration of School Health |
3 |
HLTH 613 - Administration of Public Health |
3 |
HLTH 650 - Graduate Seminar |
3 |
HPS 602 - Wellness Promotion |
3 |
PHED 608 - Seminar in Motor Learning and Development |
3 |
PHED 611 - Issues in Health and Physical Education |
3 |
PHED 612 - Program Design, Implementation and Assessment |
3 |
PHED 617 - Advanced Adapted Physical Education |
3 |
Research or Internship - select three-six hours:
HLTH 670 - Directed Research |
3 |
HLTH 699 - Thesis |
6 |
PHED 670 - Directed Research |
3 |
PHED 699 - Thesis |
6 |
TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED |
30 |
Sport Management
This option is now housed in the College of Business & Public Affairs |
|
Student Competencies
The following competencies will be obtained in the HPS core courses listed below: HPS 600-Research Methods in Health, Physical Education and Recreation, HPS 601-Interpretation of Data, HPS 610-Readings and Graduate Seminar.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the methodology and significance of research techniques as they relate to the various educational disciplines.
- Demonstrate the ability to utilize various research methods and apply the findings to the various educational disciplines.
- Demonstrate the ability to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data.
- Demonstrate the ability to design and conduct applied research in the disciplines of health, physical education, and recreation.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the dimensions of wellness and its impact on lifestyle and quality of life.
- Demonstrate an understanding of current practices associated with the disciplines of health and physical education.
- Develop a personal philosophy regarding the value of health, physical education, recreation, sport and sportsmanship.
Assessments
Candidates must pass a written qualifying exam over the content of the three core courses: HPS 600, 601, and 610.
- This examination, which will consist of three essay questions, should be scheduled within one semester of completing the core courses.
- Students must formally apply in writing for the exam at the beginning of the semester in which he/she plans to take the exam.
- The student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to take the exam.
- The qualifying exam will be offered three times a year (Fall, Spring, and Summer).
- A student may have three attempts to pass each of the three core areas.
- When needed, the second or third attempts are to be formally scheduled by the student during any one of the three scheduled exam times (Fall, Spring and Summer).
A student who does not pass all three core areas within three attempts will be dismissed from the program.
- Failure to take the exam will result as an attempt unless the student has formally applied to withdraw from the exam. A formal withdrawal must be submitted a minimum of 14 days prior to the administration of the exam.