MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN HEALTH AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTHWEST Overview: Welcome to the Department of Education. Thank you for your interest in the Master of Science in Health and Human Performance at the University of the Southwest. We have created an online one year thirty three (33) hour fast-track graduate program to accommodate interested individuals with a desire to work in health care. We provide a quality learning environment through lecture, lab, practical experience, and internships to prepare our students for a career as a health care professional. Our program allows the flexibility for interested students to enter during any time of the academic year except summers. Thanks for your interest in our department. Program Description Two of the most notable issues in society today are the provisions of health care and the rising concern with the epidemic of obesity. Many more Americans are becoming aware of their health and its relationship to the quality of life with health and aging. Although they may understand the importance of diet and exercise in maintaining good health, they often are uneducated or untrained as to proper exercise techniques and how to ensure proper nutrition. Hence, there is an increasing demand for trained health care professionals who can serve the general public by raising awareness and providing quality instruction, both of which may help reduce health care costs and assist individuals in improving and maintaining their health. The Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Health and Human Performance will develop trained professionals. The coursework has been designed to allow students to develop and demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities in the areas of clinical evaluation, fitness assessment, nutrition, and exercise prescription. As student’s progress through the program they will have opportunities to work with normal, healthy individuals, active ager’s, cardiac patients, and centenarians and will gain experience working with populations with chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiac conditions, to enable them to understand and assist in their treatment. In developing this program, the department has carefully studied the needs of current health care professionals, teachers, coaches, corporate wellness employees, and assistants in athletic programs. Graduates of the program will be able to pursue advanced career opportunities such as: Sub-disciplines: Exercise Physiology, Sport History, Motor Development, Sport Pedagogy, Motor Learning, Sports Medicine (Athletic Training, Pre-PT), Biomechanics, Sport Philosophy, Sport Psychology, Sport Sociology, Sport Management, Adapted Physical Education, Health Education, Physical Education, Leisure, and Recreation. Careers College Professor Exercise Physiologist Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist Biomechanist Sport Psychologist City Sports Recreation Director Strength and Conditioning Coach Personal Fitness Trainer Sports Official Athletic Trainer Recreation Leader Physical Education Teacher Health Education Teacher Athletic Coach Athletic Director Physical Education Administrator Public Health Education Sports Facilities Manager Aquatics Specialist Choreographer Camp Director Sports Information Director Recreation and Intramural Director Therapeutic Recreation Specialist or continue towards their doctorate in their related field. Admission Requirements Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. An applicant with a GPA slightly below 3.00 may, with permission of the program chair, enter the program on probation; he or she must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the graduate curriculum to continue. Other applicants with an undergraduate GPA slightly below 3.00 but who have earned at least a 3.00 GPA in six or more credit hours of graduate work may be admitted unconditionally. All applicants must have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework in kinesiology; at least half of those credit hours must be in upper-division courses, and it is strongly recommended that every applicant has completed eight credit hours (two courses) in human anatomy and human physiology. Applicants who do not meet these requirements, or whose degrees are not in the field of kinesiology, may be admitted conditionally. Applicants who are international students must have a minimum score of 550 or the equivalent on the TOEFL [a minimum TOEFL of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer based), or 79 (Internet based)], or the equivalent on another appropriate examination, such as the IELTS. Admission Procedure The application for admission to the Master of Science in Health and Human Performance may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Admissions. Graduation Requirements Students must maintain a minimum 3.00 GPA throughout program. All degree requirements must be completed within six years of matriculation. Every student must pass a comprehensive exam prior to enrolling in the advanced practicum or internship. Program Length Courses in the Master of Science in Health and Human Performance are offered in eight-week- long online sessions. Assume satisfactory progress, the entire program can be completed in one academic year (two regular semesters plus summer). Full time graduate students normally take two courses each session, and complete 12 credit hours each semester, thus completing 24 credit hours within two semesters. Immediately following completion of the first 24 credit hours, all students must take and pass a comprehensive exam, thereby qualifying them to enroll in the advanced practicum or internship (KES 5009) during that following summer, thereby completing the remaining nine credit hours of coursework required for the degree. A suggested sequence of course completion is available on request from the department. Graduate students who elect to enroll in less than a full time course load will, of course, take longer to complete the program. Credentials for Faculty Each faculty member will hold an earned doctorate from an accredited university and who is currently teaching as a full-time or adjunct status. The following faculty have agreed to teach in the newly designed degree program. Dr. Kaelin Young, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma Dr. Jim Hector, Ed.D., East Texas State University Dr. Scarlet Clouse, Ed.D., Texas A&M Commerce Dr. Stefanie Latham, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma Dr. Crishel Kline, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University Dr. Julio Guerrero, Ph.D., Texas A&M University Dr. Larry Guerrero, Ed.D., Oklahoma State University Degree Requirements Credit Hours: 33 FALL SEMESTER 1ST EIGHT WEEKS KES 5003 Physiological Basis of Human Performance KES 5013 Research Methods FALL SEMESTER 2ND EIGHT WEEKS KES 5023 Advanced Human Nutrition KES 5033 Issues in Sports Law SPRING SEMESTER 1ST EIGHT WEEKS KES 5043 Diagnostic Tests & Measurements in Exercise Science KES 5053 Neurological Basis for Motor Learning and Control SPRING SEMESTER 2ND EIGHT WEEKS KES 5063 Group Dynamics KES 5073 Health and Human Behavior COMPREHENSIVE FINAL (PASS/FAIL) SUMMER SESSION KES 5009 Advanced Practicum or Internship/Project in Exercise Science ACADEMIC REGULATIONS FOR MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS The University of the Southwest provides graduate programs which will enable the student to enrich his or her study in a specialized field. The aim of the graduate program is to build greater breadth and depth of knowledge in the field of study. Advisors will provide direct counseling to students in their major field of study. Students desiring to pursue work in a teacher certification program at the graduate level are also advised by the Director of Teacher Education. Each graduate student will be assigned a committee of faculty members prior to taking the comprehensive examination. The student shall complete all assigned work and receive recommendations of the committee and the Dean of the College before a degree will be awarded. GRADUATE ADMISSIONS Admission to Graduate Studies is required of all post-baccalaureate students when enrolling in graduate-level courses at the University of the Southwest. Applications for admission should be addressed to the Center for Enrollment Services. Each applicant will be notified in writing of acceptance or rejection for admission. Students may seek admission to Graduate Studies by applying for admission to a master's degree program or by applying for admission as a non- degree student. I. ADMISSION TO THE MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAM A student seeking admission for the purpose of pursuing a master's degree must hold a baccalaureate degree from an institution approved by a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Official transcripts reflecting all college work attempted and degree(s) conferred should be on file in the Center for Enrollment Services at least ten days prior to initial registration as a graduate student. There are two levels of admission to a master's program, full and probationary. Approval of the major department is required for admission at either level. The following criteria will be used in determining the eligibility for admission to the appropriate level. A. FULL ADMISSION Applicants must have official transcripts and test scores sent to the Center for Enrollment Services, University of the Southwest. The Center for Enrollment Services will compile and tabulate the documentation submitted and submit a file on each applicant to the major academic department. Following