Master's Program: Degree Requirements

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Minimum Credits Required (Exclusive of Undergraduate Prerequisites):

• Thesis Option: 24 credits of course work plus 6 credits for thesis = 30 credits
• Non-Thesis Option: 27 credits of course work plus 3 credits for project = 30 credits

Students with no Kinesiology background, and/or minimum course work related to the specialization can expect additional requirements as determined by the advisor. Programs involving internships are typically 36 credits.

Requirements for Thesis Option

A minimum grade average of B must be attained in courses approved for graduate credit (24 credits). Of these 24 credits, at least 18 credits must be earned in courses numbered 600 or above.

[Note: No 400-level KNES course required for any departmental major may be taken for graduate credit]

[Note: Course work taken outside the Department should be related courses that supplement and support the major specialization].

The final requirement is the oral defense of the thesis, which takes place after all course work and the thesis have been completed. Rules and guidelines relative to thesis development, committee membership and oral examination may be obtained in the Department of Kinesiology Graduate Office.

Requirements for Non-Thesis Option

A minimum grade average of B must be attained in courses approved for graduate credit (27 semester hours). Of these 27 credits, at least 18 credits must be earned in courses numbered at 600 or above. Internships typically result in an additional 3-6 credits.

[Note: 400-level courses required for any undergraduates KNES major may not be taken for graduate credit]

[Note: Course work taken outside the Department should be related courses that supplement and support the specialization. Guidelines for the written project and other procedural matters may be obtained from the Graduate Secretary].

The student must also pass a final comprehensive written examination which is designed to test the student's mastery of a broad field of knowledge and reflect all course work taken, including research methods. The student and advisor plan three or more areas for the examination and select two additional graduate faculty members to serve with the advisor on the Examination Committee. The duration of the examination is limited to four hours. The project is developed under the direction of the advisor and is evaluated by two additional faculty members. The examination results are reported to the Graduate Director on the appropriate forms.

Advisement/Program Approval

Each student admitted to the graduate program will be assigned an advisor by the Director of Graduate Studies. Students should make an appointment with the assigned advisor as soon as possible since an advisor must approve all course work before students can be electronically cleared to register. The advisor is the final authority as to the exact nature of the course work to be taken within the general guidelines specified. An advisor or student may request, in writing, a change of advisor if it is deemed to be in the best interest of both parties. It is the student's responsibility to secure a new advisor and to have the change approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. Advisor changes are typically approved only if they occur early in the student's program.

In the beginning of the graduating semester the Approved Program and the Nomination of Thesis Committee forms are to be submitted to the Graduate School (see graduate bulletin board/graduate student deadlines for deadline dates). These forms are available in the Department of Kinesiology Graduate Office. They require final approval and signature of the advisor and graduate director before being submitted to the Graduate School by the deadline.

[Note: The Nomination of Thesis Committee form requires approval of the Human Subjects Committee when appropriate]

Graduate Load/Full-time Status/Residency

No full-time graduate student will be permitted to carry more than 15 hours of credit during any one semester. Registration for a minimum of 48 graduate units per semester is necessary to satisfy full-time status (400-level courses carry 4 units per credit hour, 600-798 level courses carry 6 units per credit hour, and KNES 799 carries 12 units per credit hour). Full-time summer school students should not enroll in more than 6 credits in a six-week period. Students who have been granted full Graduate Assistantships should be enrolled in 10 credits of course work. A minimum of 24 graduate units is required for graduate assistants. All students using any University resources (faculty time, libraries, computers, etc.) must be registered for at least one credit.

Time Limit/Transfer Credit

There is a 5-year time limit for completing the degree. Time limit extensions of up to one year are possible if extenuating circumstances can be documented by the student. Written requests for extensions must be approved by the advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Graduate School prior to the time expiration.

A maximum of 6 semester hours of graduate course work taken at other regionally accredited institutions may be applied toward the Master's Degree. The courses must be taken within the five-year limit for completing the degree, and may not have been used to satisfy the requirements for any other degree. Course credits taken as an Advanced Special Student at UMCP (maximum of 12) can be transferred into a degree program. A grade of B or better must be earned in such courses and the content must be relevant to the specialization. Transfer credits must be approved by the advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Graduate School.