Kinesiology, M.S.

Kinesiology Required Courses (18 hours)

• KN 627 - Evidence-Based Practice (3)
• KN 643 - Measurement & Evaluation (3)
• KN 699 - Applied Research Project (1-3) (three credit hours)

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• Electives (minimum 9 hours)

• Any 500/600 level KN courses

• (course cannot be used in core or concentration)

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• MG 620 - Change Dynamics (3)
• OD 632 - Diversity Planning & Goal Setting (3)

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• MG 650 - Strategic Communication (3) or
• OD 650 - Strategic Communication (3)

Note:

A combined maximum of 9 credit hours of Topics in Kinesiology (KN 680) courses may apply toward the degree.
 

Kinesiology Concentrations (12 hours)

Graduate Kinesiology students must choose one of the following concentrations to complete the degree requirements:

Performance Coaching Concentration

• KN 639 - Advanced Sport Psychology (3)
• KN 652 - Cultivating Growth through Adversity (3)
• OD 642 - Introduction to Leadership Coaching (3)
• KN/MG/OD Elective (3)

Sport and Rehabilitation

• KN 519 - Biomechanics & Motor Control (3)
• KN 520 - Stress Physiology (3)
• KN 576 - Motor Behavior (3)
• KN 581 - Advanced Exercise Physiology (3)

Admissions

Criteria for Regular Admission

Please see the Admissions  page of this catalog. In addition to those requirements, applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale on all undergraduate or graduate level coursework.  Newly admitted students will be classified as provisional if any portion of their entrance requirements is less than satisfactory.  The provisional student must maintain a 3.0 GPA for the first six credit hours of graduate coursework to remain in the program. 

Applicants who have not graduated with their bachelor’s degree will be considered for regular admission during their last two undergraduate semesters. The University reserves the right to change the admission decision once the final official transcript is received.  All final transcripts must be received before registration beyond the first semester of enrollment is permitted.

4 + 1 Accelerated Option

The Kinesiology Program offers an accelerated option to outstanding undergraduate Avila Kinesiology students allowing a bachelor’s and master’s degree to be earned in as few as 5 years. Students accepted to the accelerated 4+1 program may earn up to 15 credit hours at the graduate level to be counted toward both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. 

 Accelerated 4+1 Program Requirements

1. Declared major in Kinesiology at Avila University
2. Third year status and minimum overall and Avila University 3.00 GPA.
3. A minimum of 18 credit hours completed in Kinesiology courses with a minimum 3.25 GPA in the major.
4. Kinesiology program application submitted by the student’s Academic Advisor and approved by the Program Director and College Dean.

NOTE: Acceptance into the 4+1 program does not guarantee admission into the graduate program nor does a denial decision to the 4+1 program preclude future admission into the Kinesiology graduate degree program.  Once accepted to the accelerated program, a 3.0 GPA in all graduate and undergraduate coursework must be maintained, with no grades below a “B” at the graduate level.  Failure to meet these minimum requirements will result in removal from the accelerated option.

Outcomes

Upon graduation, a student majoring in Kinesiology should be able to:

Foundational Knowledge: Demonstrate an advanced broad-based knowledge of important sub-disciplines that contribute to the field of Kinesiology including: exercise and stress physiology, biomechanics and motor behavior, sport and exercise psychology, and related analytical methods and procedures of applied exercise science and human performance. 

Applied Thinking: Demonstrate the application of knowledge in the forms of critical (i.e. analyzing and evaluating), creative (i.e. new ideas or designs), and practical (i.e. problem solving and decision making) thinking. 

Integration of Theory and Practice: Integrate discipline specific knowledge, skills, and abilities through an evidence-based approach to research and practice. 

Multimedia Communication: Employ a multimedia approach to communication, collaboration, and the presentation of scholarly work.

Assessment

• Summative assessment of graduate Kinesiology outcomes will be completed through a combination of written and performance assignments, examinations, and projects. These outcomes will be outlined in detail in individual course syllabi. (KN 519 , KN 520 , KN 576, KN 581 , KN 627 , KN 639, KN 643 , KN 652, KN 680 , and KN 682  and/or KN 699 )
• Formative assessment of student performance (i.e. learning, persistence, and completion) is imbedded throughout each course and at the program level.  Each of these levels of assessment provide students and faculty frequent and focused feedback related to student performance. This feedback guides real-time adjustments and modifications for the purpose of improving student performance.
• Benchmarks for assessment are internally set by the department. Students may also obtain a copy of these outcomes in the Graduate Kinesiology Student Handbook.