Exercise Physiology, M.S.

(Major Code: 08355) (Academic Plan Code: 556521MSS)

General Information

The Master of Science degree in exercise physiology provides students with science courses in exercise physiology along with clinical application. The faculty are active researchers in areas of study to include thermoregulation and environmental physiology, fatigue and exercise intolerance, nutrition and metabolism, and respiratory control in healthy and diseased populations. Students learn laboratory skills and the physiological explanation of responses to exercise, and are provided the opportunity to gain exercise-related research experience under close faculty supervision.

Admission to the Degree Curriculum

All students must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the university with classified graduate standing as described in Admission and Registration . In addition, a student applying for admission to the graduate program in exercise physiology must meet the following requirements.

1. A bachelor’s degree. Applicants who do not have an undergraduate major in kinesiology or related discipline may be admitted to conditionally classified graduate standing on the recommendation of the graduate adviser of the school. Students will be required to complete or have equivalent preparation in BIOL 212 , BIOL 336 , ENS 303 , ENS 304 , ENS 304L , and an undergraduate statistics course.
2. A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in the last 60 units of coursework.
3. A minimum score of 475 (old GRE score) or 151 (new GRE score) on the verbal and 475 (old GRE score) or 142 (new GRE score) on the quantitative sections of the GRE General Aptitude Test.

Students will be admitted ONLY in the fall semester.

Advancement to Candidacy

All students must satisfy the general requirements for advancement to candidacy, as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees .

Specific Requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing, the student must satisfy the basic requirements for the master’s degree, as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees . The 36-unit program includes a minimum of 29 units of 500-, 600-, 700-, and 800-level coursework in the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences. No more than six units of 500-level coursework with the approval of the graduate adviser will apply to the program of study. The remaining units must be selected from courses listed in this bulletin as acceptable for master’s degree programs. Students complete the degree by choosing either Plan A or Plan B. If students select Plan A, ENS 799A  (Thesis) is required for completion of the degree, accompanied by a final oral examination in the field of the thesis and on the implications of the thesis research for the broader field of exercise physiology. If students select Plan B, ENS 790  (Seminar in Directed Readings) is required for completion of the degree.

Students are required to develop and sign a formal plan of study which must be approved by both a faculty adviser and the graduate adviser. This official program of study is developed when the student has completed between 12 and 21 units of study, and must be filed with the College of Graduate Studies as a prerequisite for advancement to candidacy.

The school expects the student to complete the degree within seven years. Failure to complete the degree requirements within seven years will result in dismissal from the program.