The Department of Human Physiology offers two graduate programs: the athletic training MS program and the research-intensive MS-PhD program.
Athletic Training MS Program
The department offers a graduate program in human physiology with an emphasis in athletic training leading to the master of science (MS). The primary goal of this program is to provide classroom and clinical experiences that will allow entry-level certified athletic trainers to grow into professionals with the experience and confidence to be great clinicians. Providing students with advanced clinical skills is our hallmark. The program also provides students with the opportunity to grow as leaders, teachers, and researchers. Admission is granted only to students who are certified by the CAATE Board of Certification or who have qualified for the certification examination. Graduate employee (GE) positions are available for highly qualified students who are certified as athletic trainers. The GE award provides a full tuition waiver and a monthly stipend that varies in amount according to the assignment. Employment settings include intercollegiate athletics, club and recreational sports, and teaching. Qualified students can find more information at the Graduate Studies in Athletic Training website.
Master of Science Degree Requirements: Athletic Training
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
HPHY 520 | Human Anatomy Dissection | 2 |
HPHY 533 | Neurophysiology of Concussion | 4 |
HPHY 570 | Environmental Physiology | 4 |
HPHY 611 | Professional Skills I: Effective Teaching | 1 |
HPHY 660 | Basic Science in Clinical Decisions | 4 |
HPHY 661 | Manual Therapy: Movement Patterns, Core Stability | 2 |
HPHY 662 | Manual Therapy: Spine, Lower Quadrant | 2 |
HPHY 669 | The Female Athlete | 4 |
HPHY 671 | Therapeutic Restoration of Biomotor Abilities | 3 |
EDUC 614 | Educational Statistics | 4 |
HPHY 607 | Seminar: [Topic] (Administrative Skills for Clinical Careers) | 1 |
HPHY 607 | Seminar: [Topic] (Clinical Research Presentations [two terms]) | 2 |
HPHY 607 | Seminar: [Topic] (Contemporary Clinical Techniques I,II) | 2 |
HPHY 607 | Seminar: [Topic] (Current Professional Topics) | 1 |
HPHY 607 | Seminar: [Topic] (Evidence-Based Clinical Practice and Research) | 2 |
HPHY 607 | Seminar: [Topic] (Human Physiology [six terms]) | 6 |
HPHY 607 | Seminar: [Topic] (Leadership Development) | 1 |
HPHY 609 | Practicum: [Topic[ (Sports Medicine) | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Research: [Topic] | ||
Special Problems: [Topic] | ||
Practicum: [Topic[ (Preceptor) | ||
Other human physiology courses | ||
Total Credits | 52 |
Exit Requirement
All students participate in a comprehensive defense of their advanced clinical skills during spring term of their graduating year. In addition, they select one of the following two options as their graduation exit requirement:
- Option 1. Comprehensive written and oral exams (completed during the final term of study), one-term (4-credit minimum) research experience, and literature review or evidence-based practice manuscript submitted for publication.
- Option 2. Original research study conducted, and manuscript submitted for publication.
Additional Requirements
Required courses must be taken for letter grades and passed with grades of B– or better. Students must maintain at least a 3.00 grade point average each term, and will not be eligible to hold a graduate employee (GE) position, take comprehensive exams, or graduate without a cumulative GPA of 3.00. Additional university master’s degree requirements are described under Master’s Degrees in the Graduate School section of this catalog.
Research-Intensive Master of Science–Doctor of Philosophy Program
The department offers a graduate program in human physiology with an emphasis on research leading through the master of science (MS) degree to the doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree. The goal is to provide classroom and research experiences that turn students into professionals with the knowledge and experience to be superior researchers or become university-level educators. This is an individualized program with a strong emphasis on research. Decisions on accepting applicants to the graduate program are made by the faculty members, and are based on available laboratory space and financial support—both of which vary greatly from year to year. graduate employee (GE) opportunities and research fellowships are available for highly qualified students to teach undergraduate laboratories or assist in research projects. The GE award provides a full-tuition waiver and a monthly stipend that varies in amount according to the assignment. For more information, visit the department website.
Master of Science Degree Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
HPHY 611 & HPHY 612 & HPHY 613 | Professional Skills I: Effective Teaching and Professional Skills II: Responsible Research and Professional Skills III: Career Development | 3 |
HPHY 621 & HPHY 622 & HPHY 623 | Systems Physiology I and Systems Physiology II and Systems Physiology III | 12 |
EDUC 614 | Educational Statistics 1 | 3 |
EDUC 640 | Applied Statistical Design and Analysis 1 | 3 |
Human physiology courses or other courses most appropriate to student's line of study 2 | 4 | |
Total Credits | 25 |
1 | Statistical analysis courses covering the following topics: descriptive statistics, logic of hypothesis testing, elementary inferential statistics, confidence intervals, one-way analysis of variance, post hoc comparisons, a priori contrasts, within-subjects and between-subjects effects, two-way and higher-order designs, and interactions. For recent additions to these course options, check with the director of graduate studies for the department. |
2 | Determined in conjunction with program committee. |
Additional Requirements
The master of science degree requires completion of a substantial research project. Department faculty members, in consultation with the student, determine the format for the presentation of the project, which will include an oral defense in combination with either a master’s thesis, a journal-style manuscript, or a comprehensive project report. Required courses must be taken for letter grades and passed with grades of B– or better. Students must maintain at least a 3.00 grade point average for all courses. Additional university master’s degree requirements are described under Master’s Degrees in the Graduate School section of this catalog.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
HPHY 611 & HPHY 612 & HPHY 613 | Professional Skills I: Effective Teaching and Professional Skills II: Responsible Research and Professional Skills III: Career Development | 3 |
HPHY 621 & HPHY 622 & HPHY 623 | Systems Physiology I and Systems Physiology II and Systems Physiology III | 12 |
EDUC 614 | Educational Statistics 1 | 3 |
EDUC 640 | Applied Statistical Design and Analysis 1 | 3 |
Human physiology courses or other courses most appropriate to student's line of study 2 | 4 | |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Advanced Respiratory Physiology | ||
Human Cardiovascular Control | ||
Kinematics of Human Movement | ||
Kinetics of Human Movement | ||
HPHY 603 | Dissertation 3 | 1-16 |
Total Credits | 30-45 |
1 | Statistical analysis courses covering the following topics: descriptive statistics, logic of hypothesis testing, elementary inferential statistics, confidence intervals, one-way analysis of variance, post hoc comparisons, a priori contrasts, within-subjects and between-subjects effects, two-way and higher-order designs, and interactions. For recent additions to these course options, check with the director of graduate studies for the department. |
2 | Determined in conjunction with program committee. |
3 | Must register for course every term of enrollment after advancing to candidacy. |
The doctoral degree requires completion of a minimum of 135 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree; at least 60 of these credits must be completed through human physiology courses. Written and oral doctoral comprehensive examinations are taken after completing a substantial portion of the program of study. Upon passing these examinations, the student is advanced to candidacy. A final oral defense is held after completion of the dissertation and after all other degree requirements have been met. Required courses must be taken for letter grades and passed with grades of B– or better. Students must maintain at least a 3.00 grade point average for all courses. Additional university doctor of philosophy degree requirements are described under Doctoral Degrees in the Graduate School section of this catalog
Admission Requirements
Applicants for the athletic training MS program should check the Graduate Studies in Athletic Training website and applicants for the research-intensive MS-PhD program should check the department website for information on the online graduate application and deadlines.
Recommended criteria for applying to all graduate programs include the following:
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited university with a GPA of 3.40 or higher on a 4.00 scale
- Completed course work with a grade of B+ or better in general chemistry, general biology, and two courses of physiology or combined anatomy and physiology
- International students who have not received a degree from a university in a country whose official language is English must have a TOEFL score of 575 (paper test) or 90 (Internet-based test) or an IELTS overall band score of 7.0.
Minimum requirements for admission to all graduate programs include the following:
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited university with a GPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale
- Completed course work with a grade of B– or better in general chemistry, general biology, and two courses of physiology or combined anatomy and physiology
- International students who have not received a degree from a university in a country whose official language is English must have a TOEFL score of 575 (paper test) or 90 (Internet-based test) or an IELTS overall band score of 7.0
In addition, for graduate studies in athletic training:
- Recommended GRE scores of 153 or better on each of the verbal and quantitative sections (institution code: 4846; department code: 0217); minimum GRE scores of 148 or better on each of the verbal and quantitative sections
- Completed course work with a grade of B– or better in physics and biomechanics
- Must be a certified athletics trainer at time of matriculation