Master of Science Kinesiology

Master of Science in Kinesiology: Strength and Conditioning Studies Option

Unconditional Admission

Students are eligible to apply for unconditional admission to the Master of  Kinesiology, Science in Strength and Conditioning Studies option if they meet the following requirements:

1. Applicants must meet the admission requirements for Graduate College.
2. Applicants must meet a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.85.
3. Applicants must have completed either undergraduate courses in PE 4033 Exercise Physiology and PE 3663 Kinesiology with grades of “B” or higher or the leveling courses PE 5013 Structural and Mechanical Kinesiology Concepts and PE 5023 Applied Physiology Concepts with grades of “B” or higher.
4. Approval from the Program Director.

*Admission will be awarded on a competitive basis due to limited availability.

Conditional Admission

Applicants who fail to meet the above requirement will be considered for conditional admission on a case-by-case basis. Students admitted conditionally must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 at the completion of twelve (12) semester hours toward the degree with no grade lower than “C”.

Degree Requirements

Thirty-three credit hours are required for completion of the Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning Studies degree.

     Required Core Courses (27 hours)

      PE 6033 Exercise Physiology
      PE 6043 Motor Learning and Control
      PE 6053 Biomechanics
      PE 6083 Research Methods and Statistics or EDFD 6003 Educational Research
      SCS 6013 Measurement and Evaluation in Strength and Conditioning
      SCS 6033 Strength and Conditioning Program Design and Development
      SCS 6043 Techniques for Development of Hypertrophy, Strength, and Power
      SCS 6053 Techniques for Development of Speed, Agility, Reaction Time and Endurance
      SCS 6063 Trends in Sports Nutrition and Metabolism

    Electives (3 hours)

     MATH 5173 Advanced Biostatistics
     PE 6063 Current Issues in Coaching and Athletics
     PE 6073 Exercise and Sport Behavior
     PE 6891 Independent Study (1-3 credit hours)
     SCS 6003 Sport Psychology
     SCS 6023 Scientific Foundations of Strength and Conditioning
     SCS 6083 Instructional Strategies for Strength Coaches
     SCS 6093 Exercise Science Seminar

Culminating Experience (3 hours)

SCS 6103 Professional Project (could be research, internship, or other approved project)

1. A minimum of 27 semester hours of graduate course work completed in residence at Arkansas Tech University.
2. A cumulative grade point average of a 3.00 or better must be achieved in all graduate work attempted at Arkansas Tech University, with a maximum of six (6) hours of "C" grades. A student receiving more than six (6) hours of "C" or grades lower than "C" should refer to the section of the catalog on Academic Probation and Dismissal.
3. Completion of all degree requirements within six (6) years from the time of unconditional or conditional admission into the program.

Master of Science in Kinesiology: Sport Science Option

The Master of Science in Kinesiology with the Science option is designed to provide graduate-level instruction in the theory and science of exercise science. The 33-hour program is designed to meet the needs of coaches, physical educators, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and others interested in the fitness profession. This degree is designed to help prepare students for a career that relies more on data analysis. Students should be better prepared to complete the National Strength and Conditioning Associations (NSCA) Certified Performance and Sports Scientist (CPSS) exam.

This program is online

Unconditional Admission

Students are eligible to apply for unconditional admission to the Master of Science in Kinesiology with the Sport Science option if they meet the following requirements:

1. Applicants must meet the admission requirements for Graduate College.
2. Applicants must meet a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 85.
3. Applicants must have completed either undergraduate courses in PE 4033 Exercise Physiology and PE 3663 Kinesiology with grades of “B” or higher or the leveling courses PE 5013 Structural and Mechanical Kinesiology Concepts Structural and Mechanical Kinesiology Concepts and PE 5023 Applied Physiology Concepts Applied Physiology Concepts with grades of “B” or higher.
4. Approval from the Program Director.

*Admission will be awarded on a competitive basis due to limited availability.

Conditional Admission

Applicants who fail to meet the above requirement will be considered for conditional admission on a case-by-case basis. Students admitted conditionally must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 at the completion of twelve (12) semester hours toward the degree with no grade lower than “C”.

Degree Requirements

Thirty-three credit hours are required for completion of the Master of Science in Kinesiology degree with the Sport science option.

Required Core Courses (24 hours)

PE 6033 Exercise Physiology
PE 6043 Motor Learning and Control
PE 6053 Biomechanics
PE 6083 Research Methods and Statistics or EDFD 6003 Educational Research
SCS 6003 Sport Psychology
SCS 6013 Measurement and Evaluation in Strength and Conditioning
SCS 6033 Strength and Conditioning Program Design and Development
SCS 6063 Trends in Sports Nutrition and Metabolism

Electives (6 hours)

MATH 5173 Advanced Biostatistics
PE 6063 Current Issues in Coaching and Athletics
PE 6073 Exercise and Sport Behavior
PE 6891 Independent Study  (1-3 credit hours) 
SCS 6023 Scientific Foundations of Strength and Conditioning
SCS 6083 Instructional Strategies for Strength Coaches
SCS 6093 Exercise Science Seminar

Culminating Experience (3 hours)

 SCS 6103 Professional Project 

1. A minimum of 27 semester hours of graduate coursework completed in residence at ATU.

2. A cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or better must be achieved in all graduate work attempted at ATU, with a maximum of six (6) hours of "C" grades. A student receiving more than six (6) hours of "C" or grades lower than "C" should refer to the section of the catalog on Academic Probation and Dismissal.

3. Completion of all degree requirements within six (6) years from the time of unconditional or conditional admission into the program. 

Degree Works

Degree Works is a software tool utilized by Arkansas Tech University designed to detail academic progression. It allows both students and advisors to monitor course progress towards degree completion and clearly indicates which course requirements have been met as well as how courses transfer into a program. Transfer courses must be approved through the use of a substitution/waiver form available via the Registrar for progress to display correctly within Degree Works. 

Degree Works will display course progression based on the current program of study, but a "what-if" scenario can be generated for any program to see how progression looks with the courses currently completed and in progress. Note that if you have applied to and been admitted to a graduate program while still finishing your undergraduate program, Degree Works will show your new program of study in the graduate program and you would have to generate a "what-if" query to see your undergraduate degree progress.

Application for Graduation

In addition to satisfying all degree requirements, a candidate for a degree must file an Application for Graduation online or at the Graduate College.  Students must apply for graduation upon completion of fifteen (15) graduate credit hours.

Special Conditions of Graduate Credit

Graduate Credit Taken Prior to Admission to Arkansas Tech University

A maximum of nine (9) semester hours of graduate credit with a grade point average of "B" or better may be transferred from an accredited graduate school if deemed appropriate to the graduate program by the head of the student's major department and the Graduate College Dean. Students must send a written request to the head of their major department to petition an acceptance of the transfer credit prior to requesting admission to candidacy to the graduate program. Graduate credit earned six (6) years prior to the completion date of all degree requirements may not be applied toward the degree without the approval of the appropriate program director and the Graduate College Dean. Credits earned by correspondence courses or for remedial purposes will not apply toward the graduate degree. No undergraduate course may be repeated for graduate credit.

Graduate Credit Taken After Admission to Arkansas Tech University

If after admission to graduate study, a student wishes to take a course at another institution to count toward degree requirements at Arkansas Tech University, the student must, in advance of enrollment, obtain written approval from the program director and the Graduate College Dean.