Professors: Brinkert, Caine (Chair), Johnson, M. Short, S. Short (Graduate Program Director), Steen and Whitehead

Program Description

The Department of Physical Education, Exercise Science and Wellness (PXW) exists to promote lifelong participation in physical activity, exercise, and sport for the people of North Dakota and beyond. The mission of the Department’s graduate program in Kinesiology is to prepare students for a variety of professional careers in Kinesiology by providing a rigorous and dynamic curriculum which integrates classroom work and experiential learning opportunities.

The Department of Physical Education, Exercise Science and Wellness offers individualized programs of study that lead to the Master of Science (thesis or non-thesis option) with a major in Kinesiology. The program provides students with opportunities to study the scientific foundations of kinesiology as well as several of its professional applications. Faculty and students work together to develop programs of study to meet the M.S. degree requirements (see below), to assist with students’ academic and professional goals, and to contribute to the Department mission.

Admission Requirements

1. A minimum of 20 semester credits of undergraduate work in kinesiology, physical education, exercise science and wellness, and related areas.
   
   
   1. The following undergraduate courses (or equiva- lents) are required:
      
      
      1. Adapted Activities Programming (PXW 404)
         
         
      2. Exercise Physiology (PXW 402) or Biome- chanics (PXW 332)
         
         
      3. Motor Learning (PXW 276) or Motor De- velopment (PXW 355)
         
         
      4. Sport Psychology (PXW 440) or Sport Sociology (PXW 401)

Note: An applicant without satisfactory undergraduate preparation may be admitted to the program, but will be required to remove deficiencies by completing the necessary undergraduate courses without receiving graduate credit for them.

2. A personal statement of academic and professional goals, which will be used to evaluate the potential for success in the graduate program and the adequacy and appropriateness of undergraduate/professional preparation.
   
   
3. Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (General Test).

Degree Requirements

1. A major of at least 30 (thesis) or 32 (non-thesis) credits.
   
   
2. Completion of PXW 501 (Introduction to Research in Kinesiology, 4 credits); PXW 526 (Introduction to Kinesiology Statistics, 3 credits); and PXW 561 (Critical Synthesis and Analysis in Kinesiology, 2 credits).
   
   
3. Completion of a thesis (4-6 credits) or independent study (2 credits).
   

Thesis Option

1. Establish the Faculty Advisory Committee and submit the Program of Study by the completion of nine graduate credits.
   
   
2. Complete thesis.

Non-Thesis Option

1. Select permanent advisor and submit the Program of Study by the completion of nine graduate credits.
   
   
2. Complete independent study.
   
   
3. Pass a written and oral final comprehensive examination administered by a committee made up of members from the department’s graduate faculty.

Courses

501. Introduction to Research in Kinesiology. 4 credits. The study of quantitative and qualitative research methods used in the field of kinesiology.

502. Evaluation in Kinesiology. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PXW 415 or consent of the instructor. The course will deal with the determination of standards for human performance in kinesiology, and the principles to apply these standards for exercise prescription.

511. Theory and Practice in Administration. 2 credits. Prerequisite: PXW 341 or consent of the instructor. A study of the knowledge, skills and insights as they relate to planning, management and leadership necessary for effective administration of programs.

512. Theory and Practice in Sports Administration. 2 credits. Problems, policies and facilities in athletic departments with emphasis at the secondary level. Public relations problems met and problems of interrelationships with the general curriculum.

513. Supervision. 3 credits. Prerequisites: PXW 521 or consent of the instructor. The study of the knowledge and skills necessary to supervise teaching and coaching in sport and fitness education.

514. Theory and Practice in Intramural Sports Administration. 2 credits. Study of the basic ingredients required to administer a successful intramural program.

520. Curriculum Development. 3 credits. A study of processes for planning, implementing, and evaluating curriculum in physical education.

521. Analysis of Teaching and Coaching. 3 credits. A review of the knowledge and skills for instruction of physical activity and sports, with practical applications to teaching and coaching.

523. Historical and Philosophical Foundations. 2 credits. Educational justification of various phases of the physical education, exercise science and wellness programs based on historical and philosophical evidence.

524. Adapted Activities. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PXW 404 or consent of the instructor. Theory and practice of modified activities adapted to needs, capacities and abilities of the atypical child.

525. Motor Development. 3 credits. Prerequisites: PXW 276 or PXW 355, or consent of instructor. Study of age-related performance changes across the life span. Emphasis will be on physical and mental change as they affect motor skill acquisition and performance.

526. Introduction to Kinesiology Statistics. 3 credits. Prerequisite: Kinesiology major or consent of instructor. Understanding, interpreting, and reporting results of basic statistical analyses (descriptive and inferential, up to and including factorial and repeated measures ANOVAs) used in kinesiology research.

529. Exercise Psychology. 3 credits. Prerequisites: PXW 440 or consent of the instructor. A research-based study of the psychological aspects that are associated with participation in exercise/physical activity.

530. Sports Biomechanics. 4 credits. Prerequisite: PXW 332 or consent of the instructor. The application of principles of mechanics to the study of human motion.

531. Sport Psychology. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PXW 440 or consent of the instructor. A research-based study of the psychological aspects associated with participation in sport

532. Exercise Physiology Lab Techniques. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PXW 402. This course provides an overview of laboratory and field measurements common to exercise physiology. The course focuses on the use of these measurements for conducting physical fitness and wellness assessments and exercise physiology related research.

533. Motor Learning and Control. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PXW 276 or equivalent or consent of the instructor. Study of the acquisition and control of human motor skill.

534. Sport Sociology. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PXW 401 or consent of the instructor. This course is designed to examine various sociological factors in American society and their relationship to the sport experience.

535. Advanced Exercise Physiology I. 3 credits. Prerequisites: PXW 402 or equivalent, and consent of the instructor. The focus of this course is on the mechanisms which affect the cardiovascular and pulmonary system responses at rest, during and after exercise.

536. Advanced Exercise Physiology II. 3 credits. Prerequisites: PXW 402 or equivalent, and consent of the instructor. Acute and chronic muscle function, energy metabolism, and regulatory process of skeletal muscle and muscle cell function during rest, during exercise and during recovery will be the focus of this lecture course.

537. Applied Sport Psychology. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PXW 440 or consent of the instructor. A study of psychological skill training programs for use with team and individual sports athletes.

538. Exercise in Health and Disease. 3 credits. Prerequisites: PXW 535 or consent of the instructor. The role of exercise in the prevention and rehabilitation of individuals in various disease states (e.g., atherosclerosis, chronic obstructive lung disease, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, and others) and health states (e.g., aging and pregnancy). This is a lecture course.

539. Theory and Practice of Exercise Testing. 3 credits. Prerequisites: consent of instructor. The focus of this lecture course is on the electrophysiology of myocardial function and exercise prescription for symptomatic and asymptomatic populations. Students will learn to interpret resting and exercise electrocardiogram recordings.

540. Teaching Lifetime Fitness. 3 credits. A study of the philosophical, disciplinary, and professional considerations that are necessary for the optimal planning and execution of lifetime fitness/wellness education programs in public schools and allied settings.

541. Adult Fitness Programming. 3 credits. A study of adult fitness and wellness programs in different settings and for a variety of adult subpopulations and special groups.

555. Special Topics in Kinesiology. 1 to 4 credits. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Investigation of special topics in the study of kinesiology not included in current departmental course offerings.

560. Seminar in Kinesiology. 1 credit. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. Presentations of current topics based on reviews of literature. Repeatable to 4 credits. S/U grading only.

561. Critical Synthesis and Analysis in Kinesiology. 2 credits. Prerequisite: 20 hours of graduate credit. This course is designed to provide the student with the opportunity to critically analyze and synthesize selected topics in kinesiology.

585. Internship in Kinesiology. 3 to 6 credits. Prerequisite: Appropriate foundational and major area coursework; consent of adviser and on-site supervisor. Professional experience and skill development through supervised placement at an approved work site (or other program) relevant to the course of study.

590. Individual Research in Kinesiology. 1 to 4 credits. Prerequisite: PXW 501 and consent of the student’s faculty adviser. Library, laboratory or field research of an approved project in Kinesiology.

592. Directed Readings in Kinesiology. 2 to 3 credits. Prerequisite: PXW 501 and consent of the student’s faculty adviser. Extensive readings to cover a student’s area of specialization and interest; written reports are required (may be repeated to a total of six credits).